What is Wrong with King George in Netflix's Bridgerton Prequel, "Queen Charlotte"?

Table Of Content

• King Charles' special nod to grandchildren George, Charlotte and Louis on first royal outing didn't go unnoticed
• What Is Wrong With King George III?
• Golda Rosheuvel told Insider in 2020 that the writers of "Bridgerton" season one didn't narrow down a diagnosis either.
• Couple caught 'having sex' under a blanket in a park
• The story behind King George's health in Queen Charlotte explained

"It was just from Chris' mind," she said before pointing out that the show isn't a biopic, but rather a reimagined version of history. "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." The actor told Insider that she and Van Dusen "never discussed" the specifics of her onscreen husband's condition. He’s just lovely and wonderful and good and curious and just and dashing. From the moment Charlotte arrives at the British royal court, she picks up the vibe that something must be wrong with the king she is promised to marry.

King Charles' special nod to grandchildren George, Charlotte and Louis on first royal outing didn't go unnoticed

The couple had fifteen children during their six-decade marriage, thirteen of whom lived to adulthood (both Prince Octavius and Prince Alfred died in childhood). Of their children, two went on to rule England—George, The Prince of Wales (later King George IV) and Prince William (later King William IV). As fans of the Bridgerton franchise are familiar, the show is a work of fiction; however, it does draw upon real-life figures including real monarchs from the British Royal Family. Like the real King George III, Queen Charlotte simply explains that King George suffers from mental illness with no specific disorder ever diagnosed directly in the show.

What Is Wrong With King George III?

Academic studies state that the monarch suffered from convulsions, frothing at the mouth, incoherent rambling, and would eventually go on to lose his hearing, vision, memory and ability to walk. Studies also state that the King was treated with horrific methods to "cure" his "madness" such as solitary confinement and arsenic powder as a skin treatment. Queen Charlotte on Netflix is arguably the most talked-about show right now and for good reason! The incredible cast and the brilliantly moving and heartwarming storyline has led fans to waste no time bingeing all eight episodes.

Golda Rosheuvel told Insider in 2020 that the writers of "Bridgerton" season one didn't narrow down a diagnosis either.

"His Majesty is greatly encouraged to be resuming some public-facing duties and very grateful to his medical team for their continued care and expertise," the spokesperson added. "Of my two portraits released by the Palace, this image of Louis in the wheelbarrow with HRH The Princess of Wales, laughing down towards him, is my favorite," the photographer said. "It not only captures Louis’ spirit and cheek but also the relationship he has with his mother and the fun they have together. You can’t but help feeling joy, love and laughter when you look at this photo."

The real King George’s erratic behavior has been chalked up to porphyria, a group of rare disorders that "result from a buildup of natural chemicals called porphyrins in the body," per the Mayo Clinic. However, the bipolar disorder I theory has been more common over the past few years. Like her older brother, Charlotte joined her parents and other members of the royal family in the procession at Queen Elizabeth's state funeral.

While records show that the real King George III was mentally ill, historians debate the cause of the illness.

At the time, they shared that he loved dancing and playing games on his iPad, was obsessed with the air cadets and counted Fireman Sam as one of his favorite shows. The Prince and Princess of Wales became parents for the first time when they welcomed their son Prince George, 10, in 2013. Just a few years later, they announced the arrival of their daughter Princess Charlotte, 9, and completed their family with the birth of Prince Louis, 6, in 2018. Prince Louis also has a particular penchant for dinosaurs, and when he was four, the young royal enjoyed a fun day out with his Nanny, Maria Borrallo, at the Natural History Museum. One of the museum's most popular exhibits is a large animatronic T.Rex, which may have inspired King Charles' tie.

Queen Charlotte: What Happened to Reynolds? - Den of Geek

Queen Charlotte: What Happened to Reynolds?.

Posted: Wed, 17 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

While some suggest he should be shunned or hidden away, Charlotte champions his dignity. Episodic manic behaviors characterized his mental illness, which steadily worsened over the years. In 1810, following physical health problems and the death of his favorite daughter Amelia (the daughter mentioned in a "Bridgerton" episode), George relapsed again.

Couple caught 'having sex' under a blanket in a park

According to Martin, samples of George III's hair provided to him by the Natural History Museum in London confirm the royal received treatments for severe ailments. As Queen Charlotte depicts, the treatments George was put through were painful and inhumane—and included wearing a straitjacket, bloodletting, blistering, and more. In the last decade of his life, in addition to the acute mania and blindness from bilateral cataracts, George also possibly suffered from dementia. An exact diagnosis of George III has never been determined, although there has been plenty of speculation over the years as to the cause of his erratic behavior, which was characterized by episodes of agitation, rambling, and hypersexuality.

She is responsible, however unintentionally, for the damage inflicted on her son by the doctor she enlisted (Guy Henry). This Doctor Monro’s violent techniques included—among other creative tortures—dunking George’s head repeatedly into ice-cold water, slapping him, starving him of nutrients, and leeching him. As the audience, we watch enough of these moments that they only narrowly avoid the territory of trauma porn, which would imply such actions were grotesque but necessary for George to become worthy of his new bride. A precise diagnosis is not explored in Queen Charlotte, nor does it particularly matter in the context of the story. What matters was (and is) the perception of George as “mad,” and what was to be done about it. “It looked as though he was suffering from some kind of abdominal pain,” Warren shares, noting that people with acute porphyritic attacks can experience symptoms related to the autonomic nervous system.

It can permeate even the most sacred of spaces, the most tender of relationships, the most joyful of memories. We watch this play out with both Charlotte and George, in the ways Charlotte must isolate herself as they grow older and George is forced to sacrifice most of his royal duties. Their love, however true, cannot exclude them from the pain that accompanies it. But love is not about “fixing” someone, for their benefit or for your own. It’s difficult to say for sure what doctors would have diagnosed King George with today. In real life, Queen Charlotte and King George III did have a large family.

There was a Monro in real life – one named Thomas – although Queen Charlotte reportedly made sure that his duties were restricted to passive observing. The doctor later resigned from his Principal Physician post at psychiatric hospital Bedlam, following accusations he'd acted inhumanely towards the patients he was treating. Bridgerton occasionally alluded to George's condition in its first two seasons, such as the scene in which the royal believed he was getting married when it was Edwina Sharma who was tying the knot. In episode 3, Charlotte awakens in the night after making love to George. George runs out of the palace and to the vegetable garden where he strips completely naked.

The Bridgerton prequel addresses—and ultimately refutes—an age-old maxim about mental illness. George ascended to the throne at age 22, and was King of Great Britain until his death in 1820 at age 81. In the last decade of his reign, he was deemed mentally unfit to rule, and his eldest son, Prince George Augustus Frederick was Prince Regent—marking the start of the "Regency" era.

In September 2022, George honored his great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth at her state funeral. The prince joined his parents and sister Charlotte in the royal family procession, walking behind the Queen's coffin down the aisle of Westminster Abbey. George wore a navy suit and black tie with his blond hair neatly combed. The following spring, Kate echoed a similar sentiment when she announced that she is undergoing treatment for cancer.