If you’ve spent any time swooning over the Regency-era balls and high-stakes gossip of the Bridgerton universe, you’ve definitely noticed the shadow hanging over the throne. King George III is a bit of a mystery. One minute he’s a brilliant, stargazing romantic who literally buys his wife a Pomeranian just because it's a "deformed bunny," and the next, he’s hiding in his observatory, terrified of the heavens.
But what exactly does King George have in Bridgerton?
The show is famously coy about giving him a modern label. Shonda Rhimes and the writers chose to focus on the human experience—the "Just George" of it all—rather than a medical chart. However, if we look at the symptoms shown on screen and compare them to the actual history of the "Mad King," a much clearer (and heartbreaking) picture emerges.
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The Mystery of George's "Malady"
In Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, George’s condition is portrayed as a episodic struggle with reality. He experiences tremors. He has fits of "loquacity" (non-stop talking until he literally foams at the mouth). He suffers from delusions, once believing he could see the Great Barrier Reef in his gardens or that he was talking to stars.
Basically, the show depicts a man suffering from chronic mental illness paired with severe anxiety and sensory overload.
Historically, the diagnosis for King George III has shifted like the tide. For decades, the "go-to" answer was Porphyria. This is a rare genetic blood disorder that can cause abdominal pain, purple-colored urine, and, most importantly, psychiatric symptoms like hallucinations and paranoia. It was a popular theory because it suggested the King wasn't "crazy" in the way the 18th century defined it, but rather physically sick.
Honestly, though? Modern experts aren't buying it anymore.
Bipolar Disorder: The Leading Theory
Most historians and medical researchers today, including those at St George’s, University of London, believe George actually had Bipolar Disorder Type I.
When you watch George in Bridgerton, you see these distinct cycles. There are the manic phases—the periods of intense, hyper-focused energy where he spends all night in the observatory or obsesses over his "Farmer George" agricultural experiments. Then, there are the crashes. The moments of deep confusion and withdrawal.
- The Mania: He speaks at lightning speed, jumps from topic to topic, and requires very little sleep.
- The Psychosis: In his worst moments, he loses touch with who Charlotte is, retreating into a world where he is "not there."
- The Triggers: Stress is his biggest enemy. The pressure of the crown, the loss of the American colonies, and the "Great Experiment" of his marriage all seem to push him over the edge.
There’s also a growing conversation among fans and neurodiversity advocates about whether the Bridgerton version of George is meant to be Autistic. While the show doesn't explicitly state this, his sensory sensitivities—like his reaction to loud noises or the way he finds comfort in the predictable movements of the planets—resonate deeply with many viewers on the spectrum.
The "Treatments" Made It Worse
The most gut-wrenching part of George’s story in Bridgerton isn't the illness itself; it’s the "cure."
Enter Dr. Monro. In the show, this man is basically a villain. He uses leeches, ice baths, and "coercion" to break George’s spirit. Sadly, this is one of the most historically accurate parts of the series. The real George III was subjected to "the chair," a device meant to restrain him for hours until he "calmed down."
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Recent hair analysis of the real King George even found high levels of arsenic. Back then, doctors were accidentally poisoning him with medicines (like tartar emetic) that contained the toxic metal. Imagine being already mentally fragile and then having your doctors feed you literal poison. It’s no wonder he "disintegrated."
Is it Dementia?
By the time we see George in Bridgerton Season 2, he is much older and significantly more "lost." He wanders into the room in his nightshirt, thinking his dead daughter is still a child.
This isn't just the Bipolar Disorder anymore. Historians believe that in his final decade, George suffered from Dementia, possibly brought on by the long-term effects of his recurrent manic episodes or simply old age. This is why Queen Charlotte is so protective of him. She isn't just hiding a "mad king"—she’s protecting the man she loves from a world that would treat him like a spectacle.
What You Can Take Away From George's Story
Watching King George in Bridgerton is a lesson in empathy. It reminds us that:
- Diagnosis isn't everything: Even without a label, George’s struggle is valid and deeply human.
- Support systems matter: Charlotte’s decision to stay "under the bed" with him is the ultimate act of love and grounding.
- Historical context changes: What was called "madness" in 1761 we now recognize as a complex health condition that deserves treatment, not torture.
If you’re interested in the real history, you can explore the Georgian Papers Programme, which has digitized thousands of the King’s own letters. Reading his actual handwriting—which becomes frantic and disorganized during his "bouts"—offers a chillingly personal look at what he was going through.
You can also look into modern resources on Bipolar Disorder if the show's themes hit home for you. Understanding the "loquacity" and "mania" George experienced helps peel back the drama and reveals the real person behind the crown.
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To learn more about how the show blends reality with fiction, you might want to look into the true story of the real Queen Charlotte's 15 children or the actual "Doctor Monro" and the history of Bethlem Royal Hospital.