George IV: Debt, Palaces, and Britain’s Most Expensive Regent

This episode dives into George IV’s tenure as Prince Regent, exploring how his personal extravagance stretched Britain’s finances, reshaped London’s architectural landscape with projects such as the Brighton Pavilion and Carlton House, and provoked political friction over debt, Catholicism and succession. Drawing on parliamentary records, private letters and contemporary accounts, we separate contemporary concerns from later mythmaking to uncover what genuinely changed during his regency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices