Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Teases the Matriarch’s Salacious Beginnings

It’s no wonder the loyal subjects of Bridgerton’s Queen Charlotte have such a penchant for drama — Netflix’s teaser for Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story shows that their matriarch’s rise to power was just as riddled with intense societal pressures, emotional outbursts, and sensual finger brushes. The series premieres May 4 on Netflix. 

The prequel series follows young Charlotte, played by India Ria Amarteifio (Sex Education), and her marriage to King George, played by Corey Mylchreest (The Sandman). The pair’s meeting was previously teased in a first look clip released by Netflix in September, an interaction that promises a playful and electric chemistry between the two leads throughout the season, a signature to the entire series.

But beyond the sexual dalliances synonymous with all of Shonda Rhimes’s projects, this story will also focus on the societal shift that Charlotte’s reign brought to England and in turn the Ton that the series is based on.

There are some familiar Bridgerton characters popping up in the prequel, like young Lady Danbury, played by Arsema Thomas, and young Violet Ledger before she becomes a Bridgerton, played by Connie Jenkins-Greig. The older versions of their characters, as well as Queen Charlotte herself (Golda Rosheuvel), pop up in the teaser, hinting at least one jump in time throughout the season.

Netflix has already renewed Bridgerton through Season 4, and Rhimes has said that she envisions at least eight seasons of the show, one to focus on each sibling. It has been confirmed that Regé-Jean Page will not return as Simon in future seasons and Phoebe Dynevor will not return for Season 3, though because of the plans for the plotting of those seasons, not every character is necessary to the story. Netflix has not yet announced a release date for Season 3, but the streamer has confirmed that it will be based on the book series’s fourth novel, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, following the love story between Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton).

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Brianna Wellen is a TV Reporter at Primetimer who became obsessed with television when her parents let her stay up late to watch E.R.