The King’s Bedchamber at Windsor Castle contains a magnificent bed originally acquired by George IV.
Dating to the late 18th century, this French bed is attributed to the master furniture maker, Georges Jacob. Jacob was a famous maker in France in the 18th century, supplying the French royal family.
The bed was acquired by George IV in about 1790 when he was Prince Regent, through his marchand-mercier or dealer decorator, Dominique Daguerre. This richly carved and gilded bed, with military trophies would have appealed to George IV, who was passionate about French furniture. Originally located in the Prince Regent’s bedchamber at Carlton House, it was later decided to incorporate it into the magnificent interiors created by George IV at Windsor Castle.
Surprisingly, although the room is called the King's Bedchamber, the king himself almost certainly never slept there. In the 17th century this room was used as a space for the king to be witnessed in the morning and the evening for the levée, literally getting up and for the coucher, or going to bed. This was something that only the most intimate courtiers and the most important people in the king's circle were able to witness. The king slept next door in a more modest space.
In the 19th century, this bed was slept in by visiting heads of state or their wives, including Empress Eugénie of France, for whom Queen Victoria had the textiles replaced and enhanced with an embroidered imperial eagle and the ciphers of Eugénie and the Emperor Napoleon III.
You can see the bed on your visit to Windsor Castle.
Watch our film to find out more about the history of the bed.
George IV’s bed ©
