Queen Charlotte: How Bridgerton’s Queen relates to Britain’s real Royal Family

Netflix’s Bridgerton franchise may be based on Julia Quinn’s fictional book series of the same name, but that does not mean it is completely devoid of historical facts.

Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) for example did exist in real-life, and her reign alongside husband King George III (James Fleet) is more important than viewers may realise at first.

The character has now been given her own spin-off, titled Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, and the series explores the first years of her marriage to King George (with India Amarteifio and Corey Mylchreest as the young incarnations of the royal couple), as well as her desire to ensure one of their 13 children marries and has a child to secure the family line in the present day.This latter storyline is actually quite significant to the history of Britain’s real Royal Family, which can be traced all the way to King Charles III.

Who is Queen Charlotte’s granddaughter in the Netflix prequel?

Throughout the Netflix series, Queen Charlotte acts as matchmaker for her children after the only legitimate heir to the throne dies in childbirth, thus risking the end of the royal line.

In the end, Charlotte’s machinations work and her fourth son, Edward (Jack Michael Stacey), reveals that he and his new wife Victoria (Florence Dobson) are expecting their first child.

If Edward’s wife’s name gives you a hint as to where this is going, you would be correct: Queen Charlotte’s future granddaughter in Bridgerton is none other than Queen Victoria.

Queen Victoria ruled over Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 until 1901, and her reign was the second longest in British history.

How Bridgerton’s Queen Charlotte relates to Britain’s real Royal Family

As depicted in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz became Queen upon marrying King George III in 1761. They had 15 children, 13 of which survived to adulthood.

King George III is the longest-serving male monarch of Great Britain, and he was succeeded by his sons King George IV and then King William IV. As both had no legitimate heirs of their own, Queen Victoria ascended to the throne.

Both King George IV and King William appear in the Bridgerton prequel, with Ryan Gage playing George and Seamus Dillane portraying William on screen.

Queen Victoria was the final regent in the House of Hanover line, and the royal house name was changed to the House of Windsor following the succession of her son Edward VII.

The House of Windsor is Britain’s current reigning royal house, it included the late Queen Elizabeth II and is now led by King Charles III, whose coronation will take place on 6 May.