Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story |
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Promotional poster
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| Genre | Historical drama |
| Created by | Shonda Rhimes |
| Directed by | Tom Verica |
| Starring |
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| Composer(s) | Kris Bowers |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
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| Executive producer(s) |
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| Producer(s) | Anna O'Malley |
| Cinematography | Jeffrey Jur |
| Production company(s) | Shondaland |
| Release | |
| Original network | Netflix |
| Original release | May 4, 2023 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Bridgerton |
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is an exciting historical drama TV series made by Shonda Rhimes for Netflix. It's a special spin-off show that tells a story happening before the popular Bridgerton series. This show focuses on how Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz became a powerful queen in the late 1700s. It first came out on May 4, 2023, and has 6 episodes, each about an hour long.
In its first week, the show was super popular! It was the number one show in 91 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. It also topped the Netflix Global Weekly Top 10 list for English-language TV shows.
Contents
What the Story is About
This miniseries about Queen Charlotte tells two stories at once. One story happens in the "present" of Bridgerton, starting in 1817. At this time, a royal family member, Princess Charlotte, passes away. This makes the Queen push her children to marry and have new royal heirs.
The other story goes back in time to 1761. It shows when Charlotte first meets and marries King George. This part of the story explores their marriage and how King George deals with his health challenges.
Who are the Characters?
Main Characters
- India Amarteifio plays the young Queen Charlotte in 1761.
- Corey Mylchreest plays the young King George III in 1761.
- Golda Rosheuvel plays Queen Charlotte in 1817.
- Arsema Thomas plays young Agatha, Lady Danbury, who is Queen Charlotte's helper in 1761.
- Adjoa Andoh plays Agatha, Lady Danbury, as an older, very smart and important lady in London society in 1817.
- Ruth Gemmell plays Violet, Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton, who is the mother of the Bridgerton children in 1817.
- Michelle Fairley plays Augusta, Dowager Princess of Wales, King George's mother in 1761.
- Freddie Dennis plays Reynolds, the King's secretary in 1761.
- Sam Clemmett plays young Brimsley, the Queen's secretary in 1761.
- Hugh Sachs plays Brimsley, the Queen's secretary in 1817.
- Julie Andrews is the voice of Lady Whistledown, who writes gossip columns in 1817.
Other Important Characters
- Tunji Kasim plays Adolphus IV, Queen Charlotte's older brother in 1761.
- Cyril Nri plays Lord Herman Danbury, Lady Danbury's husband in 1761.
- Ryan Gage plays George, Prince of Wales, Queen Charlotte's oldest son in 1817.
- Connie Jenkins-Greig plays young Violet Ledger in 1761.
- James Fleet plays King George III in 1817.
Episode Summaries
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
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| 1 | "Queen to Be" | Tom Verica | Shonda Rhimes | May 4, 2023 | |
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In 1761, Charlotte is set to marry George III. She tries to run away but meets George, who she doesn't know is her future husband. After they marry, George tells her they will live separately. In 1817, Queen Charlotte's granddaughter dies, and she pushes her children to marry and have heirs.
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| 2 | "Honeymoon Bliss" | Tom Verica | Shonda Rhimes | May 4, 2023 | |
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Charlotte spends her honeymoon alone. George explains he was busy with a science project. They try to restart their marriage, but Charlotte overhears George saying he's hiding something from her.
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| 3 | "Even Days" | Tom Verica | Shonda Rhimes | May 4, 2023 | |
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Charlotte and George agree to meet on "even days." They find common ground and decide to work together. Lady Danbury hosts a ball, and with the Queen's support, it becomes a success. Lord Danbury passes away afterward.
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| 4 | "Holding the King" | Tom Verica | Nicholas Nardini | May 4, 2023 | |
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We learn George's mother arranged his marriage because of his health issues. George tries a difficult program to get better. He falls in love with Charlotte and moves back in with her. But her pregnancy causes new challenges for him.
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| 5 | "Gardens in Bloom" | Tom Verica | Story by : Shonda Rhimes Teleplay by : Shonda Rhimes and Nicholas Nardini |
May 4, 2023 | |
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Charlotte is pregnant, and Princess Augusta plans to move in. Charlotte feels stuck and asks her brother to take her home. Lady Danbury is encouraged to stand up for herself. Charlotte confronts George's doctor and brings George home. Lady Danbury starts a new friendship.
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| 6 | "Crown Jewels" | Tom Verica | Shonda Rhimes | May 4, 2023 | |
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Charlotte and George are reunited and welcome a baby boy. George struggles to appear in public, causing rumors. Lady Danbury faces challenges with her family's future. Charlotte and George host a ball to show George is a strong ruler. Charlotte helps Lady Danbury keep her title.
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How the Show Was Made
Development and Ideas
The idea for this series was announced in May 2021. Shonda Rhimes was chosen to lead the show and write the scripts. She also worked as an executive producer with Betsy Beers and director Tom Verica. Anna O'Malley was the producer. The show has 6 episodes. During production, the design manager had to leave due to some issues on set.
In an interview, executive producer Tom Verica explained the creative process. He said the show is not a history lesson but a story inspired by facts. He wanted to explore the idea that Queen Charlotte might have had mixed cultural heritage. He wondered what society would have been like if people of color were given important positions. This idea, called "The Great Experiment," is a fictional part of the show.
Choosing the Actors
On March 30, 2022, it was announced that many actors from Bridgerton would return for this show. These included Golda Rosheuvel, Adjoa Andoh, Ruth Gemmell, and Hugh Sachs. New actors joined the cast too, like India Amarteifio, Michelle Fairley, Corey Mylchreest, and Arsema Thomas. Later, more actors like Katie Brayben and Connie Jenkins-Grieg were added.
Filming Locations
Filming for the series began on February 6, 2022, and finished on August 30, 2022. The show was filmed at several beautiful and historic places. These included Blenheim Palace, Belton House, Merton College, Hatfield House, and Waddesdon Manor.
Music for the Show
Kris Bowers, who created the music for the first two seasons of Bridgerton, also worked on the music for Queen Charlotte. He created two original soundtrack albums. One album featured new music for the series. The other album had classical music versions of popular songs by artists like Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, and Whitney Houston. Alicia Keys' song "If I Ain't Got You" was even recorded with a special 70-piece orchestra made up of women of color.
When the Show Was Released
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story was released on Netflix on May 4, 2023. All 6 episodes were available to watch at once.
