People make 'haunting' discovery about Humpty Dumpty and grim story behind nursery rhyme

The lyrics of the popular nursery rhyme never actually mention an egg - but Humpty Dumpty has been depicted as one in illustrations for centuries.

If you've always regarded dear old Humpty Dumpty as a benign egg, you may wish to avert your gaze now. Similarly, if you treasure a beloved collection of illustrated nursery rhymes from your youth, consider this your gentle warning.

It transpires that Humpty Dumpty isn't actually an egg - and people have been left stunned by the revelation. As one of the most cherished children's nursery rhymes ever penned, Humpty Dumpty has traditionally been depicted as a guileless egg.

Countless illustrations showcasing his shell have been found, dating back to his inaugural egg-like debut in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland follow-up Through the Looking Glass, reports the Mirror.

Yet the verse itself contains no reference to an egg whatsoever. Should you require a refresher, here's the rhyme:

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall,

All the king's horses and all the king's men,

Couldn't put Humpty together again.

So what's behind his persistent portrayal as an egg? It's an intriguing query that author Holly Bourne raised on X, formerly Twitter, back in 2023.

Posting on social media, she said: "Who decided Humpty Dumpty was an egg? Its not in the lyrics, and deciding he's a giant egg is quite a random leap for someone to make, and everyone else being like, 'yeah, a giant egg on a wall. Of course."

And she was far from alone in her bewilderment. One person commented: "This has been haunting me for years." Another added: "This has bugged me for a long time!!"

Meanwhile, several other individuals who had just come to the realisation were eager to find out the truth. "This is genuinely the first time I've realised he's not explicitly an egg," one Twitter user confessed. Another queried: "Oh my goodness how did I not realise this?".

Fortunately, those with knowledge on the subject were quick to enlighten the curious. Jane Etheridge, Vice Chair of Federation of Children's Book Groups, responded: "It's believed to be Roundhead propaganda about a Royalist cannon. First appearance as an egg was in Through the Looking Glass."

There is even a grave attributed to Humpty Dumpty the cannon at St Mary's Church in Whitby, though it is shaped like an egg.

Additional theories suggest that Humpty Dumpty is actually a narrative about King Richard III and his fall at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.

So there you have it. Despite their varied hypotheses, historians concur that Humpty Dumpty's origins are not as an egg but potentially something far more sombre.

In different weird news, chocolate fans were left stunned after learning the "correct" way to eat a popular confection.

Toblerone is world famous and instantly recognisable for its triangular segment shape and many indulge in the treat during special moments such as Christmas or snag one from Duty Free while jet-setting.

It can also be known to be tough to break off a piece, but one culinary enthusiast uncovered the optimal strategy to claim a segment. Demonstrating on social media, he shared: "So apparently this is how you're supposed to break your Toblerone."