Prince of Wales c1803

Although this portrait pre-dates the official conversion of the 10th Light Dragoons to hussars it is of great interest because it shows a short transition period and also the Prince of Wales’s preferences. The different portraits of the Prince around the turn of the 18th/19th century show how he forced the pace of change in the regiment’s uniform. It would not have been feasible for the regiment to keep up with him. He was fascinated by military uniform and would have kept his tailors busy creating new ones, incorporating his own embellishments. This portrait is by Henry Bone, a copy of the portrait by Elizabeth Vigée-Le Brun who came to England from 1802 to 1805. The uniform is the same in both portraits but there are differences in the face and hair colour. In Bone’s portrait the hair is grey; brown in the former portrait. Bone also painted a miniature version of this portrait which can be seen here in colour.
The uniform is dark blue with silver lace and braid. The collar and cuffs are yellow. The sleeve of the pelisse hangs down, showing the elaborate silver braid which is topped by a shape reminiscent of the Prince of Wales feathers. There is a fringe in this cuff, and along the top of the pelisse which was an affectation of the Prince’s and not to be seen on the regimental uniform. The jacket appears to be braided in the light dragoon fashion, and has a large yellow collar that is wide enough to cope with the black cravat. The pelisse, a positive sign of hussar uniform, is draped over his left shoulder. The silver cords with tassels and flounders are hooked up somehow, rather than tied around the neck. The Garter star is fixed to the front of the pelisse. His pouch-belt is silver with blue edges. Portraits of other officers painted a few years later show red edges to the belt. Another item of hussar dress is the gold and crimson barrel sash round his waist which has red cords ending in gold tassels. He has the blue broad ribbon sash of the Garter on his left shoulder. The head-dress beside him, a mireliton or flügelmütze, is scarlet with silver lace. The lower part of this cap is dark blue or black and the plaited festoon and tassels are gold flecked with crimson silk.

Regimental Details | Uniforms