“Queen Charlotte” Bridgerton Spinoff, Coronation and Mental Health

Spoiler Alert! The following post discusses major plot points in Netflix’s Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. So be careful if you haven’t seen the movie yet.

In real life and fiction, life isn’t always carefree, even for royalty.

Last week, the Netflix series Queen Charlotte, about a monarch’s deteriorating mental health, was released. In the real world, millions of people watched as King Charles III. was crowned. This marked a new era in British royalty, which has the potential to champion mental health more than ever.

There is a cultural belief that we believe royalty should be spiritually prosperous: money is not an issue; You live in a literal palace. But “Queen Charlotte” and an increasingly vocal section of the royal family remind us that anyone can struggle with mental health issues.

Experts say that power can cause a unique kind of stress, and it’s important that public awareness is finally raised about these discussions.

In the past, mental health has been an issue “covered up at all costs,” says Andrea Bonior, clinical psychologist and host of the podcast Baggage Check: Mental Health Talk and Advice. “We’ve never in the past opened up a real, real-time dialogue about what that means and talked about it in a supportive way.”

Did King George III have a mental illness? Queen Charlotte on Netflix explores the real-life history of royalty

Netflix makes it clear from the start that “Queen Charlotte” is “fact-inspired fiction.” Although it requires creative liberties, the story – a young woman is taken to live with the wife of the King of England and later learns of his battle with mental illness – is based on truth. Historians assume that King George III. suffered from bipolar disorder.

Although there was virtually no understanding of mental illness in the 17th century, the series looks to the 21st century through its compassion for a young man who is under immense pressure from outside. At several points, George’s episodes are prompted by the pressures of his duties as king. He finds solace and tranquility in being outside tending to the palace farm.

“The king is not mad. The king is only weary from carrying the greatest nation in the world on his shoulders. What can you know about the burden that this has on a boy?” says his mother, Princess Augusta, in episode 4.

Fact check:The True Story Behind Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story

“The pressure from leadership, especially back when (being king) wasn’t a decorative factor, the idea that you owe it to an entire country to make the right decisions and that those decisions are being reviewed and that the stakes are possible .” Being very high… that’s very stressful,” says Bonior.

The historical perception of leadership has been that “any sign of health or mental health problems is immediately perceived as weakness,” says UK-based psychotherapist Lizandra Leigertwood. This perception, in turn, can exacerbate these problems.

“The ramifications of being scrutinized and judged for something that’s not in your control can really have a negative impact on a person’s mental health,” she adds. “It feels like a shameful secret and the need to hide a part of yourself would feel very draining and isolating I think. It can prevent them from seeking or getting the help and support they need.”

The coronation of King Charles, Princes William and Harry and the modern royal family’s relationship to mental health

Although the role of British monarchs has changed, the royal family is still positioned as the diplomatic representative of the United Kingdom and as such must continue to represent the country positively. The late Queen Elizabeth II was famous for her mantra: “Never complain, never explain.”

King Charles III was officially crowned over the weekend, ushering in a new generation of leadership in the British royal family. Charles has not publicly addressed the issue of mental health, nor have many other royals of his generation or before. But could be about 200 years after the death of King George III. improve the British royal family’s attitude towards acknowledging mental health problems?

The younger generations are showing promising signs: Charles’ sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, have both spoken out on the subject. William, who is next in line to the throne, previously opened up about a hit point in his mental health stemming from trauma during his time as a pilot on a rescue plane and urged others to ask for help if they need it. Harry, who stepped down as a senior member of the royal family in 2020, has worked with Oprah Winfrey on an Apple TV+ series on mental health, serves as chief impact officer for mental health organization BetterUp and has spoken about his own experiences with therapy and therapy The death of his mother, Princess Diana, and the pressure of the media following his every move left him mentally challenged.

“It’s a huge turning point in the royal family’s tradition of not showing issues openly,” Leigertwood says, although she notes that “there have been some mixed and inconsistent messages about the importance of mental health,” such as the public reaction to Meghan. The Duchess of Sussex opens up about her mental health struggles versus Prince William, who is doing the same.

“A more consistent approach to mental health would certainly add more validation to the important discussion about these issues,” says Leigertwood. “It doesn’t matter what your life looks like from the outside, mental health problems can affect anyone.”

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