George IV piano plays in Pavilion after 170 years

King George IV's grand piano is to be played again at Brighton's Royal Pavilion for the first time in about 170 years.

Queen Victoria is thought to have removed her uncle's six-octave piano from the Royal Pavilion in the mid 19th Century, during her reign.

The gilt, rosewood piano is later believed to have had private owners until reappearing at auction in 2017 when it was bought by Brighton & Hove City Council and returned to the Royal Pavilion.

The historic instrument, which has now been restored and retuned by Brighton & Hove Museums (BHM), will be played by pianist Matthew Fletcher on Thursday evening.

The Georgian piano was made by Thomas Tomkinson in 1821 and has been played by Italian composer Gioachino Rossini and Hungarian prodigy Franz Liszt.

A brass plate on the rosewood piano reads: "Thomas Tomkinson, Maker to His Majesty".

It also contains a hidden note on the bottom key from Tomkinson which says "For the King".

Restorer Jean Maurer has had to reverse tweaks made by past owners to recreate the piano's original sound.

The restoration now means each key plays three piano strings again.

Tuner Cesar Hernandez said: "It was in very bad condition before the restoration."

The grand piano will be played for museum patrons by Glyndebourne Festival Opera's Matthew Fletcher on Thursday evening.

The piano has been positioned in its original place in the Music Room Gallery of the Royal Pavilion.

Museum staff consulted a 1826 aquatint print from John Nash’s Views of the Royal Pavilion at Brighton and an earlier drawing by August Charles Pugin.

Hedley Swain, CEO of the BHM, said: "It is hugely significant to our historical understanding of the period and it is an honour to have it restored and playable once more in its rightful home."

King George IV was Prince Regent from 1811, before ruling the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1820 until his death in 1830.

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