Queen Charlotte Makes Bridgerton’s King George Tragedy Even Worse

Queen Charlotte underscores the tragedy of King George III’s life as it follows his story throughout the prequel series, as well as Queen Charlotte’s.

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story focuses on the love story between the title character and King George III, whose story becomes all the more tragic. Queen Charlotte goes back further in time, following Her Royal Majesty during her Bridgerton era and the early days of her marriage decades prior. Created by Shonda Rhimes, the series finally showcases more of King George III’s backstory and journey alongside Queen Charlotte.

King George III (portrayed by Corey Mylchreest in his younger years, and by James Fleet later in life) has long been one of Bridgerton’s most tragic characters. Despite having a limited amount of screen time, his appearances have cemented him as a sympathetic figure, one whose story is filled with heartache and sorrow. Queen Charlotte’s reactions to him have always made it all the more heartbreaking. The prequel series delves deeper into King George III’s history, his tragedy becoming even more potent. Queen Charlotte brings the tragedy of King George to the forefront, and it does the same with Queen Charlotte’s story, which is filled with a deeper story than Bridgerton asserts.

Queen Charlotte Reveals How Much George Went Through For Love
Queen Charlotte showcases how much King George loved his wife. While he agreed to be married because it was his duty, he felt that he was not good enough for Charlotte because of his mental health condition. It’s why he tried to keep it a secret, afraid of what she might think, or that she would push him away because of it. King George took extreme measures to try and be a good king, and good enough for Queen Charlotte. He didn’t think he met expectations because of his mental illness, which made him feel like there was something “wrong” with him when there wasn’t.

King George withstood torture methods from his doctor, pushed himself to the brink, hid himself away, and remained distant and aloof for a while because he wanted to be the monarch and husband he was raised to be; George went so far because of how much he loved Charlotte, and he wanted to give her what he believed he couldn’t. George suffered through a lot to ensure he would be there for Charlotte, that he could be a good king, a supportive and loving husband, and a present father.

Queen Charlotte Reveals The Tragedy Of Charlotte’s Life
Queen Charlotte also showed the tragedy of the titular character’s life. Queen Charlotte fought hard for love, and she had to assert herself to ensure she wasn’t kept in the dark about George’s condition. Charlotte worked so that their love could not only survive, but thrive — she built a support system, a wall to protect all that she cared for. But that took a toll on her over the course of her life. Charlotte’s continued fight for love was a losing battle against George’s deteriorating physical and mental health. Queen Charlotte busied herself with social activities like balls, matchmaking the atom’s youth, attempting to discover Lady Whistledown’s identity, and throwing weddings.

Queen Charlotte even had a zoo at the palace. All of these things filled the hollowness she often felt, hiding the sorrow that surrounded her. George’s waning health didn’t make things any easier. His presence was a shadow that followed her, it was one she couldn’t step away from, loyal to the end, but grieving the loss of a husband who wasn’t yet dead. One of the biggest tragedies of her situation is that Charlotte doesn’t really have anyone to confide in. She was friends with Lady Danbury, but only Brimsley truly understood the depths of her feelings and the tragic life she led. He’d seen it all, but she was reluctant to fully let anyone in.

And so Queen Charlotte occupies her mind and keeps her schedule filled with activities, including finding her sons young women suitable enough to marry to produce an heir. Queen Charlotte and King George III may have had a great love, but the trials and tribulations they faced throughout their lives cost them a lot. Queen Charlotte showcased how difficult their lives were from the start, and how full of tragedy it was, too. But despite the lows, Queen Charlotte and King George had each other, and their love brought them just as much joy as their lives brought sorrow. That, as Queen Charlotte, underscores, is enough, if even for a time.