This love story has left us swooning (Picture: Nick Wall/Netflix)
Warning: spoilers ahead for Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
It’s safe to say that Bridgerton fans had extremely high hopes for the new prequel spin-off series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
Of those who have already seen all six episodes of the Netflix show (while eagerly awaiting season 3 of Bridgerton, of course), many have been singing its praises ever since its release.
Members of the cast, from Golda Rosheuvel to India Amarteifio, have won widespread acclaim for their performances, with the ending of the period drama leaving viewers swept away with a rush of all kinds of emotions.
From the potential uncovering of Lady Danbury’s secret, to pregnancies, a turned-down proposal and a royal success of a ball, here’s what happened in the season finale.
Violet considers new romance – but has she discovered Lady Danbury’s secret?
Lady Danbury seems taken aback by her secret potentially being revealed (Picture: Nick Wall/Netflix)
Several years after the death of her husband Edmund, the Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) feels that she’s ready to explore romance again – although she’s not yet sure what form she would be willing for it to take.
While confiding in Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) about how she’s feeling, Violet stumbles across a paper crown in her friend’s home… the same kind that her father, Lord Ledger (Keir Charles), used to make her as a child.
One day when Lady Danbury comes over for tea, Violet has all of the birthday crowns that her father used to make for her put out for display.
An unspoken conversation appears to take place between the two women through their eyes, insinuating that Violet has figured out that Lady Danbury might have been romantically involved with her father, particularly as the doyenne of high society has confessed that she experienced love from a man after the death of her husband.
Without addressing it out loud, the two women continue with their tea as normal, seemingly putting the revelation behind them.
Charlotte and George confess their love and welcome their first child
Who else had to keep replaying George’s confession of love for Charlotte? (Picture: Nick Wall/Netflix)
Ever since their wedding, Charlotte has been left baffled by George’s (Corey Mylchreest) attempts to keep her away at a significant distance, thinking that perhaps she might have failed as a wife or a Queen.
However, now pregnant and having found out about the mental health problems that he struggles with, she realises that her original assumption might not be the case – it may instead be that George is pushing her away because he cares for her, or even loves her.
She asks him this directly in his observatory, ignoring his pleas for her to leave him by asking him to say whether or not he loves her, resulting in them both finally confessing their love for one another in an incredibly beautiful way.
When Charlotte goes into labour, George ignores the advice from other men, including the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Prime Minister, to stay out of the room, and he decides to go in to be there for his wife, who is giving birth to a baby in breach.
Using his experience on the farm with animals, George assists in the birth and Charlotte gives welcomes a healthy baby boy, the first of many children to come.
King is unable to address Parliament but Queen remains his pillar of strength
Charlotte will always be there for George, no matter what (Picture: Nick Wall/Netflix)
Throughout the season, there have been concerns from politicians over the King’s mental state, and the time has come for him to prove to them that he has what it takes to maintain his position.
Charlotte encourages him to make his much-needed address to Parliament, seeing him off as he travels in his carriage with his speech in his hand.
However, when he arrives, George cannot bring himself to get out of the carriage, laying down on the floor in an anxious state as his secretary Reynolds (Freddie Dennis) looks on helplessly, unable to open the locked door.
When Charlotte questions Reynolds about what happened, the servant explains that George wasn’t ok when they left, but was simply feeling the hope that she had instilled in him.
Brimsley and Reynolds’ love story has potentially heartbreaking end
Fans have adored watching Reynolds and Brimsley’s love story (Picture: Nick Wall/Netflix)
Charlotte and George throw a royal ball to mark the arrival of their baby son, which is not only a cause for happy celebration, but a chance for them to show society that the King is capable of being seen in public and addressing the masses.
At the ball, while the members of the Ton dance in their couples to the orchestral music, Brimsley (Sam Clemmett) and Reynolds also do so, but in private where no one can see them.
During their dance, the scene flashes forward to the older version of Brimsley (Hugh Sachs), who is recreating the cherished memory while dancing on his own.
While it’s not confirmed, this seems to imply that at some point in their lives while serving the King and Queen, Reynolds might have sadly died, leaving Brimsley without the love of his life.
Lady Danbury turns down proposal to make important life decision
Lady Danbury makes an important decision for herself (Picture: Nick Wall/Netflix)
Having received a proposal of marriage from Charlotte’s brother Adolphus (Tunji Kasim), Lady Danbury (Arsema Thomas) explains to him at the royal ball that she cannot marry him.
It’s not because there’s anything wrong with him – as he would give her a happy and secure life, to be sure – but having been married off to a man as soon as she was of age, an individual who was many years her senior and who she detested, she simply doesn’t want to marry anyone ever again.
‘I spent my life breathing someone else’s air. I do not know any other way. Now it is time that I learn to breathe all on my own,’ she states.
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Later, Charlotte confronts Lady Danbury about her decision, before adding that she is perturbed by the fact that she did not come to her directly with her concerns about her inheritance and title, having gone to the King’s mother Princess Augusta (Michelle Fairley) instead.
Charlotte explains that in future, Lady Danbury should always come directly to her whenever she needs help, further cementing their lifelong friendship.
Royal ball is a huge success – and Charlotte shares happy news
The royal couple’s strong union cannot be broken (Picture: Nick Wall/Netflix)
Despite George’s nerves, the royal ball is a huge success, with the royal couple toasting the crowds and dancing in front of them, focusing solely on each other.
Princess Augusta even offers Charlotte a rare compliment when they’re having a one-on-one conversation, acknowledging that her daughter-in-law makes her son happy and thanking her for doing so.
At the end of the night, George is trying to encourage others to join him in a toast.
When he attempts to lure in Charlotte, she declines, revealing that she’s pregnant again, much to their enormous happiness.
Older Queen Charlotte prepares to welcome famous grandchild with beloved husband
Charlotte and George’s love has endured for all these years (Picture: Liam Daniel/Netflix)
In the present day of the Bridgerton universe, the Queen has faced staunch criticism from her children over the way in which she’s been pressuring them into trying to conceive babies to ensure the King’s line carries on.
Her children confront her over her harsh criticism, explaining that they have suffered pregnancy loss without her knowledge, and claiming that while she was always their Queen, she was not always a compassionate mother to them, causing her to ponder over their hard truths.
Prince Edward (Jack Michael Stacey), the Queen’s fourth son, comes to visit her with his wife, sharing the news that they’re expecting a baby.
When Edward’s wife Princess Victoria (Florence Dobson) confesses that she thinks the baby will be a girl, Charlotte remarks: ‘A girl is wonderful, and a strong Queen is just what this country needs.’
Any history boffins will know that in real life, this girl grew up to become Queen Victoria, who was the longest-reigning British monarch in history, until she was surpassed by her great-great-granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II.
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Charlotte gives her son a rare show of genuine affection before delivering the happy news to her husband George (James Fleet), the pair of them lying under the bed in his safe space where they can hide from the heavens.
As the couple gaze at one another, George recognising his wife with clarity, the actors flit between the younger and older versions of the characters, demonstrating Charlotte and George’s enduring love in a truly heartfelt ending.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is available to watch on Netflix.
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MORE : When could Bridgerton season 3 be released on Netflix?
This love story has left us swooning.