Royal Family adopted feral child Peter the Wild Boy as ‘pet’ who had chain collar

Feral child Peter the Wild Boy caused quite the stir when he arrived at the royal court in Georgian England, becoming a living “human pet”.

Adopted by King George I as his “human pet”, Peter’s life story remains both fascinating and unsettling, shining a light on how society treated those who were different.

In 1725, Peter was discovered living alone and naked in a German forest. Around 12 years old, he was found unable to speak, walking on all fours, and behaving in ways that immediately sparked the curiosity of onlookers. The following year, he was whisked off to England, where he became a sensation at Kensington Palace.

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The wild tales about Peter began almost instantly. Some believed he had been raised by wolves or bears, explaining his wild habits including eating with his hands, refusing to wear clothes, and his inability to talk.

“At the time, people assumed Peter acted the way he did because he was a wild child. They didn’t suspect that something else could have been afflicting him,” said Lucy Worsley, curator of Historic Royal Palaces.

Despite attempts to “civilise” Peter, he never adapted to the expectations of court life. He was notorious for scampering around on all fours, picking the pockets of courtiers and snatching kisses. His behaviour was unpredictable but always in good fun, like when he tried to steal the Lord Chamberlain’s staff or played with Princess Caroline’s glove.

The court would dress him in a green velvet suit every day, only for him to wriggle out of it whenever possible. At night, while the court tried to put him to bed, Peter preferred to curl up in the corner of his room on the floor, more like a pet than a prince. They even had him painted alongside royals in portraits, reports BBC.

“People were beginning to question established authority and religion. And they were interested in what distinguishes us from the animals,” said Worsley. Philosophers of the time were captivated by Peter. Could someone without speech be human, especially when he acted like an animal?

He even caught the attention of famous writers like Jonathan Swift and Daniel Defoe, who wrote pamphlets about his wild nature. A waxwork figure of Peter was displayed in the Strand, drawing crowds curious to see this mysterious “wild boy”.

But as time went on and the novelty wore off, Peter’s place at court faded. Eventually, he was sent to live on a farm in Hertfordshire, where he spent the rest of his days in peace. Unlike many people who were treated as curiosities or “freaks” in Georgian England, Peter ended up in good hands.

The farmers who cared for him grew fond of him, and strangely made him a collar to keep him safe when he wandered off. Though they weren’t trying to be cruel, it really was – as it was inscribed with: “Peter the Wild Man of Hanover. Whoever will bring him to Mr Fenn at Berkhamsted shall be paid for their trouble.”

Worsley said: “It looks like the collar of a dog or a slave. But it was made with a kind thought, as when the wind blew in a certain direction, he would wander off.”

Years after his death, Peter’s story has taken on a new twist. Worsley, while examining a portrait of him by court painter William Kent, noticed several physical traits – his short stature, thick curly hair, hooded eyelids, and distinctive mouth – which led her to suspect a medical explanation for his behaviour.

She consulted Professor Phillip Beales, an expert in genetic disorders, who confirmed Peter most likely had Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome, a rare genetic condition only identified in 1978.

“It’s severe learning difficulties, developmental difficulties, and the inability to develop speech,” explains Professor Beales. Descriptions of Peter’s behaviour line up perfectly with this diagnosis, suggesting his “wildness” may have been due to his genetic disorder – rather than any fantastical upbringing by wolves.

Peter left a lasting impression on those who knew him and when he passed away locals paid for his headstone, and flowers are still laid on his grave to this day. Worsley added: “He was a very gentle character and in some ways, more human than the rest of us. His very existence exposed the shallow artifice of Georgian society as a bit of a sham.”

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