Royal Pavilion

The Royal Pavilion stands in Brighton, a seaside town on England’s south coast. Built between 1787 and 1822 as a retreat for George, Prince of Wales, it was later used by his successors William IV and Queen Victoria. Designed in the Indo-Saracenic style, its exterior features bulbous domes, chhatri-topped minarets and cusped arches. The architect John Nash transformed the building between 1815 and 1822, creating the distinctive tented roofs of the Music and Banqueting Rooms. The interior was decorated by Frederick Crace and Robert Jones, blending Chinese and Indian influences with Mughal and Islamic motifs. The palace’s exotic design reflects the 19th-century British fascination with South Asian architecture. The Pavilion’s history includes its role as a military hospital during the First World War. From 1914 to 1916 it treated over 2,300 wounded soldiers from the Indian Army, including Victoria Cross recipients such as Khudadad Khan and Mir Dast. The hospital had two operating theatres and over 720 beds, with separate kitchens to cater for different religious and cultural needs. Muslim soldiers prayed on the eastern lawns facing Mecca, while Sikh soldiers used a tented gurdwara in the grounds. The imperial government highlighted the Pavilion as evidence of good treatment for wounded Indian troops. Visitors today find a palace that looks much as it did in George IV’s time. The restored rooms include the Music Room, Banqueting Room and Saloon, each richly decorated with chinoiserie and Indian patterns. The Great Kitchen, with its cast-iron range and spits, shows how meals were prepared for royal banquets. The Royal Stables, now the Brighton Dome, host concerts and events. The surrounding gardens provide a quiet contrast to the palace’s flamboyant architecture. The building remains a striking landmark in the centre of Brighton.