The Enigma of King George: Unraveling the Secrets of Queen Charlotte

Article Overview

King George III's appearances in Bridgerton are brief, and he is mentioned infrequently due to his poor health, not meant to be a major character.

The portrayal of King George III in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story depicts his medical treatment, which includes extreme measures such as confinement and purging, in accordance with historical evidence. However, the show also explores modern theories suggesting that King George III may not have actually suffered from porphyria.

King George III makes only brief appearances in seasons 1 and 2 of Bridgerton, and his mentions are few. This is partly because he is not intended to be a major character and partly due to his declining health, which prevents him from appearing publicly. On the other hand, Queen Charlotte is depicted as a prominent figure in the series. James Fleet portrays King George III in Bridgerton, while Corey Mylchreest takes on the role in the spin-off, portraying him in his early twenties.

In Bridgerton, King George III's three appearances primarily serve to reveal insights about Queen Charlotte. The short dinner scene featuring Queen Charlotte and King George III in Season 1 offers a somewhat accurate explanation for Queen Charlotte's fascination with the fictional Lady Whistledown. Once we witness the anguish plaguing King George III and how deeply it affects his wife, it becomes evident that Queen Charlotte needs a distraction, and Lady Whistledown provides the perfect captivating and delightful diversion. At times, Queen Charlotte even seems to forget about her husband's poor health. The series further delves into their romance, their evolving relationship, and the impact of his illness on their dynamic.

The True Story Of King George III's Illness

The psychological issues of George III, often simplistically known as the "Madness of King George," have sparked intense debate throughout history. However, there is no argument that George was unable to continue ruling as a monarch once he reached middle age. As a result, his son, George IV, the Prince of Wales, assumed the role of Prince Regent and took over the king's duties. Unfortunately, due to George III's incoherence and instability, he was unfit to represent the royal family, and he was kept away from the public eye in order to safeguard the monarchy's reputation. This paralleled the depiction of King George in the series Bridgerton.

During George III's later years, he was isolated and hidden from view. In contrast to the portrayal in Bridgerton, Queen Charlotte reportedly ceased dining with George and chose to sleep in a separate bedroom. Starting from 1804, she refused to be alone with him, and by 1813, during the timeframe of Bridgerton, it is believed that Queen Charlotte no longer interacted with George at all. George experienced several severe episodes of illness, initially thought to be due to porphyria, and he was confined in Kew for his own well-being. Following his final decline in 1810, the King never regained his health and ultimately passed away in 1820.

King George III’s Illness In Bridgerton

King George III's portrayal in Bridgerton is limited to a minor offscreen role, but his illness is grounded in historical accounts. These accounts describe his illness as featuring convulsions, frothing at the mouth, incoherent ramblings, bouts of depression, and, later in life, the loss of hearing, vision, memory, and mobility. Following the death of Princess Amelia, George fell into a deep depression and never fully recovered from the loss of his beloved daughter. In 1811, he enacted the Regency Act, allowing his son George IV to act as regent and become the heir. Queen Charlotte became George's legal guardian, while his mental and physical health continued to decline until his death in 1820.

The cause of King George III's "madness" has been a subject of debate among historians and physicians. Until recently, the prevailing belief was that he suffered from porphyria, a rare liver disorder worsened by exposure to arsenic. While evidence supporting this theory is well-documented and widely accepted, conflicting theories have emerged in recent years. Scholars propose that King George III actually had a combination of bipolar disorder, chronic mania, and dementia instead of porphyria. Dr. Peter Garrard from St George's, University of London, even deemed the porphyria theory as obsolete, stating [via BBC]:

The porphyria theory is completely dead in the water. This was a psychiatric illness.

