Fact or Fiction: How Much of Netflix's Queen Charlotte is a True Story?
Let's fact-check the Bridgerton prequel.
If you're a Bridgerverse fan, you've probably already binge-watched Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story and might be wondering how much of what you saw is based on real life.
Fortunately, we are here to explain.
Fact: Charlotte was a German Princess
The real Queen Charlotte's name is Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. She was the daughter of a German duke and princess, born and raised in a rural duchy. When Charlotte was 17, she was handpicked to be the next Queen of England.
Fiction: Charlotte tried to escape the wedding
India Amarteifio's Charlotte is stubborn, resistant, and cheeky. She tries to climb over the garden wall to avoid marrying the King she knows nothing about. Her real-life counterpart was very different.
The real Charlotte was modest and mild-mannered. She didn't even speak English and would never dream of walking out on her wedding.
Fact: The royal wedding took place on the day Charlotte and George met
The King and his family met Charlotte and her escorts at the palace gates upon their arrival. Just six hours later, the couple tied the knot.
Fiction: The wedding was lavish
Charlotte and George's fictional wedding with its many guests, beautiful floral arrangements, and amazing costumes and hairdos was the highlight of the first episode. In reality, the wedding was much smaller, with only the royal family and a few important guests in attendance.
Fact: King George was ill
The main twist of the spin-off is George's mysterious illness, which ruins the first few months of Charlotte's marriage. The real King George III also suffered from an undiagnosed illness, which led to him being called the Mad King and eventually losing the throne to his eldest son.
Fiction: Charlotte found out about George's illness right away
The main conflict of the Shondaland show did not occur in real life until decades after George and Charlotte's wedding. The first episode of George's illness happened only four years into the marriage and was kept secret from the Queen so she wouldn't claim her right to the throne.
Fact: Charlotte and George had 15 children and lineage issues
The current timeline of the show features many of Charlotte and George's children and focuses on issues of royal lineage. In real life, the situation was identical. The King and Queen had 15 children, nine sons and six daughters, two of whom died in infancy and one at the age of 17.
By 1815, when the show's present timeline is set, none of Charlotte's children had legitimate surviving heirs.
Fiction: The Great Experiment happened
Although there are theories that Queen Charlotte had Black ancestors, this was not discussed at the time of her marriage to King George III. While the capital city was a multicultural place, the predominantly white London ton of the 18th century would never allow something like the Great Experiment from the show to happen.