Queen Charlotte at Blenheim Palace

Queen Charlotte: Bridgerton vs. Real Life

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is a spinoff from the hugely popular Bridgerton series. It delves into the lives of Queen Charlotte and King George III and their families. But while this show is rooted in real history, its creators have taken some liberties with the facts. As narrator Julie Andrews explains, the story told in Queen Charlotte is: "not a history lesson". It should be considered more of an interpretation. Here, we will separate fact from fiction and get to know the real Queen Charlotte.

Is Queen Charlotte in Bridgerton historically accurate?

While the character of Queen Charlotte in Bridgerton is based on a real person, certain elements are not historically correct. For example, in the show, Queen Charlotte is engaged to the King against her knowledge or will. However, it's widely believed that she was well aware of the agreement to be considered for his wife. Unlike the dramatic garden encounter depicted on screen, the real Charlotte and George likely met for the first time on their wedding day in 1761.

Who was Queen Charlotte?

Queen Charlotte was born Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in 1744 and died on 17th November 1818. She was Queen Victoria’s Grandmother and is Britain's longest-serving female consort. The German princess was the youngest daughter of Princess Elizabeth Albertina of Saxe-Hildburghausen and Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Her family ruled Mecklenburg-Strelitz, a duchy in northern Germany. Charlotte married the young King George in 1761 and the couple enjoyed a 57-year romance. She was known to love music and was noted as being good-humoured and sweet-natured with a "lively but equable temper".

When is Queen Charlotte set?

Queen Charlotte is set across two different timelines. The 'present day' is featured in Bridgerton, which begins in 1817 with the death of Princess Charlotte, the current royal heir. The second timeline is featured in the show’s spinoff prequel Queen Charlotte and begins in 1761. It recounts the love story between a young Queen Charlotte and King George.

How many children did Queen Charlotte have?

Queen Charlotte welcomed her first child in August 1762, who would become King George IV. King George and Queen Charlotte had a total of 15 children. Following the deaths of Prince Octavius and Prince Alfred, only 13 survived to adulthood.

What happened to Queen Charlotte's children?

Queen Charlotte's 13 surviving children went on to take on a variety of roles:

• George, Prince of Wales (later George IV): Became King in 1820 following his father's death.
• Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany: A prominent military leader who served as British Army Commander-in-Chief.
• Prince William, Duke of Clarence (later William IV): Following the death of George IV, he reigned for seven years until his death, passing the throne to his niece, Princess Victoria.
• Charlotte, Princess Royal: Married Frederick I of Württemberg. She became Queen of Württemberg.
• Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn: Father of Queen Victoria.
• Princess Augusta Sophia: Spent her life focused on her charitable work.
• Princess Elizabeth: Married the Duke of Edinburgh and later became the Duchess of Edinburgh.
• Prince Ernest, Duke of Cumberland (later Ernest IV of Hanover): Became King of Hanover after the death of his brother William IV.
• Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex: Supported several charitable causes and had a strong interest in science.
• Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge: Served in the British Army and later became a prominent figure in the Hanoverian court.
• Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester: Married the Duke of Gloucester and became the Duchess of Gloucester.
• Princess Sophia: Involved in social causes and charity work.
• Princess Amelia: Died at the age of 27.

Who was King George?

King George II was born in London in 1738 and was the eldest son of Frederick, Prince of Wales and Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha. While he became heir to the throne following his father's death in 1751, he eventually became King in 1760 after succeeding his Grandfather, George II. George III is reported to have been a devoted family man and husband. King George became ill towards the end of his life and passed away at Windsor Castle on 29th January 1820. Some historians believe that George's well-documented mental instability before he died was due to porphyria, a hereditary condition. However, others suggest he may have had bipolar disorder.

When did Queen Charlotte die?

Queen Charlotte died in November 1818 of pneumonia at the age of 74, two years before King George passed away. George and Charlotte are buried near each other in the royal vault at Windsor Castle.

Where was Queen Charlotte filmed?

Several film locations were used for Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, including Blenheim Palace. Many of Blenheim's most iconic spaces feature in the series, from our stunning Long Library to the grand Great Hall. The Water Terraces and Great Court were transformed into lavish outdoor settings, including the breathtaking final ball. If you're inspired to film your next project here, find out more about Blenheim Palace as a filming location.

Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace once had real-life connections to King George and Queen Charlotte which made it a natural choice to portray Buckingham House (later known as Buckingham Palace) in Queen Charlotte. The royal couple were close friends with the 4th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and would visit them at Blenheim Palace. After one visit, Charlotte and Duke were inspired to renovate Buckingham House.

Filming Locations at Blenheim Palace

Many locations at Blenheim Palace were used in Queen Charlotte, including The Long Library, Great Hall and Saloon. Many of the more lavish scenes you see on screen were filmed between the Water Terraces and the Great Court. Filled with courtiers and dancers, the Water Terraces was used as an outdoor space and the location of the final ball in episode six.