{"id":32732,"date":"2023-05-07T13:56:37","date_gmt":"2023-05-07T11:56:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1826804"},"modified":"2023-05-08T19:51:31","modified_gmt":"2023-05-08T17:51:31","slug":"what-was-king-georges-illness-as-seen-in-netflixs-queen-charlotte","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/what-was-king-georges-illness-as-seen-in-netflixs-queen-charlotte\/","title":{"rendered":"What was King George\u2019s illness, as seen in Netflix\u2019s Queen Charlotte?"},"content":{"rendered":"

He suffered several bouts of severe mental illness during his reign. <\/p>

By Jon O’Brien\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Sunday, 07 May 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Bridgerton<\/a> prequel Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story<\/a> has already become a hit on Netflix after being added to the streamer on Thursday 4th May \u2013 offering viewers a more in-depth look at some popular characters from the original series.<\/p>\n

And one character who is given significantly more screen time in the new drama is King George III, the very real Regency-era King who reigned from 1760-1820. He\u2019s played in his younger years by newcomer Corey Mylchreest<\/a> and in his more mature years by James Fleet.<\/p>\n

The Limited Series \u2013 which boss Shonda Rhimes recently teased could potentially return for another outing<\/a> \u2013 is told from the perspective of the titular Queen Charlotte, who was married to George from 1761 until her death in 1818.<\/p>\n

Sadly, her marriage to the King\u00a0was mired in tragedy due to a mental health affliction that stayed with him until his last breath.<\/p>\n

Read on for everything you need to know about King George III, from his beginnings to the illness that plagued him and Queen Charlotte.<\/p>\n

What was King George\u2019s illness?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

George suffered several bouts of severe mental illness during his reign. On one occasion in 1778, he was restrained with a straitjacket after becoming aggressive. On another occasion, he began foaming at the mouth and speaking incoherently for hours on end. At one point, rumours surfaced that he\u2019d tried to shake hands with a tree after mistaking it for the King of Prussia, thereby earning the nickname \u2018The Mad King\u2019.<\/p>\n

While George had always previously managed to recover from these spells, his final mental health episode, said to be brought on by the passing of his favourite daughter Princess Amelia, lasted a full decade until his death. The royal also suffered from rheumatism and lost his sight and hearing during his final years, which were spent in seclusion at Windsor Castle. He eventually died at the age of 81 in 1820 from pneumonia and was succeeded by sons George IV and William IV.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.<\/span><\/figcaption> Liam Daniel\/Netflix <\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

There\u2019s still debate about what caused George\u2019s mental health woes. Some believe he was bipolar, while others claimed he had the genetic metabolic disorder known as porphyria. A 2005 hair analysis sample detected high levels of arsenic poisoning, suggesting his medication may have led to his deterioration also.<\/p>\n

Bridgerton occasionally alluded to George\u2019s 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. However, it is a core focus in the prequel spin-off.<\/p>\n

Who was Dr Monro, who treated <\/strong>King George?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

After being diagnosed with everything from an \u201cinflamed cerebellum\u201d to \u201cexcess of ill humour in the legs\u201d by various medics, the fictionalised version of George III is told that he\u2019s \u201cmerely suffering a disorganisation of the nerves\u201d by Dr Monro (Guy Henry).<\/p>\n

The doctor then subjects his patient to several extreme forms of treatment, including bounding him to a leech-covered chair and nearly drowning him on multiple occasions in an ice bath, explicitly referring to George as an \u201canimal in a cage\u201d.<\/p>\n

There was a Monro in real life \u2013 one named Thomas \u2013 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\u2019d acted inhumanely towards the patients he was treating.<\/p>

Who was King George III?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

George was baptised on the same day he came into the world at London\u2019s Norfolk House in 1738. Born two months prematurely, he wasn\u2019t expected to survive beyond his first night. But the resilient royal made a miraculous recovery, growing up to be a smart but introverted child.<\/p>\n

By the time he reached eight years old, he could already engage in the political discourse and communicate in his English father Frederick and German mother Augusta\u2019s native tongues.<\/p>