How Accurate is Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story? We discuss the popular Netflix prequel series and explore the authenticity of the series. We do discuss spoilers.
When a show becomes popular, the temptation is to launch spin-offs to capitalize on the property while it’s hot. Bridgerton is no exception, and a six-episode-limited prequel series has dropped under the watchful eye of Shonda Rhimes.
The historical drama has two solid narrative threads, one set in the present day of Bridgerton 1817 and the death of the royal heir Princess Charlotte. This event causes the Queen to pressure her children to marry so they can have a royal heir.
The other begins in 1761 with Charlotte meeting and marrying King George and tells the story of their marriage and his subsequent mental illness.
However, the show has also led to viewers wondering about the series’ authenticity, leading us to this article that will answer how accurate is Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
Is Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story based on a True Story?
The story is based on real characters and some historically accurate events, but the show reimagines Queen Charlotte’s real life.
There have been a lot of dramatic licenses involved in the storytelling, with some aspects of the story being removed while many others have been added, so although there are facts that have stuck, a lot has been lost.
How historically accurate is Queen Charlotte in A Bridgerton Story?
The show does follow the basic timeline of events for Queen Charlotte. Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz came to England and was married to King George III in 1761 to become the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland. The couple remained married for a royal fifty-seven years and had a staggering fifteen children; sadly, two of the children died before making it to adulthood.
There has been a lot documented about the King’s mental illness, and his condition became gradually worse. Much like we see depicted in the series, Charlotte remained by her husband’s side until the very end, even when his condition deteriorated badly. Their son George IV would eventually become the regent.
Character-wise, the show manages to encapsulate a lot of the facts about Charlotte in its narrative. Details include Charlotte’s love for music and art, her discovery of a young Mozart, her love of botany, and the interesting pub quiz fact that she introduced the Christmas tree to Britain.
In the series, when George and Charlotte are married, he gives her Buckingham House as a gift, which is how it plays out in real life. It was also that the real George III enjoyed living a simpler life, as opposed to the grand and royal life his title offered.
Was Queen Charlotte Black?
Although it has been debated for many years, Queen Charlotte was not black.
Historians have stated that despite possibly being descended from an African mistress within the royal household, there is no evidence to substantiate the claim she was black.
Does Queen Charlotte exist in the Bridgerton books?
Fans will be pleased to learn that Charlotte is a player in the series of eight books that make up the Bridgerton series. The books, written by Julia Quinn, would use the real-life Queen in the books.
