All hail the queen!
Have you heard the talk from the Ton? Well it’s just flawless, my dear, and it’s certainly no gossip from the social pamphlets of Lady Whistledown. In May 2021, Bridgerton showrunner Shonda Rhimes announced that Netflix and her production company Shondaland will be debuting a new limited prequel series based on the early life of Queen Charlotte, titled Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. The spinoff is confirmed to be “all about Queen Charlotte’s origin story, including her marriage to King George and the great love story — and societal shift — that follows,” according to Netflix’s companion site, Tudum.
We’ve seen glimpses of Queen Charlotte’s life in the first two seasons of Bridgerton, including the state of her marriage with King George and her role in Regency-era London’s social season. But this series dives further, exploring her sudden ascension to the throne in the early 1760s. “When you meet Queen Charlotte inside the ‘Bridgerton’ universe, you can’t help but want to know more about that character and her background. So it felt like a natural exploration to go into her background,” one Netflix exec told Variety. “It truly is stunning,” they add, saying, “it is going to live up to your expectations.”
Hello, did we mention that Lady Danbury and Lady Violet Bridgerton will be featured too? There’s seriously so much to look forward to. So dear gentle reader, scroll on for everything we know about Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story so far.
Is there a trailer for Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story?
Yes! Members of the Ton — we have something you need to see. Netflix dropped a short trailer on Valentine’s Day 2023 — it begins with young Queen Charlotte dropping into a deep curtsy after realizing that the person to whom she’d been complaining about her arranged marriage was, in fact, the man she wants to marry. He gently grabs her hand to stop her, and says, “Hello, Charlotte. I am George.” That first hand touch — swooooooon.
Then, on March 23rd, Netflix released a full-length trailer. Throughout the beginning of the trailer, young Charlotte frets about her marriage to the King of England, though she’s gently reminded that there are “worse fates a person can have.” She asks, “Is he ugly? Perhaps deformed?” to no avail until she fatefully runs into him in the garden. Despite their arranged marriage, the two begin to fall in love.
The rest of the video includes clips of George’s mother arguing, “Your marriage is cannot go wrong,” as well as young Lady Danbury introducing herself for the first time. And it wouldn’t be a Bridgerton spin-off without some ~steaminess~, so we’re treated to sneak peeks of Charlotte and George getting hot and heavy presumably later on in the season. We’re counting down the days until May 4th!
Previously, on September 23, 2022, the official Bridgerton Instagram account shared a photo of India Amarteifio as Queen Charlotte and revealed the official name of the series. The post also reassured fans that the spin-off is coming soon.
“Dearest readers, rejoice in a formal introduction to royalty herself, India Amarteifo, who along with the incomparable duo of Golda Rosheuvel and Adjoa Andoh will reveal the origins of Your Majesty. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is on the way, indeed,” the caption read.
In the meantime, here is what else we know so far about the series and the cast.
Are there photos from the Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story series?
Yes! Apart from the teaser trailer, Netflix has dropped a few first-look photos from the new series. The snapshots give us a glimpse at the younger counterparts of some of our fave Bridgerton characters, including Queen Charlotte.
A second still depicts young Lady Agatha Danbury, portrayed by actress Arsema Thomas. “With keen knowledge of the once divided social scene and the intricacies of marriage, Agatha becomes a guiding light for the new Queen, all while finding her own voice and power,” the character’s description reads, per The Hollywood Reporter.
On February 7, 2023, Netflix dropped another look at King George, played by actor Corey Mylchreest. “A young man most fit for the throne. Introducing @coreymylchreest as King George in #QueenCharlotte: A Bridgerton Story,” the caption reads on Instagram. The young king appears to be in the middle of a conversation — and we imagine he’s saying something along the lines of, Netflix, it’s high time you announce the release date for this series (!!).
In April 2022, Daily Mail published a number of paparazzi photos from the set, where Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte is seen in the back of a horse-drawn carriage, wearing all black and donning a gray wig. Brimsley, played by Hugh Sachs, was also present, walking in a procession with royal troops.
