Fans of the hit Netflix series Bridgerton have been eagerly speculating about the future of Queen Charlotte, known for her unique charm and authority. As a central character, it’s hard to imagine the show without her. Historically, the real Queen Charlotte died in November 1818, which is closer to the show’s current timeline, around 1815. This raises an important question: Will Bridgerton stick to historical facts or go its own way?
Showrunner Jess Brownell offered some insights while speaking with TVLine. She expressed her deep admiration for actress Golda Rosheuvel, who plays Queen Charlotte. Brownell said that she and series creator Shonda Rhimes decided to operate in “another dimension,” hinting that the show may not strictly follow historical events.
Brownell expanded on this idea, noting that the show’s departure from history began with Queen Charlotte and Lady Danbury’s efforts to make society more inclusive, as seen in the prequel series “Queen Charlotte.” This is where the timeline deviates, Brownell said, suggesting that Queen Charlotte could potentially live forever in this fictional world.
This approach is consistent with the overall creative vision shared by the show’s executive producer and director, Tom Verica. In a previous interview with TVLine, Verica emphasized the balance between historical accuracy and creative storytelling. He explained that while the series is a fictional retelling, they also wanted to honor aspects of the real-life Queen Charlotte’s life. To achieve this, the creative team worked with historian Polly Putnam to decide which historical elements to include and which to revise.
Verica explained how she incorporates historical details to ground the story in reality while also making it clear where there are deviations: the show includes true aspects of Queen Charlotte’s life, but also takes creative liberties to enrich the story. Series creator Shonda Rhimes crafts a story that fits into the fictional world of “Bridgerton,” carefully choosing which real-life elements to incorporate to make the period setting plausible.
This blend of historical accuracy and creative storytelling suggests that Queen Charlotte’s future in Bridgerton may not match her real-life fate, allowing the character to continue to play a dynamic role in the series and allowing fans to continue to enjoy her presence within the complex social fabric of the show’s Regency era.
