Unveiling the Mystery- The Illness Plaguing King George III in ‘The Queen Charlotte’

What illness does King George have in Queen Charlotte? This question has intrigued historians and medical experts for centuries. Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III, was the first monarch to establish a royal household medical staff, and her husband’s health became a focal point of public concern. The illness that plagued King George III has been a subject of debate, with various theories and diagnoses proposed over the years.

King George III’s reign, which spanned from 1760 to 1820, was marked by numerous challenges, including political turmoil and the Napoleonic Wars. However, it was his mental and physical health that garnered the most attention. The king’s illness began to manifest in the late 1780s, with symptoms that included fits, seizures, and periods of irrational behavior. These episodes became increasingly frequent and severe, leading to a diagnosis of porphyria in the 19th century.

Porphyria is a group of disorders that affect the body’s ability to produce heme, a molecule essential for the production of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The most common form of porphyria, porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), is characterized by skin symptoms, such as purple or red blotches and scarring. However, in King George III’s case, the condition primarily affected his mental health, leading to the diagnosis of porphyria variegata.

The diagnosis of porphyria was made by Sir Robert Christison, a Scottish physician, in the early 19th century. Christison’s findings were based on the king’s symptoms, as well as his family history. He noted that King George III’s illness ran in the family, with his mother, Queen Caroline of Ansbach, also suffering from similar symptoms. Christison’s diagnosis has since been widely accepted by historians and medical experts.

Despite the diagnosis of porphyria, there has been some debate regarding the accuracy of the diagnosis. Some historians argue that the king’s symptoms could be attributed to other conditions, such as epilepsy or even porphyria cutanea tarda. However, the overwhelming evidence supporting the diagnosis of porphyria variegata suggests that this was the illness that plagued King George III.

The impact of King George III’s illness on his reign and the British monarchy cannot be overstated. His periods of mental instability led to concerns about the stability of the monarchy and the country’s governance. The Regency Acts of 1788 and 1811 were passed to ensure that the king’s son, George IV, would take over the throne in the event of his father’s incapacitation.

In conclusion, the illness that King George III had in Queen Charlotte was porphyria variegata, a rare and potentially life-threatening condition that primarily affected his mental health. The diagnosis has been widely accepted by historians and medical experts, and it has had a lasting impact on the British monarchy and the country’s history.