The long-anticipated Bridgerton prequel Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story recently arrived on Netflix and has been an instant hit with the audience and the critics. The show is inspired by real events and people from the British Regency era but takes a lot of liberties in telling the story of Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. So what’s a fact and what’s fiction?
Fact: Queen Charlotte and King George III Married the Same Day Met
Queen Charlotte and King George III met for the first time on 8 September 1761 and had their wedding on the same day. They had known each other for six hours before getting married.
Fiction: Queen Charlotte Wore a White Dress at Her Wedding
White wedding dresses were not a thing during Queen Charlotte’s time. It was her granddaughter Queen Victoria who actually started the tradition.
Fiction: King George Gifted Queen Charlotte a Pomeranian Dog
While Queen Charlotte had Pomeranian dogs as pets, they were not a gift from King George. Instead, she already had them when she arrived in England.
Fact: Mozart Played for Queen Charlotte
Famed composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart did perform for Queen Charlotte and even dedicated several sonatas to her.
Fact: Queen Charlotte and King George Had 15 Children
Yes, Queen Charlotte and King George really did have 15 children together. Thirteen reached adulthood and two died in early childhood.