In the Netflix series “Bridgerton,” we were slightly introduced to King George as an erratic character with random bouts of confusion and distress. It wasn’t until the spin off series “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Series”, that we got to see the full extent of his situation. Though charming, and dare we say, extremely romantic in his resolve to “be a better man for Queen Charlotte”, it is quite clear, throughout the series, that the king suffers, some kind of mental health issues, that was at the time, undiagnosable and untreatable.
Although the cause of King George III’s mental health issues, often referred to as “madness” in the context of the show, is not explicitly specified in the series, his character is portrayed as having a form of bipolar disorder. This portrayal is based on historical records that suggest the real-life King George III may have suffered from a similar condition. A lot of the characteristics of King George’s condition both in the movie and in real life also point to a hereditary blood disorder defined by modern science as porphyria. This condition causes a buildup of porphyrins in the body, leading to a range of symptoms such as abdominal pain, skin sensitivity, and mental health issues.
It’s worth noting the historical accuracy of the idea that King George III actually had porphyria is being disputed. What we are clear on is that he suffered from a mental illness which modern medical experts suggest could have been bipolar disorder or a similar condition. However, the specific cause of this illness remains a subject of debate till this day, among historians and medical professionals.