I am once again sobbing over Queen Charlotte and King George’s relationship.
If you’re anything like me, you’ve already binge-watched Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story and have concluded that it’s one of the best shows of 2023.
Created and written by Shonda Rhimes, the Bridgerton prequel series focuses on Queen Charlotte’s rise to power through two main storylines that examine her past and present.
Beginning in 1761, we see a young Charlotte (played by India Amarteifio) meeting and marrying King George (played by Corey Mylchreest). Despite their initial attraction at their first meeting, Charlotte begins to struggle with the constraints of English royalty, as well as George’s mental illness.
Meanwhile, in 1817 — which is when Bridgerton takes place — an older Charlotte (played by Golda Rosheuvel) is pressuring her children to marry and produce a royal heir in order to secure the line of succession.
Now, there are a lot of reasons to love Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. The casting is spot-on, the acting is phenomenal, the costumes are breathtakingly beautiful and the soundtrack is the cherry on top of everything else.
But it’s the beautiful, raw and honest love story between Charlotte and George, which spans from their first meeting in Queen Charlotte to their continued devotion in the present Bridgerton storyline despite George’s failing health, that makes this series unforgettable.
Despite everything that was thrown their way, their love for each other persevered — and that couldn’t be more evident than in the final scene of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, which shows Charlotte crawling underneath a bed with George.
During this moment, while hiding from the heavens, they share a memory from their youth, remembering their dedication to one another. It’s heartbreaking to see how time has wreaked havoc on George, but he will always, always, ALWAYS remember his love for Lottie.
It makes seeing George’s present state in Bridgerton that much more heartbreaking — because as much as Charlotte loves him, there’s a part of her that wishes and waits for young George to return.
As pointed out by Queen Charlotte fans on Twitter, this explains why Golda’s portrayal of Charlotte in Bridgerton still wears extravagant wigs and gowns that were more commonly seen during the Georgian era.
Remember, the events of Bridgerton are set during the Regency era, which ushered in a completely different style of fashion. Gowns had high empire waistlines, softer corseting, loose and flowing skirts that fell close to the body, and lower necklines. You see this mirrored in the dresses that Daphne and Kate wear throughout the series.
In contrast, Queen Charlotte is often seen dressed in elaborate gowns featuring big skirts, tight corsets and high necklines — which are all characteristics of the Georgian fashion belonging to her younger years.
Although it looks dated in the context of Bridgerton, when watching Queen Charlotte we now understand why she dresses the way she does. It’s because Charlotte still clings on to the past in the hope that George will fully regain his memories — and in the event that he does, she’ll be ready to welcome him back with open arms, just like she did when they were younger.
And there I go again, weeping over fictional characters and their beautiful love stories. I am absolutely emotionally wrecked, SHONDA RHIMES.
It’s always “Hey, u up?” and never “I will stand between the heavens and the earth and I will tell you where you are.” The bar has been raised so high.
What were your thoughts on Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story? And did you notice any other details while watching? Let us know in the comments!
