The state of 18th century medicine and its brutal, highly ineffective methods of treatment for so called “nervous diseases” only serves to exacerbate his condition. He’s already suffering from his illness, but in the form of episodes rather than an ongoing state. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story‘s George III (Corey Mylchreest), on the other hand, is something of a “before” picture. The rampant ableism of 18th and 19th century society meant that a member of the royal family being afflicted by “madness,” as was the king’s official diagnosis at the time, was seen as an embarrassment the member in question would be hidden away from the public to protect the reputation of the crown (something that continued in the British royal family until disturbingly recently, and which continues in parts of society).

This desire to hide George III and his condition is typical of the period.

As much as Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) clearly loves him, she’s also careful to ensure that when he does manage to appear in front of people outside of their immediate family, he’s swiftly removed from the situation and hidden away again. He forgets important events, like the death of his daughter, and loses his sense of propriety. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story: What is wrong with the king?īridgerton‘s George III (James Fleet) is erratic, prone to emotional outbursts, and clearly suffering from paranoia and memory problems similar to dementia.

Different seasons king