BBC’s miniseries Prince Regent (1979) has clearly fallen off the radar, so much so that it’s not even available for streaming (but you can find it for free on a possibly-questionable site via a Google video search). Nonetheless, it’s a solid, traditional bio-series about an inherently hilarious person, and the costumes (by Raymond Hughes) are quite good — as one would expect from the BBC!
We pick up from my previous posts, and now enter the 1800s, as George, Prince of Wales’s relationship with Maria Fitzherbert putters out, and he does A LOT of waiting around for his dad (George III) to either go officially mad or die. Prinny also continues to spar with his wife, Caroline of Brunswick, while she raises their daughter, Princess Charlotte. These episodes end with Prinny FINALLY actually becoming officially regent (1811).
It was entirely up in the air whether I’d keep discussing this series, as the Traditionally Regency costumes were likely to bore me. I’m shocked to say that I found plenty to discuss! So now, my meandering thoughts on the costumes!
Alright I’ve committed this far, so stay tuned for the final episodes of Prince Regent!
I think I would really enjoy watching this! Too bad it’s not reliably found :(
I watched this many times on YouTube, where it was posted in full up until maybe six months ago. I’m so disgusted that it has disappeared. It was one of my favorites of this era of period shows and I love Georgian stuff anyway.
It’s still available online, but it’s on a Russian site so I can’t vouch for certain that it’s safe.
I’m not usually a fan of 1800s pre-Regency fashion, but these frocks are gorgeous! Huzzah for no little white dresses!
I really prefer ca. 1800 when the clothes were a bit simpler, but some of this stuff is seriously OTT fabulous. The hats, especially. I kind of like that overdress with the Watteau back. Gives me ideas for the Jane Austen ball. I could swear that Lucy Steele had a spencer with a dagged edge in the ’95 S&S, but it was a bit lower, under the bosum but above the natural waist. I thought it looked pretty in that instance, but the points were deeper, so it seemed more flattering. I find myself looking at some of these films for costuming inspo for balls and teas. I’d borrow elements from the millinery here, but some of that Renaissance Revival stuff is just way too much for my taste. Will have to find this online now just for the eye candy.
Yeah, I think the points on that spencer are in the wrong place and that’s what throws off the look!
The heavy colours and court dress of the Princeregent are looking strange to me. The style of the period of 1805 was very much more simple.
Once again, inadvertently hilarious captioning! And the actress who played Caroline looks eerily like her portrait. Well casted!
On the whole, a lot of the older frock flicks, or at least ones that are before about 2018/20 or so, are…frockier? More gratifying? More lush?, somehow, even the ones done on a shoestring. There is a YouTube video by Karolina Zebrowska on why historical costumes look so “Goodwill prom dresses, rhinestones and a glue gun” in so many current shows. The clothes in Prince Regent might not always be flattering but they are at least “gratifyingly frocky!”
For some reason I look at this version of Mrs Prinny (Princess Caroline) and think “That is not Emma Thompson, but is it just me or is there a certain likeness?”.
Also, good grief but that is a very baby Patsy Kensit.