Just like us commoners, royals can also struggle with mental health. While some experience fleeting moments of sadness, others have faced profound and unsettling mental illnesses. Here are ten royals whose stories reveal the darker side of palace life.
10. King George III
King George III, often dubbed “Mad King George,” is best known for losing the American colonies. Ruling Great Britain from 1738 to 1820, he oversaw the American Revolution and the subsequent loss of overseas territories.
His leadership deficiencies might’ve stemmed from his apparent madness. King George was known for incessant repetition, rambling incoherently, and drooling while speaking. He occasionally suffered convulsions.
While some theorize he had porphyria, a genetic disorder, many historians now believe his symptoms pointed to a psychiatric illness. His story serves as a reminder that power and privilege don’t shield individuals from mental health struggles.
9. Ludwig II
Ludwig II, another royal often branded as “mad,” ruled Germany from 1864 to 1886. He’s famous for commissioning Germany’s fairytale castles, most notably Neuschwanstein.
His castle-building obsession seemed rooted more in delusion than artistic passion. He couldn’t stop, even as his grand visions clashed with his financial realities and banks threatened him. Ludwig continued his lavish projects relentlessly.
Adding to this, he was reclusive, delusional, violent, cruel, and prone to hallucinations. Physicians diagnosed him with paranoia, a broad term for mental instability. Today, historians suggest he might have had schizotypal personality disorder and Pick’s disease.
8. Prince Otto
If Ludwig II is remembered, so should his younger brother, Prince Otto. He became the King of Bavaria in 1886, but by then, madness had already consumed him.
Records show Prince Otto displayed signs of depression as early as 17. The royal family kept him away from court, hidden in Nymphenburg Palace. Even after ascending to the throne, Otto was quickly removed after six years and secluded for life.
Prince Otto suffered from schizophrenia, with symptoms appearing as early as age 20. He became aggressive, depressed, and delusional. His story highlights schizophrenia’s early onset and devastating impact.
7. Nerissa Bowes-Lyon
Nerissa Bowes-Lyon, a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, was largely unknown until Netflix’s “The Crown” brought her story to light.
Nerissa and her sister Katherine both had severe learning disabilities, behaving like much younger children and never learning to speak.
Largely ignored by the royal family, they lived in a mental hospital. Without precise medical terminology to define their condition at birth, the exact nature of their illness remains uncertain. It’s believed they suffered from a genetic disease that ran in the family but skipped over the Queen.
6. King Charles VI of France
King Charles VI, who ruled France from 1380 to 1422, presents one of the most bizarre cases of royal madness. Early on, he showed signs of delusion and violence, even killing several of his knights during a paranoid episode in 1392.
His illness worsened when he became convinced his body was made of glass. Terrified of shattering, he forbade anyone in his court from approaching him!
This delusion, known as Glass Delusion, still exists today, though it’s less common than in the Middle Ages. King Charles VI’s peculiar case illustrates the extreme forms mental illness can take.
5. Eric XIV
Though the Swedish monarchy isn’t often discussed, King Eric XIV of Sweden deserves a place on this list. Known for aggressive foreign policy and ruthlessness in the Scandinavian Seven Years’ War, he was also known for his descents into madness.
Initially, he seemed mentally stable, but his condition deteriorated over time. By 1563, his mental illness was undeniable, marked by fits of violence and paranoia.
He executed courtiers on suspicion of treason and sentenced anyone who whispered, laughed, or smiled in his presence, deeming it treasonous. By 1568, the Swedish people deposed him, exiling him until his death by poisoning. Today, it’s believed he suffered from schizophrenia.
4. Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg
Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg, a German princess, became the Queen of Sweden through marriage. Her reign, however, was marred by mental illness.
She and her husband focused on producing an heir. After miscarriages and stillbirths, they had a daughter. Plunged into deep depression, the queen attempted to take her baby’s life, leading the court to place the child in the care of the king’s sister.
The queen’s depression worsened after her husband’s death. She kept his body for months, wanting to touch it. Maria spent her remaining years battling severe depression, a victim of mental illness she couldn’t overcome.
3. Princess Alexandra Amelie
Princess Alexandra Amelie, a Bavarian princess, began to lose her sanity at age 23. Early signs included an obsession with cleanliness and a refusal to wear any color other than white.
Tension arose when her father, King Ludwig I, favored his mistress over his wife. Due to this stress, Princess Alexandra developed the delusion that she had swallowed a glass piano as a child.
Convinced of this, she became paranoid about breaking the piano and being killed by the shards of glass inside her. Some experts believe this was a case of Glass Delusion, while others link it to OCD.
2. Philip V
Prince Philip V, King of Spain from 1700 to 1746, is remembered more for his insanity than his leadership.
Suffering from feelings of inadequacy since boyhood, likely linked to depression, his condition worsened with age. He struggled with manic-depressive fits, oscillating between lethargy and hyperactivity.
Philip refused to bathe or dress, spent days in his room, battled severe insomnia, and received guests in his pajamas. He even held court sessions at midnight! Historians now believe he had bipolar disorder, OCD, and Cotard’s syndrome.
1. King Charles II of Spain
Another King Charles who succumbed to madness was King Charles II of Spain, the last ruler of the Habsburg line. His madness likely stemmed from the inbreeding within his Habsburg ancestry.
Born disfigured, he struggled with severe learning disabilities and delays, not speaking or walking until late childhood!
Physicians declared he was hexed. Today, we know his madness wasn’t witchcraft but most likely genetic diseases, though historians remain unsure exactly which ones. His tragic story underscores the dire consequences of genetic disorders within royal families.
These ten royals remind us that mental illness doesn’t discriminate. Whether reigning over empires or confined within palace walls, these individuals faced profound mental health challenges, leaving a lasting impact on their lives and legacies.
What do you think about these stories? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
