Adi told Insider that "the evidence is slender, to put it mildly." Netflix The show's first season, which follows the love story between Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon, Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page), has been largely praised for reimagining an inclusive 19th-century aristocratic society with a diverse cast. He also said that pinpointing Charlotte's race would depend on your definition of "Blackness. Alarmingly, not everybody is on the same page the show spotlighting many people of colour.. How would Regency England have reacted to that, and would Charlotte have taken advantage of the opportunity to elevate others who were Black as well - notably Simon, Duke of Hastings? There were also many notable Black people in British Regency, including Queen Charlotte, who is fictionalized in 'Bridgerton'. The couple wed just six hours after Charlotte arrived in the UK from Germany. Read more: Netflix has officially renewed 'Bridgerton.' Netflix's Bridgerton may be a work of fiction, but its portrayal of Queen Charlotte is surprisingly true to history - and she may well have been Black. "The unknown of that would be terrifying, I think. Some historians believe she was Britain’s first Black queen; her descendants include Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II (yes, Prince Harry’s grandmother). Of all the larger-than-life Bridgerton characters, Queen Charlotte’s role pulls the most from reality. The cast has defended the show's casting choices after some viewers criticized it for not reflecting historical accuracy — a problematic criticism that could be considered racist. Subscriber Period drama reimagining Bridgerton has made some serious waves since its Netflix debut on Christmas Day. A one-stop shop for all things video games. Black people lived in England during this period, so that was no biggie. Here's why the producers made the Queen a Black woman. Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton novels are mostly populated with white people like the regency-era England where they take place.The London of Shonda Rhimes’s Bridgerton tv series for Netflix, in contrast, is a multicultural mecca, sprinkled with Black characters of various skin hues, as well as a smattering of east and south Asians walking around silently in the background. New Netflix drama Bridgerton depicts the wife of King George III as black, based on a disputed theory that she was of African descent. "The possibility for Black characters to love, to be passionate, to be seen in high status. The outbursts would be terrifying.". Marlene Koenig, an expert on British and European royalty, told Insider that "diversity as we know what the word means did not exist" during King George and Queen Charlotte's reign because slavery wasn't abolished until 1833 — 15 years after her death. It leans into the theory that Charlotte came from a Black branch of the Portuguese royal … ", A portrait of Queen Charlotte. In 1761, when she turned 17, Princess Sophia was betrothed — rather unexpectedly — to the King of England, George III. "We've already spent decades saying as much. Bridgerton certainly suggests British history books have been whitewashed a whole lot more than people may think. The Netflix hit Bridgerton, which includes Black characters, has reignited questions in Charlotte about Queen Charlotte of England’s potential African ancestry. LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX. She was often called, "Mulatto Face" to deride her. However, several historians have looked into Queen Charlotte’s genealogy and have found evidence of Black ancestry, contrary to previously believed all-white royal roots. Keisha told Insider that "everyone should know the history of Black royalty." She came into the world on May 19, 1744, as Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, a northern German territory that at the time was part of the Holy Roman Empire. Some historians have referred to Charlotte as “England’s first Black queen.” This belief about Queen Charlotte was recently depicted in the popular Netflix series ‘Bridgerton’, in which she was played by Guyanese-British actor Golda Rosheuvel. The show supports the theory that Charlotte was Black by casting Golda Rosheuvel in … According to Valdes, one of these children married into Queen Charlotte's family. ... with some dubbing her ‘Britain’s first black queen’. Our Royal Insider Facebook group is the best place for up-to-date news and announcements about the British royal family, direct from Insider's royal reporters. queen consort of Britain upon her marriage to King George III, a Black branch of the Portuguese royal family, The British royal family has turned a blind eye to its racist past, she believes the show had "perfect casting", 'Bridgerton' star Nicola Coughlan pushes back on critics who slammed the show's diverse cast, 'Bridgerton's' Queen Charlotte explains King George III's mysterious illness, The actress who plays Queen Charlotte in "Bridgerton" says portraying her as Black is "empowering.". Queen Charlotte's race is briefly mentioned in episode four of season one, when Lady Danbury reminds Simon that King George and Charlotte's union is the reason why society was more inclusive, especially for those among the aristocracy. And in scenes referenced in Bridgerton, the Queen is credited with discovering a young Mozart. