Watch Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story

Netflix’s newest offering, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, is a limited prequel series based on the origins of Queen Charlotte. The show will center on the rise and love life of a young Charlotte, as well as the stories of young Violet Bridgerton and Lady Danbury. It is a spin-off of the popular Bridgerton series, which was adapted from Julia Quinn's novels.

The prequel tells the story of Queen Charlotte's rise to prominence and power, and how her marriage to King George sparked both a great love story and a societal shift, creating the world of the Ton inherited by the characters in Bridgerton. Although Quinn's Bridgerton novels are works of fiction, Queen Charlotte was a real-life historical figure who lived in Britain during the early 1800s. Showrunner Shonda Rhimes decided to include her in the series to add a touch of historical realism.

In an interview with Variety, Rhimes revealed that it was Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos who encouraged her to create a spin-off series for Queen Charlotte. Rhimes said that she was "very obsessed" with the character and called her the "Beyoncé of the show." Rhimes also expressed her love for Queen Charlotte's wigs, hoping that someone would send her one so that she could walk around wearing it.

Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was Queen Consort of Great Britain from 1761 to 1818. In real life, Charlotte was a German noble who became queen consort to George III upon their marriage in 1761. The couple had 15 children, but King George III suffered several bouts of mental illness that hampered his rule. In the main Bridgerton series, King George III is played by James Fleet, known for his role in Vicar of Dibley.

The Queen Charlotte spin-off will feature three familiar faces from the main Bridgerton series, with Golda Rosheuvel reprising her role as Queen Charlotte, Adjoa Andoh returning as Lady Agatha Danbury, and Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton. However, a young cast will play the well-loved Bridgerton characters in their younger days. India Amarteifio, known for starring opposite Thandiwe Newton in Line of Duty, will portray the younger version of Charlotte.

The spin-off will also highlight Lady Danbury's early years. TV newcomer Arsema Thomas has been cast to play the younger version of Lady Danbury. Connie Jenkins-Greig, known for her roles in Mr. Selfridge and New Blood, will play Young Violet Ledger, the daughter of Vivian and Lord Ledger. Corey Mylchreest will play Young George, while Michelle Fairley, known for her role as Catelyn Stark in Game of Thrones, will portray his mother, Princess Augusta.

The rest of the cast includes Sam Clemmett as young Brimsley, Richard Cunningham as Lord Bute, Tunji Kasim as Adolphus, Rob Maloney as the Royal Doctor, and Cyril Nri as Lord Danbury. Hugh Sachs will be reprising his Bridgerton role as the older Brimsley.

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story promises to be a captivating series, exploring the origins of Queen Charlotte and the societal shift that her marriage to King George sparked. Fans of the Bridgerton series will love the new spin-off, which promises to deliver the same quality of storytelling, breathtaking costumes, and stunning visuals.

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is a series that ran for 1 seasons (6 episodes) between May 4, 2023 and on Netflix