All hail, our Queen! In the first-ever Bridgerton spin-off, Queen Charlotte is getting her backstory told – and as you can imagine, it's a love story for the ages.
While we know the Queen loves a good ol' gossip (and can't imagine that changing in the spin-off), we still know very little about how she found her place in society and how well she knows the other mums in the Ton.
But now her long-held connections to Lady Danbury and Lady Bridgerton are being revealed... and we can't wait to see what happens next.
So what's the latest news on her and when do we get to see the story? Here's everything you need to know about Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story release date – When is it out?
On Valentine's Day 2023, Netflix announced that Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story will launch on May 4.
The team made the announcement during an exclusive press conference, where the cast spoke about what to expect for the first time.
Bridgerton season three is also currently in production, so it's not known if they'll be released in quick succession or not, or if Netflix will deliberately space them out so we can get our Bridgerton fix all year round.
We'll keep you updated either way!
Queen Charlotte cast: Who is in the new series?
Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte), Adjoa Andoh (Lady Agatha Danbury) and Ruth Gemmell (Lady Violet Bridgerton) are all reprising their Bridgerton roles from the main series.
However, there will be young stars taking their place in the main story, with their participation largely in voiceover or flash-forwards into the world we've come to know and love.
Line of Duty actress India Amarteifio takes the lead as the young Queen Charlotte, with newcomer Arsema Thomas playing the young Agatha Danbury.
Connie Jenkins-Greig will also be stepping into the role of the young Lady Violet, who is described, as reported by Deadline, as "a kind and inquisitive teenager who has not yet entered the marriage mart... or famously become a Bridgerton". Of course, to become a Bridgerton, she needs to marry Edmund, Viscount Bridgerton, but there is no news on whether his character has been cast or will even appear in the prequel series.
Joining them in the cast are:
• Michelle Fairley as Princess Augusta
• The Sandman's Corey Mylchreest as Young King George
• Sam Clemmett as Young Brimsley
• Freddie Dennis as Reynolds
• The Witcher's Richard Cunningham as Lord Bute
• Tunji Kasim as Adolphus
• Rob Maloney as the Royal Doctor
• Cyril Nri as Lord Danbury
Actors Keir Charles, from the British comedy series Back To Life, and award-winning stage actress Katie Brayben have also been added to the cast, and will play Lord Ledger and Vivian Ledger, Lady Violet's parents.
The first-look pictures give fans a taste of what to expect from the new leading cast and we can confirm Netflix boss Peter Friedlander was right when he referred to the upcoming series as "stunning". At least we feel certain judging by these pics.
Thomas, aka the young Lady Danbury, certainly looks the part in her ballgown, further adorned by jewels. Her signature severe look is in place, teasing a tense conversation with someone we presume is Amarteifio but as we only get the character's back profile we’ll leave you to your guessing games.
"It truly is stunning," Friedlander said, speaking to Variety. "I am glad that you are excited about it. It’s a justified enthusiasm because it is going to live up to your expectations."
Queen Charlotte plot: What is the story of the Bridgerton spin-off?
The official synopsis of the story reads: "Centred on Queen Charlotte's rise to prominence and power, this Bridgerton-verse prequel tells the story of how the young Queen's 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."
We were previously told in the original series that the reason behind Bridgerton's colour-blind society was King George and Queen Charlotte's love story, where they defied the odds to create a more equal world.
So presumably, before their relationship there will be more of a divide, and there's a chance that race may come more into play in the spin-off than it does in the main series.
Showrunner Shonda Rhimes has revealed the key themes that will be covered on the show.
"It's very much about how do you survive in a world in which you have no power. Where do you find the power in that? When I think about this series and what I want audiences to take away from it, I think the most important thing is I want people to feel like this is what happens with real love, love is hard love is difficult, love has many layers, and I also want them to take away the idea that the happy ending that we always talk about for characters doesn't have to be the obvious one," she said (via Collider).
As complicated as the relationship might be, expect plenty of sparks – Charlotte and George had a pretty large family – which does suggest that they got on rather well.
"They go on to have 15 children, so that is how that kind of works," Amarteifio told Digital Spy. "Well I think 13 of them [survive] to adulthood. So expect to see romance in all forms, is where I’ll leave it."
The series will revolve around younger versions of the characters – who interacted with their more experienced counterparts behind the scenes.
"It was really interesting because we kind of overlapped," Rosheuvel told Digital Spy. "Sometimes [the younger characters] would be in in the morning and we’d be in in the afternoon. India and I would kind of high-five in the corridor and pass the baton in George and Charlotte's relationship."
"To have the air of the younger characters there on set as myself and James [Fleet] were coming in was really interesting and really beautiful to absorb and take that on."
The first episode will be titled 'Queen To Be', so we're expecting the premiere episode will include the first encounter between Charlotte and her future husband.
In a first-look clip of the series, which aired in September 2022, fans were treated to a feisty young Charlotte trying to escape the palace walls after being betrothed to a future king she hasn't even seen yet.
A man spots her and laughs at her attempt to climb the brambles in order to escape, and despite her protests, refuses to help her.
As she gets more angry at him, he seems to find it charming – before revealing he's who she is currently running away from. And from that moment… pure sparks are flying.
It might not be much, but it's more than enough to get our interest. Consider us sold.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story trailer – Is there any footage yet?
The first trailer dropped on Valentine's Day – upholding a growing tradition from Netflix to give a Bridgerton teaser to eagerly awaiting fans. (In 2022, it was the Bridgerton season 2 trailer).
In the clip, we see Charlotte as she prepares for her upcoming wedding, as well as hints of the antics she gets up to with her soon-to-be husband.
In the run-up to her wedding and coronation, it seems there's a fair bit of drama afoot from those that oppose the marriage.
While we know she succeeds and lives a loving marriage with her husband, it seems their beginning was anything but blissful.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story and Bridgerton season 3 air in 2023. Bridgerton seasons 1 and 2 are available now on Netflix.
The Wit and Wisdom of Bridgerton: Lady Whistledown's Official Guide by Julia Quinn
Freelance writer, Digital Spy
Tilly is Gold-Standard NCTJ accredited journalist with eight years of experience in entertainment journalism.
She has been heard giving her insight on the latest TV stories on BBC Radio across the country and on BBC News.
Previously working with The Sun Online, Yahoo, Metro.co.uk and Independent IE amongst others, she joined the Digital Spy team from 2021-2023 as Deputy TV Editor (Maternity cover).
With a speciality in TV drama and true crime, Tilly has been praised for her exclusive content with A-list stars ranging from Sir David Attenborough to the lawyers behind Making A Murderer.
She’s happy to report her mum now takes her seriously as a journalist as she got to interview George Clooney once.
TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.
