The 'Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story' Trailer Spins a Georgian-Era Fairytale

Shonda Rhimes' addition of a fictionalized version of the real-life Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen of Great Britain and of Ireland as the wife of King George III, was a surprising choice in Bridgerton's first season. The Julia Quinn novels on which the show is based are very traditional regency romances in that they focus on romantic adventures of those in the mid-to-lower ranks of the aristocracy without getting into the royal highness of it all. However, Rhimes' canny addition, which leans into the claims Charlotte was directly descended from the Spanish moors and England's first Black queen, turned out to be the show's secret strength.

But the question remains if Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) is strong enough to stand on her own. In the series, her marriage to George (James Fleet), from September 1761 until her death in 1818, is in its twilight years as George III's madness (here played as under-diagnosed dementia traditionally associated with Alzheimer's disease)  leaves her an emotional widow living with the ghost of her former love. As a sad tale driving her to help young girls follow their hearts, it works; the matchmaking and balls are a distraction from her grief. But as a centeral story, it seemed like it might be too sad for viewers.