King George III has been popularly portrayed as a foolish madman, a reputation that often overshadows his achievements and qualities as a monarch. He is also widely blamed for losing the American colonies, an accusation that is not wholly justified.

This is far from the whole truth. As the first exhibition to focus on this much-maligned monarch opens at Buckingham Palace, this programme reveals a very different side to a remarkable regent.

Born in 1738, George was afflicted with porphyria, a maddening disease which had a disruptive and debilitating impact upon his reign. During the final years of his kingship, the illness strained his grip on reality. He died blind, deaf and mad at Windsor Castle on 29th January 1820.

Yet King George was also a major patron of the arts and sciences. Today, his collections of art and books constitute a major part of Britain’s cultural heritage. His success in anchoring the monarchy despite the ever-present threat of revolution had a profound impact on the future of Britain.

New revelations from diaries and letters and interviews with experts, including his descendent the Prince of Wales, examine why history paints him as a fool and whether it is right to do so.