As well as taking a deep dive into the real life royals who inspired the show (yep, Queen Charlotte did exist) and getting up close with the actors in the spin-off, we’ve been wondering about the history behind the show too, particularly when it comes to King George III’s illness, which is often referenced in both shows.
To recap, in seasons one and two of the original Bridgerton series, Queen Charlotte’s husband spends much of the time off-screen and the characters allude to him suffering with an ongoing illness that prevents him from carrying out his duties as monarch. In Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, however, we’ll get to know the King – played by Corey Mylchreest – as well as how his relationship with Charlotte began and eventually deteriorated.
With that in mind, here’s what we know about the real life King George III and the illness he suffered with.
Was Bridgerton’s King George real?
Although the Bridgerton series is not based on a true story – it’s inspired by the best-selling novels by Julia Quinn – two of the characters did exist in real life: King George III and Queen Charlotte.
George was born in 1738 and became heir to the British throne on the death of his father in 1751, succeeding his grandfather, George II, in 1760. Just one year later he wed Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who became Queen Charlotte upon their marriage, and the pair welcomed 15 children together, although only 13 survived into adulthood.
After taking over the throne at just 22, George went on to rule for six decades until his death in 1820, but – due to illness – he was unable to carry out his duties as a monarch for many years before that, with Charlotte taking on the role of his legal guardian and his son functioning as regent.
What illness did the real life King George have?
In seasons one and two of Bridgerton, we get a glimpse at King George III and how his life is impacted by mental illness, but what was his health like in real life?
As it turns out, George’s illness in Bridgerton is based on historical accounts and according to the Royal Family’s official website there are many theories about what caused his “madness” – of which an entire play was written about.
Some historians suggest that George’s “mental instability was caused by a hereditary physical disorder called porphyria,” the Royal Family’s website points out. “Porphyrias are a group of uncommon disorders that are caused when there are problems with the production of chemicals called porphyrins in the body,” according to the NHS. “Porphyrins are the chemical building blocks of haem, which form haemoglobin, the component of red blood cells that allows oxygen to be carried around the body.”
“[Porphyrias] tend to cause attacks in adults and the main symptoms can include gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting; cardiac symptoms such as changes in blood pressure or increased heart rate; motor symptoms such as muscle weakness or paralysis; psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, confusion or hallucinations; or central nervous system symptoms including seizures.”
Another theory about George’s health is that he suffered with hypomania, which is associated with bipolar disorder. “We may never know exactly what was wrong with George III, it may have been hypomania,” the Royal Family’s website explains. “But researchers studying his papers have found that breakdowns often came amid turmoil at home, including the premature death of his youngest daughter Princess Amelia from tuberculosis.”
Other theories propose that George suffered with dementia, with another historian telling the BBC: “The porphyria theory is completely dead in the water. This was a psychiatric illness.”
