King George Illness Bridgerton, What Happened to King George in Bridgerton? What was King George's Illness?
by Kowsalya | Updated May 05, 2023
King George Illness Bridgerton
During his reign, King George suffered from several severe bouts of mental illness. In 1778, he had to be restrained with a straitjacket due to his aggressive behavior, while on another occasion, he spoke incoherently and foamed at the mouth for hours.
Rumors even circulated that he mistook a tree for the King of Prussia and attempted to shake hands with it, earning him the nickname "The Mad King". Although George had previously managed to recover from these spells, his final mental health episode lasted a decade until his death, brought on by the passing of his favorite daughter.
During his final years, George suffered from rheumatism and lost his sight and hearing, spending his time in seclusion at Windsor Castle until his death at age 81 in 1820 from pneumonia.
The cause of George's mental health issues is still debated, with some suggesting bipolar disorder or the genetic metabolic disorder porphyria, and a 2005 hair analysis detected high levels of arsenic poisoning, indicating his medication may have contributed to his decline.
The Netflix series Bridgerton alluded to George's condition in its first two seasons, but it is a central focus in the prequel spin-off.
What Happened to King George in Bridgerton?
In Bridgerton, King George III is not a major character, but his illness is alluded to in a few scenes. Based on historical accounts of the monarch's mental health struggles, it is suggested that he suffered from symptoms such as convulsions, rambling incoherently, frothing at the mouth, bouts of depression, and the loss of hearing, vision, memory, and ability to walk.
The show briefly touches on King George III's descent into madness following the death of his favorite daughter, Princess Amelia, and how he eventually became incapable of ruling. However, the show does not delve too deeply into his illness, as the focus is primarily on the lives and romantic entanglements of the show's main characters.
What was King George's Illness?
Although King George III is mentioned in Bridgerton, he has a minor role in the series. Nevertheless, his illness in the show is based on historical accounts of the monarch's mental health struggles.
These accounts report symptoms such as convulsions, rambling incoherently, frothing at the mouth, bouts of depression, and, later in life, the loss of hearing, vision, memory, and ability to walk.
Following the death of his favorite daughter, Princess Amelia, George fell into a deep depression that he never recovered from. In 1811, he enacted the Regency Act, which allowed his son to function as regent, and Queen Charlotte became his legal guardian.
George's mental and physical health continued to deteriorate until his death in 1820. The cause of his illness is still a topic of debate among historians and physicians.
While the prevailing theory was that he had porphyria and that his exposure to arsenic contributed to his worsening symptoms, conflicting theories have emerged in recent years.
Some experts now believe that he had bipolar disorder, chronic mania, and dementia. In fact, Dr. Peter Garrard of St George's, University of London stated that "The porphyria theory is completely dead in the water. This was a psychiatric illness." (via BBC).
What is Wrong with King George in Bridgerton?
In Bridgerton, King George III is portrayed as suffering from mental illness. While the exact nature of his illness is not specified in the show, it is based on historical accounts of the monarch's condition, which included symptoms such as convulsions, frothing at the mouth, rambling incoherently, and bouts of depression.
Later in his life, he also experienced the loss of his hearing, vision, memory, and ability to walk. The king's mental and physical health continued to deteriorate until his death in 1820.
Who is King George?
George was baptized on the day of his birth in 1738 at Norfolk House in London, despite being born two months premature and not expected to survive beyond his first night. However, the resilient young royal made a miraculous recovery and grew up to be a smart but introverted child.
By the age of eight, he was already well-versed in political discussions and could communicate in both his English father Frederick's, and his German mother Augusta's native tongues. In 1751, George's father died from a fatal lung injury, making George next in line to the throne.
He has crowned the Prince of Wales soon after, but despite being offered his own palace at the age of 18, he declined the offer and chose to stay at home with his strict mother. Four years later, George ascended to the throne after his grandfather, also named George, passed away.
King George Illness Bridgerton - FAQs
In Bridgerton, King George III is not a major character, but his illness is alluded to in a few scenes. Based on historical accounts of the monarch's mental health struggles, it is suggested that he suffered from symptoms such as convulsions, rambling incoherently, frothing at the mouth, bouts of depression, and the loss of hearing, vision, memory, and ability to walk.
Although King George III is mentioned in Bridgerton, he has a minor role in the series. Nevertheless, his illness in the show is based on historical accounts of the monarch's mental health struggles.
In Bridgerton, King George III is portrayed as suffering from mental illness. While the exact nature of his illness is not specified in the show, it is based on historical accounts of the monarch's condition, which included symptoms such as convulsions, frothing at the mouth, rambling incoherently, and bouts of depression.
George was baptized on the day of his birth in 1738 at Norfolk House in London, despite being born two months premature and not expected to survive beyond his first night. However, the resilient young royal made a miraculous recovery and grew up to be a smart but introverted child.