What Queen Charlotte Gets Right About How King George Was Treated

In the Queen Charlotte storyline of Bridgerton, it is revealed in shocking detail how King George III endured a medically-approved nightmare in the name of "treating his condition". Against his will, George was forcibly relocated to Kew, first by a group of court physicians and then by renowned mental health specialist Dr Francis Willis. However, Willis's methods were harsh and his beliefs misguided. He believed that mental illness stemmed from excessive excitement and advocated for restrictive and calming measures as a natural remedy. These measures included:

Confinement in a straitjacket

Skin treatment with arsenic powder (a poison that caused blisters) to "draw unwanted humors out"

Extreme fasting and purging

Ice-cold baths to shock the illness from his body

King George was denied cutlery other than a spoon at mealtimes, and forced to eat only soft food like a child

Total isolation from family

George was not allowed to leave the house unaccompanied and was restricted to the first floor.

In contrast to Queen Charlotte, where George endured ongoing torturous methods throughout his life, Charlotte and their daughter accompanied him at Kew. The severity of the treatments is portrayed in Queen Charlotte, although some aspects remain undisclosed, potentially making them even more dreadful.

Queen Charlotte Settles The Debate On King George's Illness

Instead of the prevailing theory that King George III suffered from porphyria, which may have been supported by the use of arsenic in his treatments, modern theories propose that he actually had bipolar disorder and possibly schizophrenia. Queen Charlotte shares this belief. George's condition has been present since childhood, much to his mother's disappointment, and it has been concealed to maintain the image of The Crown. As King, George cannot display any weakness, so his legitimate medical issues must be either cured or hidden. This is why he keeps it a secret from Charlotte and why he is no longer seen in public in Bridgerton.

Queen Charlotte firmly supports modern theories about King George's "madness," which suggest that he struggled with severe psychological problems, including hallucinations, absences, and manic episodes. While his doctor initially recommends discussing George's issues as the appropriate treatment, this more contemporary therapy style is quickly replaced by physical abuse, worsening the King's condition.

King George's Treatment Isn't The Only Change Queen Charlotte Made

In addition to the King George’s Bridgerton treatment, there are other notable changes in the series. Bridgerton's universe is a blend of historical fiction and real figures from history, telling a fictional story while maintaining the presence of Queen Charlotte. One prominent example in the series is the portrayal of the "Great Experiment" when Queen Charlotte ascends to the throne. Although there are indications of Queen Charlotte's Portuguese lineage and potential African ancestry, as well as references to her being the first Black Queen of England, this did not result in a significant societal shift to include people of color in higher social standing during her reign.

Furthermore, the timeline depicted in Bridgerton does not fully align with actual English history. For instance, while the show portrays Charlotte mainly being raised by her older brother after the death of her parents, this is not entirely factual. In reality, during the year 1761 when Charlotte is adjusting to life in England with George, Queen Charlotte's mother would still have been alive. However, it is accurate that her father passed away when she was eight, and the series took creative liberties with her family background in order to weave the narrative of her brother accompanying her to an arranged marriage.

The content in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story indicates that King George's mother and advisors selected Charlotte as George's wife. However, according to the Los Angeles Times, this is not completely true. Charlotte, who came from a noble bloodline, was added to the list of potential options for George at the last minute in his arranged marriage. The requirements included being Protestant due to the religious ties to the crown at that time, as well as being educated but not overly intellectual to avoid interfering with the King's decisions. While Bridgerton's Queen Charlotte series does touch on a similar discussion, George does not have a say in the matter.

Fans of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story understand that historical accuracy may not be completely adhered to in the series. The priority for the Bridgerton universe is to provide an engaging story, even if it means deviating from historical accuracy.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I find the portrayal of King George III in Bridgerton to be both intriguing and sympathetic. The show does an excellent job of depicting the challenges he faced due to his mysterious illness, and it sheds light on the difficult choices that Queen Charlotte had to make in order to protect both her husband and the monarchy.

I appreciate that the show does not shy away from the more difficult aspects of King George III's illness, such as his confinement and purging. These scenes are difficult to watch, but they serve to remind us of the very real struggles that he faced. I also appreciate the show's portrayal of Queen Charlotte as a strong and compassionate woman who was determined to support her husband and protect her family. Overall, I believe that Bridgerton does a good job of humanizing King George III and showing us the complex challenges that he faced.