For the record, this is almost certainly a genetic defect of the father, some kind of dominant mutation. Nutrition and other environmental factors most likely didn't play any role in a height difference this big.

There are two copies of each gene. Here, one of the copies got mutated in such a way that it caused the stunted growth of the father. Each sperm contains one randomly selected copy of each gene. Therefore half of the father's sperms contained the mutated gene and the other half the normal version. There was 50% chance the son would be normal height and 50% chance he would be small like his father.

I actually know a family like this. Nothing fishy going on there, the mutation is well described and now new kids with the mutation get growth hormones during their growth to reach normal size.

First I thought its a behind the scenes pic from The Princess Bride

Genetics is, in fact, a science, and it allows for offspring to grow to be bigger than their parents.

Nobody tell him...

Not pictured: the tall Amazonian woman that's his mother.

Whatever the political motives/lack of logic behind it, these faces look like they are related by blood.

Didn't know Genetics was so insecure they would project their own insecurities onto others.

The dommy mommy of the short king gratified the wall in the background (and yes, I do mean that she is just that tall, and named Laura).