Thirteenth International Conference on The Inclusive Museum

Abstract

2020 marks the 200th death anniversary of George III. He is popularly known as the mad King and spent much of his later life recuperating at Kew Palace. Historic Royal Palaces will be marking the anniversary through a special exhibition, George III: The Mind Behind The Myth, which will focus on the monarch’s achievements as well as his mental health journey. The exhibition will feature objects and artworks from the Royal Collection as well as a display which invites Londoners to share their personal objects that symbolise their own mental health journey. The exhibition has also provided a forum for discussion of contemporary views on mental health. Historic Royal Palaces has partnered with local community groups to interpret a selection of the items on display, reflecting on how what we know about George’s ill health speaks to men’s lived experiences in twenty-first century London. Today, mental health is still something of a taboo subject. King George III ended his life in seclusion, but attitudes are changing. This paper focuses on how heritage spaces can provide opportunity to open up conversations and change conceptions of what counts.