Netflix’s Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story will once again whisker you away to the era of the reign of monarchs in England. This time, the prequel spin-off shows the youth of Queen Charlotte and her husband, King George III.
You must remember the scene where Charlotte first meets George III, which is in her attempt to climb the walls and run away. This adorable scene leads to the two getting to know each other as Charlotte realizes George III isn’t as bad as expected.
The man was handsome, kind, and someone she could converse with. However, soon after she arrives at the British royal courts, a shadow of mystery hangs in the air.
Within just the first few episodes, viewers are made aware that something is wrong with King George III in particular. So what is the mystery behind this kind man?
What Illness Does George Have in Bridgerton?
King George III seems to have bipolar disorder in Bridgerton, along with other mentally debilitating issues. His condition has been incurable since he was a child. He seems to suffer from hallucinations and bouts of mania.
King George III plays one of the side characters to bring out the role of Charlotte even more. However, in the buildup to revealing his secret, we see that George collapses after an argument and even doesn’t spend their wedding night or honeymoon together with Charlotte.
Despite being hurt, Charlotte later developed an amicable relationship with George. All the couple’s efforts came to naught as she woke up to see George drawing on the walls and running away from the castle naked as he searched for Venus.
It is later revealed that George actually suffers due to mental health problems, and physicians have not been able to make him better.
What is the Medical Condition of the Real King George III?
Several historical accounts of King George III highlight his health condition. His symptoms included convulsions, frothing at the mouth, incoherent rambling, and depression.
One of the theories behind his mental condition was said to be porphyria, a liver disorder that worsened due to arsenic exposure. Porphyria is known to cause hallucinations and psychosis. In 2005, a study of the monarch’s hair revealed traces of arsenic.
Later in his life, George III was also subjected to loss of vision, hearing, the ability to walk, and even memory. Additionally, the king never recovered from his melancholy and depression over Princess Amelia’s death.
His physical and mental condition kept deteriorating until he died in 1820. However, his condition fluctuated and got worse and worse from the 1810s.
How Was King George III Treated?
Since mental health was not a well-researched field then, the so-called ‘cures’ were simply barbaric measures.
King George III was forcibly restrained, and his skin was treated with arsenic powder, probably worsening his condition. He might have undergone extreme fasting, purging, ice baths, and isolation, among other punishments.
The real George III probably got treated even worse, but the show censored them for us, and you can imagine what other brutal practices were imposed on him.
So what do you think about the tragic fate of King George III? The kind and handsome man soon turned out to have lost his mind, much to the surprise of Charlotte. Due to the absence of modern medicine and knowledge, it was impossible to treat George at the time.
However, the debate about what exactly plagued George III is still debated. So what do you think George III was suffering from? Were you just as disgusted as us after knowing how he got treated? Comment down below to tell us about your love for Bridgerton.