The Queen left 'stunned' by previously unseen epistles from George III's archive

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An archive of royal letters and books unseen for 200 years is to be digitised
The Queen launched project at Windsor Castle's Royal Library
Included are letters shedding light on the American War of Independence
Also a 200-year-old poetry book written by the Shah of Persia in 1812
Queen joked that, 'You don't get gifts like that any more!'
Also includes an essay by George III and letters from Queen Charlotte

By Bianca London for MailOnline and Ruth Styles for MailOnline

Published: 13:08 EST, 1 April 2015 | Updated: 05:43 EST, 2 April 2015

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A 200-year-old book of poetry gifted to George III and letters from Rear Admiral Sir Samuel Hood written during the American War of Independence are among a treasure trove of documents released by royal archive yesterday.

The collection, which was amassed by George III and has been under lock and key for 200 years, has been digitised and the Queen was at Windsor Castle for the launch.

Declaring herself 'stunned' by the collection, none of which she had seen before, Her Majesty admired the poems, which were written by the Shah of Persia himself, and quipped: 'You don't get gifts like that any more!'

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Treasure trove: The Queen inspects a 200-year-old book of poetry presented to George III

Incredible: The book (back, beside the Queen), was presented by the Shah of Persia in 1825

Along with the poems, which were given to the Hanoverian monarch in 1812, was a collection of scientific instruments, many of which were considered advanced in their day.

Other documents shown to the Queen touch on some of the most important events in history, among them the American War of Independence.

One particularly significant document was written by Rear-Admira Hood and details naval failings during the battle of Chesapeake Bay.

The battle, between British and French fleets, resulted in the last significant British army in the Thirteen Colonies being cut off - and led directly to US independence.

Other papers include an essay written by George III on the relationship between the monarch and parliament and notes from Queen Charlotte to her children's governess.

Significant: This letter was written by Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood following the Battle of Chesapeake Bay

Royal handiwork: This essay on the relationship between monarch and Parliament was written by George III

The viewing took place in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle and include papers owned and written by George I, II, III and George IV, who ruled as Prince Regent during his father's famous madness.

George III was believed to have suffered from porphyria, a hereditary disease that affects the blood and can cause mania.

The digitisation of the 350,000 documents, a task that will be undertaken by academics from King's College London, will begin in the next few weeks.

While the vast majority of the collection are papers from George III, other documents from reigns of George I, George II, George IV and William IV will also be made available.

It is hoped the work will transform the understanding of Georgian Britain and its monarchy, at a time of profound cultural, political, economic and social change.

Stunning: The Queen was also shown the 1765 Eardley Norton clock (right) by Oliver Urquhart Irvine (left)

Project: The Queen greets Lynn Forney Young from the Daughters of the American Revolution organisation

Stunned: The Queen declared herself 'stunned' by the contents of the archive, all previously unseen

Big job: The digitisation of the 350,000 papers will be overseen by academics from King's College London

'The Queen said she was stunned by the beauty of the gifts and letters, especially the Persian book of poetry that she was looking at earlier,' said Dr Joanna Newman, vice principal of the university, afterwards.

'She talked a great deal about the letters, she said she was extremely interested in them, that they were very impressive and that she is very happy for the collaboration to be with King’s College.'

Other letters seen by the Queen include one from John Jay, a merchant who went on to become one of the Founding Fathers of the US, to future president George Washington in 1781.

Another, dating from the same period, was sent to George III by a spy named Aristarchus.

The project is part of a wider programme of work by the Royal Archives to open up access to its primary source material, following the success of the digitisation of Queen Victoria’s journals in 2012.

Professor Edward Byrne, president and principal of King’s College London, said: 'King’s was founded by King George IV - George III’s eldest son and successor - and with Her Majesty the Queen as our present day patron, we are delighted and honoured to have been approached by the Royal Household to work on this prestigious project and to continue our long history of association with the Crown.

'This joint project, to open up over a century of Royal Archives, provides an unprecedented scale of opportunity to discover more about the Georgians.'

Royal childhood: This letter is from Queen Charlotte to her children's governess, Lady Charlotte Finch

Involvement: The British Library, which is also involved, was represented by Baroness Blackstone (centre)

The Queen wears bright pink to visit HMS Ocean (related)

WHAT'S IN THE ARCHIVE? DETAILS OF THE ROYAL COLLECTION REVEALED

Along with personal letters written by George I, II and III, and their wives, the newly unveiled archive also includes documents that could shed fresh light on the American War of Independence.

Most significant is an epistle written by Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood to General de Budé, George III's aide-de-camp, on the 16th September 1781.

Written after the Battle of the Chesapeake (or the Virginia Capes) on 5th September 1781, it offers a critique of the British action and attempts to explain why it ended in a French victory.

One of the most significant battles of the American War of Independence, the French win led directly to US independence, cutting off, as it did, the last substantial British army in the Thirteen Colonies and obliging it to surrender.

Hood, while attempting to exonerate himself in the letter which was written 11 days after the battle, also includes copies of dispatches and reveals that it could have been a British victory had an earlier opportunity to engage the French been taken.

Equally significant is an incomplete essay written by George III which meditates on the relationship between the monarch and Parliament.

In it, George, who was keen to re-establish royal authority and patronage, muses on the idea of having 'supreme power' over the Commons while also laying out how the legislative and the executive worked in the 18th century.

Further documents include letters from Queen Charlotte to Lady Charlotte Finch, who held the position of governess to the royal children.

In the correspondence, the two discuss child-rearing and emphasise the value of routine and regular mealtimes, with Lady Charlotte going on to complain of her 'distress' at things becoming disorganised.

The collection also includes 65,000 books from the library amassed by George III which, along with volumes of poetry, also include a number printed in and about the US - testament to the monarch's interest in the colony.