The spotlight finally lands on the one and only Penelope Featherington (Picture: Liam Daniel/Netflix)
The release date for Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story has finally arrived on Netflix, a spin-off focusing on the backstory of the royal present throughout the original series.
However, with the release of a new story within the Shonda Rhimes and Julia Quinn-created universe, some fans might be wondering when Bridgerton season 3 is going to be on its way.
The third season of the show is set to focus on the love story between Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington, with Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan leading the cast as the respective returning characters.
Following Penelope’s fallout with her best friend Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) in the second season, it’ll be curious to see whether the former bosom pals will be able to patch things up.
Here’s what you need to know about Bridgerton’s upcoming third outing.
When could Bridgerton season 3 be released on Netflix?
A fixed release date for Bridgerton season three hasn’t yet been announced, but it’s understood hat the show is expected to return at some point this year.
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The first season of the series premiered on Christmas Day all the way back in 2020, which explored the relationship between Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page).
A second outing then followed in 2022, this time delving into the blossoming romance between Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley).
With filming on the third season of Bridgerton having reportedly wrapped earlier this year, perhaps it’ll be an autumn or winter release for its return.
What will Bridgerton season 3 be about?
Earlier this year, the official synopsis for Bridgerton season three was unveiled.
‘From Shondaland and new showrunner, Jess Brownell, Bridgerton is back for its third season and finds Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) has finally given up on her long-held crush on Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) after hearing his disparaging words about her last season,’ it reads.
However, Penelope – who is also secretly gossip aficionado Lady Whistledown behind the scenes – has decided that it is time to find a husband, and is on the lookout for one ‘who will provide her with enough independence to continue her double life as Lady Whistledown, far away from her mother and sisters’.
Colin’s guidance for Penelope ends up being too good (Picture: Liam Daniel/Netflix)
The blurb continues: ‘But lacking in confidence, Penelope’s attempts on the marriage mart fail spectacularly. Meanwhile, Colin has returned from his summer travels with a new look and a serious sense of swagger.’
Colin is apparently ‘disheartened’ when he realises that Penelope is ‘giving him the cold shoulder’, and is ‘eager to win back her friendship’.
He therefore offers to ‘mentor’ his old pal with the aim of giving her a confidence boost so that she can find a worthy match.
Will Penelope and Eloise be able to bury the hatchet? (Picture: Netflix)
‘But when his lessons start working a little too well, Colin must grapple with whether his feelings for Penelope are truly just friendly,’ the synopsis teases.
Penelope must also deal with her ongoing disagreement with Eloise, who found out her secret identity and also found a new friend of her own.
What happened at the end of Bridgerton season 2?
In season two, both Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma were long in denial regarding their true feelings towards each other, so much so that the eldest child of the Bridgerton clan was on the verge of marrying Kate’s sister, Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran), who had been named the Diamond of the season by Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel).
As much as they try to fight it, Kate and Anthony are meant to be together (Picture: Liam Daniel/Netflix)
Finally, Anthony and Kate find their way into each others’ arms and tie the knot officially with the Queen’s blessing, after she spotted their connection while they were dancing together at a ball.
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It’s hinted that Edwina might end up with the Queen’s nephew, Prince Friedrich (Freddie Stroma), while in Penelope’s world, she’s left grappling with the fact that Eloise now knows that she is Lady Whistledown, the queen of gossip in the Ton.
Eloise forges a strong friendship with printing shop apprentice Theo Sharpe (Calam Lynch), and it seems that their connection could develop into something more in due course… but it’s uncertain whether their very different positions in society could keep them apart.
Bridgerton seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on Netflix.
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MORE : What happened to Queen Charlotte at the end of Bridgerton season 2?
The spotlight finally lands on the one and only Penelope Featherington.