The love story between Queen Charlotte and King George is a central part of the Bridgerton universe, but it is shadowed by the King’s mysterious and debilitating illness. In both Bridgerton and its prequel, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, King George III is often hidden from public view, leaving many viewers to wonder about the exact nature of his condition. The series never gives a single, simple diagnosis, reflecting a real-life historical debate that continues to this day.
What Symptoms Does King George Experience?
In Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, viewers see a young King George, played by Corey Mylchreest, struggling with his symptoms from the early days of his marriage. The show depicts him experiencing severe episodes that include hallucinations, rambling incoherently, and bouts of deep depression. He is shown having violent convulsions and at times appears deeply paranoid.
As an older man in the main Bridgerton series, portrayed by James Fleet, his condition has progressed. Historical accounts and the show suggest that in his later years, he also suffered from a loss of hearing, vision, and memory, eventually losing his ability to walk. His behavior was sometimes erratic, including reports of him speaking to trees or having other false beliefs. These symptoms made it impossible for him to rule, leading to his son being appointed as Prince Regent.
What Is The Real Medical History?
The exact cause of the real King George III’s illness has been a topic of fierce debate among historians and doctors for centuries. For a long time, the most popular theory was that he suffered from porphyria, a rare genetic blood disorder. Porphyria can cause severe abdominal pain, confusion, hallucinations, and seizures, which seem to match some of the king’s documented symptoms. This theory was widely accepted for decades.
However, more recent research has challenged this idea. A study that analyzed the King’s personal letters using modern techniques concluded that the pattern of his symptoms was more consistent with a psychiatric illness. The lead researcher, Dr. Peter Garrard, stated plainly, “The porphyria theory is completely dead in the water. This was a psychiatric illness.” Modern scientists and historians now largely believe the king was living with what would today be diagnosed as bipolar disorder, and possibly dementia in his final years. A 2015 study from the University of Birmingham specifically confirmed he likely had “bipolar disorder type I, with a final decade of dementia.”
How Accurate Are the Harsh Treatments Shown?
Queen Charlotte portrays King George being subjected to brutal medical treatments, and these depictions are unfortunately grounded in historical reality. When his “madness” took hold, the real king was placed in the care of doctors who used methods considered cruel and inhumane by today’s standards.
He was moved to Kew Palace and treated by Dr. Francis Willis, who believed mental illness was caused by overexcitement. The treatments were designed to shock and purge the body. They included:
- Confinement in a straitjacket.
- Ice-cold baths to shock the illness out of him.
- Skin treatments with poisonous arsenic powder to create blisters and “draw out the bad humors.”
- Extreme fasting and purging with laxatives.
- Isolation from his family and the outside world.
These methods were standard for the era but only added to the king’s suffering. As one account notes, he was denied cutlery other than a spoon and was forced to eat only soft food like a child during his treatment.
Why Did the Show Not Give a Clear Diagnosis?
The creators of the Bridgerton series intentionally avoided giving King George a specific, modern diagnosis. Corey Mylchreest, the actor who played young George, revealed that the writers never provided him with a medical label for the character. He explained his approach was to focus on the human experience, saying, “As a show, we don’t diagnose him, but as an actor, I simply had to make a decision… It’s a man who is dealing with the subsequent shame and self-hatred that comes as a result of that affliction.”
Similarly, Golda Rosheuvel, who plays the older Queen Charlotte, noted that the show’s approach was about the emotion, not the medicine. She told Insider, “Back then in the 1800s, they wouldn’t have known what bipolar was. The unknown of that would be terrifying, I think. The outbursts would be terrifying.” By not confining the character to a single diagnosis, the show focuses on the personal tragedy and the impact of his condition on his relationship with Charlotte, rather than just the medical details.
Also Read: Bridgerton: Who Edwina Sharma Marries in the Books vs. the Netflix Series
