The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

Queen Charlotte has her own Bridgerton spinoff on Netflix

  • Written by Lorinda Cramer, Research Fellow, Australian Catholic University
Queen Charlotte has her own Bridgerton spinoff on Netflix

Queen Charlotte captured viewers’ attention in the Netflix series Bridgerton[1] as the snuff-sniffing, gossip-greedy, biracial wife of the “mad king” George III.

As the spin-off Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story – billed as an “epic love story” – launches, just who was Charlotte? And why was she obsessed with Australia?

From German princess to British queen

Seventeen-year-old Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz married George III[2] in 1761, the year after his accession to the throne. She had been chosen, dispassionately, from a list of suitable wives for the young king.

Charlotte arrived in London from her northern German home speaking no English, though she would soon acquire it.

She brought with her a fascination of science – Charlotte adored botany – and the arts. A talented singer and harpsichord player, Charlotte would later be accompanied by a young Mozart[3].

She is also said to have brought the German tradition[4] of the Christmas tree[5] to Britain, with Queen Victoria[6] making it popular.

Read more: A story of legends, families and capitalism: a candid history of the Christmas tree[7]

Charlotte and George III’s marriage was a success. Contemporaries spoke of their devotion to each other, unlike other kings[8] who strayed.

They had 15 children, 13 living to adulthood. Two sons – George IV[9] and William IV[10] – would later be king. Their granddaughter, Victoria[11], served as the longest-reigning British monarch.

Some thought Charlotte dull, preferring domestic life to court. Others called her power-hungry as George III suffered a series of bouts of mental illness[12], possibly caused by the blood disorder porphyria[13], though this is still debated[14].

More recently, Charlotte’s ancestry has been examined, sparked by her “African features[15]” in portraits by Allan Ramsay[16]. As fascinating as this is, more historians are sceptical[17] of the claim that Charlotte was Black[18] than support it.

Portrait of Queen Charlotte by Thomas Gainsborough (1781) Wikimedia

Charlotte and the natural world

Across the 57 years that Charlotte was queen consort[19], Britain undertook an ambitious program to expand its empire and further knowledge of the natural world.

In 1768, seven years after Charlotte married into the royal family, George III commissioned James Cook with an ambitious voyage of discovery[20]: to view the transit of Venus in Tahiti, then search the oceans for the “undiscovered southern land”.

On a weather-beaten ship, Cook changed course to chart the eastern coastline of New Holland (Australia) in 1770. Across the four months that the Endeavour[21] sailed up the coast, Joseph Banks[22] – the naturalist and botanist who joined Cook’s voyage – collected plants[23] and animals.

Banks returned to England with a staggering bounty of specimens, presenting them to Charlotte and George III shortly after. This launched the collection of Australian plants and animals across decades to follow.

Portrait of Joseph Banks by Joshua Reynolds (1771-1773) Wikimedia

Charlotte’s “cangaroos”

Charlotte penned an unusual passage in her diary in 1794. Describing some remarkable creatures that had been held beneath deck for months as they crossed the seas, then released into her menagerie[24], she wrote of glimpsing “the Young Cangeroo”.

“The Animal being of the Opossum kind Carries its Young in a Pouch”, Charlotte marvelled.

Banks and the Endeavour’s crew had been astonished from their first fleeting glimpse[25] of the animals two decades earlier, likening them to greyhounds that flashed through the bush.

The kangaroos that later arrived in Britain alive – though many would not survive the crossing – symbolised power. They were coveted by the elite and other European rulers. Napoleon’s wife Josephine[26] had kangaroos of her own.

Unlike anything seen before, Charlotte was awed by their tiny forelimbs and strong tail. She was fascinated by how kangaroos moved, hopping on their powerful hind legs.

She was especially intrigued by the kangaroo’s pouch. So were scientific men who studied[27] the queen’s kangaroos, attempting to unravel the mystery of how they reproduced and cared for their young.

So successfully did Charlotte’s prized kangaroos breed that her flock grew to 20.

The Kongouro from New Holland (Kangaroo) 1772 by George Stubbs. The work was commissioned by Joseph Banks and based on the inflated skin of an animal he had collected from the east coast of Australia in 1770. Wikimedia

Charlotte’s Australian plants

As Charlotte’s kangaroos hopped through her menagerie, the neighbouring Royal Gardens at Kew[28] became the storehouse for plants from across the empire.

Banks, then Kew’s de facto director, encouraged his global networks to collect for the queen. To the second New South Wales governor, John Hunter, Banks urged:

[…]when you make your excursions or when you send parties into new districts, you will not forget that Kew Garden is the first in Europe & that its Royal Master & Mistress never fail to receive personal satisfaction from every Plant introduced there from foreign parts.

