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In November 1788 George III was taken seriously ill. No one really knows what caused these illnesses, he had later attacks too, but it was more of a mental illness than physical. The King was not really aware of anything and couldn't make any sensible decisions. Doctors tried many cures none of which had any real effect. Some said it was caused by his depression after losing the American colonies but no one had a firm answer. By the way George had a notable claim to fame as he was the last King of America and the first King of Australia.
Pitt was worried because if George didn't recover then his son would have to rule in his place. After four months George III showed no sign of making a recovery and so Pitt drew up a Regency Bill to allow Prince George, saves on name tags you know, to govern. Prince George and Pitt didn't get on.
The bill said that:-
the Regent was obliged to keep the king's present government
the Regent had no powers to create new peers: he had no right of patronage
the Regent had no powers to grant pensions
the royal household was at the Queen's disposal
the Regent had no share in managing the king's real or personal estate
the Queen had charge of the king's person
As you can see it meant Prince George couldn't get rid of Pitt or really do anything. The bill was ready in mid-February but on 1 March 1789 George III made an amazing recovery and, for the time being, it wasn't needed.
Shortly after this George decided to go to the seaside, possibly with his royal bucket and spade. Doctors in those day thought sea bathing, in salt water, was a great cure for everything and anything. George chose Weymouth. In order to sea bathe, George would climb into a bathing machine, see picture, a horse would pull it out to sea while George changed into his swimming things, possibly with his royal bathing cap. He would take a dip, climb back in and be pulled back while he changed back into his more royal clothes. It is said that as the machine was pulled back up the beach a band, conveniently sitting nearby, would leap up and play God Save the King.
There is now a replica of his bathing machine at Weymouth alongside a statue to the King on Weymouth seafront. Another tribute to George nearby is of him riding a white horse. The figure was cut into the chalk that is the soil base here. The figure is about 85 metres long and 98 metres high. Weymouth owed a lot of its tourist attraction popularity to George III. I read somewhere, though I can't find it now, that George hated the figure because it showed him riding away from his beloved Weymouth not riding towards the town. See if you can find out if that is true and let me know.
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