From grand balls to artistic salons, Kensington Palace welcomed the great and the good, the wealthy and the fashionable. All the ladies wore a mantua, an elaborate dress over whalebone hoops – some so wide that the courtiers had to walk sideways through doors to make their grand entrances. They were, however, the perfect display of wealth. One of the highlights on display for ‘The Glorious Georges’ is the stunning Rockingham Mantua. Made of French silk and beautifully decorated in stripes and flower garlands of silver threads and silver lace, it’s thought to have been owned by Lady Rockingham, the prime minister’s wife, for her court appearances.