The year before, Banks had assessed a remarkable herbarium offered to Charlotte that included rare Australian specimens. Amassed by French botanist Jacques Labillardière[29], then seized during the French Revolutionary Wars[30], the gift was not to be. Returned to Labillardière, he used the specimens to write the most comprehensive description of Australia’s flora[31].

Death of the queen

Charlotte remained queen until her death in 1818. It took months for the news to reach Australia.

When it did, the Hobart Town Gazette[32] declared that Britain’s loss “will be not less felt in its remotest Dependencies”.

The settlement mourned Charlotte by firing guns, flying flags at half-mast and tolling church bells, though she had never set foot on Australian soil.

References

  1. ^ Bridgerton (www.netflix.com)
  2. ^ George III (www.royal.uk)
  3. ^ Mozart (www.rct.uk)
  4. ^ German tradition (www.historytoday.com)
  5. ^ Christmas tree (www.rct.uk)
  6. ^ Queen Victoria (theconversation.com)
  7. ^ A story of legends, families and capitalism: a candid history of the Christmas tree (theconversation.com)
  8. ^ kings (www.rmg.co.uk)
  9. ^ George IV (www.royal.uk)
  10. ^ William IV (www.royal.uk)
  11. ^ Victoria (www.royal.uk)
  12. ^ mental illness (georgianpapers.com)
  13. ^ porphyria (www.bbc.com)
  14. ^ debated (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  15. ^ African features (www.pbs.org)
  16. ^ Allan Ramsay (www.rct.uk)
  17. ^ sceptical (nypost.com)
  18. ^ Charlotte was Black (www.theguardian.com)
  19. ^ queen consort (www.merriam-webster.com)
  20. ^ voyage of discovery (www.sl.nsw.gov.au)
  21. ^ Endeavour (www.nma.gov.au)
  22. ^ Joseph Banks (www.nhm.ac.uk)
  23. ^ plants (nma.gov.au)
  24. ^ menagerie (www.hrp.org.uk)
  25. ^ fleeting glimpse (www.nla.gov.au)
  26. ^ Josephine (www.ngv.vic.gov.au)
  27. ^ men who studied (royalsocietypublishing.org)
  28. ^ Kew (www.kew.org)
  29. ^ Jacques Labillardière (www.eoas.info)
  30. ^ French Revolutionary Wars (www.oxfordreference.com)
  31. ^ Australia’s flora (books.google.com.au)
  32. ^ Hobart Town Gazette (nla.gov.au)

Read more https://theconversation.com/queen-charlotte-has-her-own-bridgerton-spinoff-on-netflix-but-who-was-she-really-and-why-was-she-obsessed-with-australia-200077

Times Magazine

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

From Beach Bops to Alpine Anthems: Your Sonos Survival Guide for a Long Weekend Escape

Alright, fellow adventurers and relaxation enthusiasts! So, you've packed your bags, charged your devices, and mentally prepared for that glorious King's Birthday long weekend. But hold on, are you really ready? Because a true long weekend warrior kn...

Effective Commercial Pest Control Solutions for a Safer Workplace

Keeping a workplace clean, safe, and free from pests is essential for maintaining productivity, protecting employee health, and upholding a company's reputation. Pests pose health risks, can cause structural damage, and can lead to serious legal an...

The Times Features

Duke of Dural to Get Rooftop Bar as New Owners Invest in Venue Upgrade

The Duke of Dural, in Sydney’s north-west, is set for a major uplift under new ownership, following its acquisition by hospitality group Good Beer Company this week. Led by resp...

Prefab’s Second Life: Why Australia’s Backyard Boom Needs a Circular Makeover

The humble granny flat is being reimagined not just as a fix for housing shortages, but as a cornerstone of circular, factory-built architecture. But are our systems ready to s...

Melbourne’s Burglary Boom: Break-Ins Surge Nearly 25%

Victorian homeowners are being warned to act now, as rising break-ins and falling arrest rates paint a worrying picture for suburban safety. Melbourne residents are facing an ...

Exploring the Curriculum at a Modern Junior School in Melbourne

Key Highlights The curriculum at junior schools emphasises whole-person development, catering to children’s physical, emotional, and intellectual needs. It ensures early year...

Distressed by all the bad news? Here’s how to stay informed but still look after yourself

If you’re feeling like the news is particularly bad at the moment, you’re not alone. But many of us can’t look away – and don’t want to. Engaging with news can help us make ...

The Role of Your GP in Creating a Chronic Disease Management Plan That Works

Living with a long-term condition, whether that is diabetes, asthma, arthritis or heart disease, means making hundreds of small decisions every day. You plan your diet against m...