Bridgerton on Netflix: Was Queen Charlotte Black?

We’re no longer presenting The Bridgerton Chronicles, the adaptation of the Julia Quinn novels and the huge Netflix hit. Set in Regency London, this saga follows the Bridgerton family and the characters that revolve around them. Although the novels and books never claimed to be true to the era, some viewers were surprised to see black actors in the cast.

One character, however, crystallizes all the debate: Queen Charlotte (played by Golda Rochevel). In the series, she is married to King George III (who suffers from dementia) and masterfully manages the wedding season. In this world, her connection to the monarch allowed the black community more visibility and to be part of the aristocracy, a theme that is explored extensively in Queen Charlotte, which is finally available on Netflix:

“We were two divided communities, separated by color, until a king fell in love with one of us. Love, your grace… can move mountains.I will explain to you one of the characters of the 4th episode. But in reality, the reality wouldn’t be too far off…

in this article, New York Times reveals that Queen Charlotte may have descended from a Portuguese family with African ancestry. If the debate is still alive among historians, then it is described in rather crude terms, such as Christian Friedrich von Stockmar, who usesthe word “mulatto” in his writings.

After these rumors leaked, series showrunner Chris Van Deusen imagined an alternate society where Queen Charlotte was actually black, and wondered what impact that might have had. One thing is for sure, though: Will Mondrich’s (Martins Imhangbe) character in The Bridgerton Chronicles is based on Bill Richmond, a famous 19th-century boxer.

As for the rest of the cast, we should also not forget that Shonda Rhimes is the co-producer of the series and that diversity on the screen is important to her. This is not the first attempt of the show producer: in 2017 he already created Still Star-Crossed, about the love story between Romeo’s cousin and Juliet’s cousin Rosaline. Interracial couple Wade Briggs and Lashana Lynch play…