What happens at the end of the sweet love story between Queen Charlotte and King George and Reynolds and Brimsley? Read on to find out.
We might still be waiting for Bridgerton season 3, but in the meantime brand new spin-off series, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, has landed on Netflix – and introduced fans to two new romantic leads.
India Amarteifio leads the cast as the young titular Queen, who marries King George III (Corey Mylchreest) at the beginning of the series. However, their marriage soon heads into troubled waters when she discovers that he is battling a secret mental health disorder.
As well as detailing the pair’s love story and George’s struggles with his mental health, the six episodes also explore how Queen Charlotte came to be the petulant and imperious Queen Bridgerton fans have come to know and love.
With the action flipping back and forth between the two timelines, it can be hard to keep up in the final episode.
So, with a second season potentially on the cards, read on for everything you need to know about the ending of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, including what happened to minor characters such as Reynolds and Brimsley.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story ending explained
Did King George love Charlotte?
In the final episode, George returns to Kew – and a pregnant Charlotte goes with him, against the orders of those around her – and has dismissed his doctor. Once there, George tries to order Charlotte to go back to Buckingham House but she states that she will remain by his side. It is then that she realizes that George keeps away from her in order to protect her, but does love her.
In an emotional scene, George finally reveals that he is in love with Charlotte in a powerful admission about his secret “madness” and the burden he carries with it. The pair state that they can do things together going forward, now that Charlotte knows about his illness.
Charlotte thinks that because she now lives with George at Kew, he is better and will stay the way he is. But Reynolds is apprehensive, as he was born witness to the King’s changing moods. In a touching bathtub scene, Reynolds and Brimsley talk about their future together, dreaming of marriage and miracles – but of course, we know that in the present Bridgerton era of the show, Brimsley isn’t married and is devoted to caring for the Queen and King.
Princess Augusta goes to Kew ordering Queen Charlotte to see her son, but Charlotte stands firm. Augusta states that George must face parliament as rumors continue to swirl and if Charlotte is to take the charge of George going forward, she has to get George back to Buckingham House. Charlotte succeeds in being able to do so, with George understandably growing nervous.
At their time there, Charlotte gives birth and later in their stay, George has to prepare to deliver his anticipated speech to parliament. Although he appears fine to his wife, once he has arrived by himself at parliament, he is unable to get out of his carriage.
Back at the palace, Reynolds raises his voice to the Queen, stating that George is not fine and her desire for him to be better is simply a hope. Charlotte then finds George lying underneath their bed, where he emotionally explains that he’d understand if Charlotte wanted to leave him. Instead, the pair appears stronger than ever and throw a ball to mark the arrival of the young prince.
The occasion is the first time George has been seen in public for quite some time and although he is nervous, the royal couple dance and introduce their ball. The King is in a good mood and an even better one when Charlotte makes the subtle announcement that she is pregnant again.
In the more present Bridgerton era of the series, Queen Charlotte isn’t getting along with her children at all, angry at the fact that none of them have produced an heir.
Queen Charlotte’s children confront her about the pressure she’s putting on them and state that their happiness has never been something she had thought of. She explains the amount of sacrifices she has made, but her son tells her that she has simply been a Queen and not their mother. She later refers to them all as “ungrateful” but Brimsley tells her that she cares only for the King, not her children.
Later in the episode, Queen Charlotte is finally given what she wants and is told by her son Edward and his wife Victoria that she is pregnant, thereby providing Queen Charlotte the heir she’s been after.
Charlotte goes to tell George the good news at his separate living quarters but when she arrives, he is speaking to himself and drawing on the wall. Charlotte knows how to speak to him and climbs under the bed where he immediately recognizes her. She tells him the good news of Edward’s heir and George holds her hand, thanking her and kissing her.
