Kew Palace, which has not had a full-time resident in 200 years, has been asked to cough up by TV Licensing.

The former residence of 'Mad' King George III up to the early 19th century sits in grounds of Kew Gardens.

After the monarch's death in 1820, the royals were indecisive about what to do with the palace. It briefly housed three of Queen Victoria's children in the summer of 1844.

That did not stop TV Licensing from sending a bill to the "current occupier" of the palace with a letter stating "action required immediately".

Also known as Dutch House, Kew Palace is now run as a visitor attraction by the Historic Royal Palaces charity.

What's more, it will remain closed due to Covid-19 until at least March 2021.

Rachel Mackay, manager of Historic Royal Palaces at Kew, made light of the letter in a tweet that has been shared 7,000 times and liked by 56,000 people.

"Oh good, it's the time of year where I have to explain to the TV Licensing Authority why King George III hasn't paid his TV licence since 1820," she tweeted.

A short history of Kew Palace

Historic Royal Palaces explains its story on its website.

Kew Palace is the smallest of all the royal palaces. It was originally built as a fashionable mansion for wealthy London silk merchant, Samuel Fortrey in 1631.

George II (r 1727-60) and Queen Caroline were first attracted to 'little Kew', considering it a perfect lodging for their three eldest daughters.

After them, several generations of Georgian royalty used Kew and nearby Richmond Lodge as weekend retreats from an intensely public life in town.

Kew reflects the intimate personal and domestic life of Georgian kings and queens for much of the 18th century. Today the interior of this tiny, atmospheric palace tells the powerful story of George III, his mental illness and the members of his family who lived and died there.

Richmond Nub News on social media

Join the conversation on our Facebook page