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. The show has generally been lauded for selecting a diverse cast to play royals and aristocrats. Queen Elizabeth I supported Captain John Hawkins, who captured 300 people from Africa and sold them for hides, ginger, and sugar in 1562. We were two separate societies, divided by color, until a king fell in love with one of us. There were also many notable Black people in British Regency, including Queen Charlotte, who is fictionalized in 'Bridgerton'. In real life, the high-society periodicals were even more sordid. It leans into the theory that Charlotte came from a Black branch of the Portuguese royal family. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. Margarita de Castro y Sousa was a part of the black branch of the Portuguese Royal House. It's quite possible these criticisms actually reflected racist attitudes in British society, because certainly some of the insults sound like racial slurs. She became queen consort of Britain upon her marriage to King George III in 1761 at the age of 17. “Bridgerton” also goes there when it comes to sex — which, of course, was part of everyday life in Regency England. Her brother Adolf Frederick IV, who assumed their late father’s position as Du… Inspired by a series of novels by Julia Quinn, Bridgerton is set in London at the height of the Regency era. Previously, he's written entertainment news and articles for Movie Pilot. Buckingham Palace and It leans into the theory that Charlotte came from a Black branch of the Portuguese royal family. Bridgerton season 1 cast Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte - and surprisingly, the British monarch may well have actually been Black. “Bridgerton’s Queen Charlotte was actually black” The casting choice for Queen Charlotte was questioned by the audience when they found out British actress Golda Rosheuvel was … More: Bridgerton Season 1 Ending Explained (In Detail). But the casting has raised a lot of curious eyebrows, because most viewers are rather taken aback at the idea of a Black Queen. In the series, Charlotte recalls meeting the famous composer as a child and predicting that he "should become one of the finest composers in Europe.". If some historians, and more of pop culture, is to be believed, Britain had a Black queen centuries before Harry married Meghan — Queen Charlotte (1744-1818), wife of King George III. Whatever the truth may be in this matter, Queen Charlotte isn't potentially even the first mixed-race Queen in British history. Netflix's Bridgerton may be a work of fiction, but its portrayal of Queen Charlotte is surprisingly true to history - and she may well have been Black. He had three children with her." One of Whistledown’s more prominent readers is none other than Charlotte, the Queen of England herself. Read more: 'Bridgerton' star Nicola Coughlan pushes back on critics who slammed the show's diverse cast, Adjoa Andoh, who plays Lady Danbury, defended the show's decision as well, telling Digital Spy: "There's real evidence of Black people in this country for centuries. Queen Charlotte is played by British actress Golda Rosheuvel, 49 The show is set in Regency England, the period in the early 19th-Century when the ‘mad’ King George was too ill to reign himself and so his son ruled as his proxy. The go-to source for comic book and superhero movie fans. The real story of 'Bridgerton' Queen Charlotte, dubbed 'Britain's first Black queen' Queen Charlotte was the wife of England's King George III, who was given the nickname of "The Mad King." Princess Keisha of Nigeria said "Bridgerton's" decision to cast a Black actress to play Queen Charlotte shouldn't be an issue for fans of the show.. New Netflix drama Bridgerton depicts the wife of King George III as black, based on a disputed theory that she was of African descent. Netflix's Regency drama "Bridgerton" is the streaming giant's biggest original series to date, having already been watched by 82 million households worldwide since it premiered on December 25, 2020. The theory was popularized by Mario De Valdes y Cocom, who believes Charlotte was descended from a Black branch of the Portuguese royal family: Alfonso III and his concubine, Ouruana. The actress who plays Queen Charlotte in "Bridgerton" says portraying her as Black is "empowering." Speaking of Simon — his closest