The True Story Behind the Real Queen Charlotte
Bridgerton fans are getting more romance, sex, and high-society shenanigans with the new prequel series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (on Netflix May 4). As evidenced by the title, the limited series focuses on a young Queen Charlotte around the time that she married her husband, King George III. The older versions of Queen Charlotte, Lady Danbury, and Violet Bridgerton will be featured in one timeline—and played by the same actors from the main Bridgerton series—while new stars play them in the central storyline that takes place in the past.
With most of Bridgerton being very fictional — from the characters to the string quartet arrangements of "Thank U, Next" — you probably wouldn't be surprised to hear the whole thing was just made up with no historical basis. But, Queen Charlotte and King George III were actual, real members of the British royal family. Their story is just changed—and, when it comes to one important factor, inspired by a rumor. Read on to find out more about the real former queen.
When did Queen Charlotte reign?
Queen Charlotte was born Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz on May 19, 1744 in Mirow, Germany, which was then a part of the Holy Roman Empire, according to the British royal family website. Her father was a duke and her mother was a princess, making Charlotte a princess, too.
When George III succeeded to the throne in 1760, he was only 22 years old and was not yet married. Princess Charlotte was chosen to marry him and moved from Germany to England. She was 17 years old at the time.
What was Queen Charlotte's relationship like with King George III?
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story obviously focuses a lot on the romance between Charlotte and George. And while not everything can be known about a couple who got together over 250 years ago, the king and queen are said to have had a loving marriage.
The Royal Collection Trust published letters that Charlotte wrote to George. In one she wrote, "You will have the benefit by Your voyages to put Spirit in every Body, to be more known by the World, and if Possible more beloved by the People in general. That must be the case, but not equal to the love of her who subscribes herself Your very affectionate Friend and Wife Charlotte [sic]."
But, while they found love following their arranged marriage, they had to grapple with George's mental illness, as shown on Bridgerton and Queen Charlotte. According to the royal family's site, "King George III suffered his first, although temporary, bout of mental illness in 1765." What is referred to has his "permanent madness" began in 1811. According to History Extra, George became violent at times. Charlotte became his "devoted guardian," but wouldn't visit him alone.
Did Queen Charlotte have children?
Did she ever! Charlotte and George III welcomed 15 children in the span of 22 years, and 13 of them survived into adulthood. Their first son, George IV, took over as Prince Regent (so, like, the King-ish) due to George III's mental illness, and then became king when his father died in 1820. (Charlotte died in 1818.)
Was Queen Charlotte actually Black?
On Bridgerton and on Queen Charlotte, the queen is portrayed by biracial actors, Golda Rosheuvel and India Amarteifio, who are both half white and half Black. And while Bridgerton might seem like it is simply employing colorblind casting, that is not the case. The shows make a point of Queen Charlotte being the impetus for British high society becoming integrated, although that was obviously not the case in the real world 18th century.
But, the Queen Charlotte character being portrayed in this way does have a real world basis... sort of. It has been proposed that Queen Charlotte had Black ancestry due to some old descriptions of her and a particularly famous painting, but most historians agree that this suggestion is inaccurate, lacks evidence, and Charlotte was not actually Black.
Still, the idea provided inspiration. "We took the idea that Queen Charlotte was from Black Portuguese royalty and ran with it," Queen Charlotte creator Shonda Rhimes told The Guardian.
What was Queen Charlotte like?
The Queen Charlotte of Bridgerton is obsessed with gossip, wears over-the-top outfits, wigs, and jewelry, and is always surrounded by her entourage. And it sounds like at least some of this was based in reality.
According to the Royal Collection Trust, "Queen Charlotte's tastes were rather less plain than her husband's." The couple were the first royals to live in Buckingham Palace and Charlotte collected furniture, porcelain, and jewelry, and had an "extensive" collection of diamonds and pearls.
The royal was also said to have been very interested in music and botany. No word on if she regularly read a gossip column published by a teenager pretending to be a woman named Lady Whistledown.
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