friend and confidant, Will Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe), is another character from the Bridgerton world based on a real person: a Black boxer named Bill Richmond. Hailed as Gossip Girl-meets-Downton Abbey, Bridgerton is the first tv series media goddess Shona Rhimes signed on to a multi-project deal with Netflix back in 2017. ", Queen Charlotte may have been the first Black British royal. Get it now on Libro.fm using the button below. Account active Golda Rosheuvel, who portrays King George III's wife Queen Charlotte on the show, recently told Insider that it was "empowering" to play the queen consort as a Black actress. Click the button below to start this article in quick view. Charlotte was thought to be directly descended from a black branch of the Portuguese royal family: Alfonso III and his concubine, a black Moor. The royal family publicly supported Britain's slave trade in the 1500s. Rosheuvel previously told Insider's Claudia Willen that they "never discussed" the specifics of George's condition on set, adding that the series isn't a royal biopic, but rather a reimagined version of history. When the Queen first sailed to England to marry the King, she brought her two Pomeranians with her, Harper's Bazaar reports. Related: Bridgerton Cast & Character Guide: What Else The Actors Have Been In. The Huntington Post's Sarah Barber praised the show for successfully "opening doors for Black actors and other actors of color to no longer be limited to demeaning servant or slave roles in period pieces. Philippa of Hainault was the first Black Queen of England. 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Julia Quinn, for her part, doesn't mind the change - in part because she absolutely loves Rosheuvel's portrayal. He's heavily involved with his local church, and anyone who checks him out on Twitter will quickly learn that he's interested in British politics as well. A graduate of Edge Hill University in the United Kingdom, Tom is still strongly connected with his alma mater; in fact, in his spare time he's a voluntary chaplain there. "He demanded [the governor’s] daughter as a paramour. Queen Charlotte may have been the first Black British royal. Disclosure: Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Business Insider's parent company, Axel Springer, is a Netflix board member. In real life, the aristocracy — and society in general — was nowhere near as diverse as the show portrays London to be in 1813, especially since the slave trade had not yet been abolished. Queen Charlotte (Portuguese Royal Line) Queen Charlotte, the wife of the English King George III (The Mad King) (1738-1820), was directly descended from Margarita de Castro y Sousa. Netflix has officially renewed 'Bridgerton.' Philippa of Hainault was the first Black Queen of England.. Charlotte was the eighth child of the Prince of Mirow, Germany, Charles Louis Frederick, and his wife, Elisabeth Albertina of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Born into slavery in 1763 in Staten Island, New York, Richmond left for England … We've taken the factual existence of Black people in this country at that time, which is an absolute nailed-on fact and heightened it.". "Alfonso III of Portugal conquered a little town named Faro from the Moors," Valdes told The Washington Post. Bridgerton is based on a book series by Julia Quinn, but Shonda is the producer, and some have questioned her decision to cast a Black woman to play Queen Charlotte. More to the point, the British Museum holds a number of popular caricatures of Queen Charlotte, and none of these portray her as Black. But in Bridgerton, Queen Charlotte is resplendent in silks and towering wigs, and she is unmistakably Black. Another theory suggests Philippa of Hainault (1314-69), consort of Edward III, had African ancestry as well. But in Bridgerton, Queen Charlotte is resplendent in silks and towering wigs, and she is unmistakably Black. Philippa of Hainault (June 24, 1314 – August 15, 1369) was a 14th century Queen of England — the Queen-Consort of Edward III to be exact and is … The Netflix hit Bridgerton, which includes Black characters, has reignited questions in Charlotte about Queen Charlotte of England’s potential African ancestry. ... the good-natured Bridgerton boy. This was a time when the women of prosperous families sought the security of marriage, taking advantage of balls and social events as an opportunity to meet potential suitors. Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III (the King America gave the big eff you to), who bore the king 15 children, was thought to be of African descent. Bridgerton is, therefore, a fascinating window into a what-if world; what if Queen Charlotte really was Black? Others include Dido Elizabeth Belle, the grand-niece of Lord Mansfield, who was the daughter of Sir John Lindsay, a Rear Admiral in …