Warning: Spoilers ahead for Netflix's Queen Charlotte!Though Queen Charlotte is scrambling to secure an heir to the British throne in Queen Charlotte, the Netflix series never actually reveals who is next in the line of succession. As a spinoff to Netflix’s Bridgerton, Queen Charlotte shows the origin story of Queen Charlotte and how she became the beloved Bridgerton character she is known as. Although Queen Charlotte’s past timeline shows the early days of Queen Charlotte and King George III’s marriage, the Netflix show’s present timeline depicts the queen’s panic to find an heir to the throne after the death of her granddaughter, Princess Charlotte, who died due to complications with childbirth.
A significant portion of Queen Charlotte focuses on Queen Charlotte and King George’s children and their lack of heirs. However, the Netflix show never fully goes into depth on the Crown’s line of succession, leaving the question of who becomes heir to the throne after Prince George largely unanswered in Queen Charlotte. Luckily, the real history of Queen Charlotte’s family can help fill in the gaps of Queen Charlotte’s plot, showing a glimpse into the future of the British monarchy in Bridgerton.
George IV Is Already Ruling in Place Of King George III
Queen Charlotte shows that while the Netflix series takes place during King George III’s reign, their son, Prince George, is already ruling in his place. As a result of King George III’s illness, Prince George steps up to serve as the Prince Regent, which gives him ruling power in place of his father. This can be seen in Queen Charlotte, as while the titular Bridgerton character appears to be in control and attempts to arrange marriages for her children, the Prince Regent has the final say when he approves her choices. Because of George IV’s role as Prince Regent, the line of succession is already partially coming into effect in Queen Charlotte.
In real life, the future King George IV was named Prince Regent in 1811 due to his father’s mental health issues becoming increasingly debilitating. Prince George served as Prince Regent until King George III’s death in 1820, which resulted in his ascending the throne as King George IV. Despite becoming the new king of England, King George IV’s ascension didn’t bring any real change in his powers since he had been ruling as the Regent for almost a decade at that point. Since Queen Charlotte’s present timeline takes place around 1815, the Netflix series’ events are placed in the middle of Prince George’s Regency.
Who Becomes King After George IV In Bridgerton's Timeline
Queen Charlotte’s first episode opens with the death of the king and queen’s granddaughter, Princess Charlotte, which results in an heir crisis. Princess Charlotte was the only daughter of King George IV, who remained childless upon his death in 1830. Though Queen Charlotte’s struggle to secure an heir is a huge plot point in the Bridgerton spinoff Queen Charlotte, the line of succession was a bit clearer for the British monarchy in real life compared to Queen Charlotte.
Given King George IV had no living children at his time of death in 1830, the Crown would pass to his next oldest brother. King George and Queen Charlotte’s second son, Prince Fredrick, died in 1827, so the Crown actually passed to their third-oldest son, Prince William, who became King William IV. King William IV ruled from 1830 to his death in 1837, after which the next generation of the British royal family ascended the throne, meaning Queen Charlotte’s search for an heir worked.
Queen Charlotte Sets Up Queen Victoria: When She Takes The Crown
Queen Charlotte's ending features the news that Prince Edward and his wife, Princess Victoria, are expecting a child, concluding Queen Charlotte’s hunt for an heir to the throne. Prince Edward shares that Princess Victoria suspects the baby will be a girl, and Queen Charlotte responds that “a strong queen is just what this country needs.” This scene sets up the reign of Prince Edward and Princess Victoria’s daughter, Queen Victoria, who would go on to be the longest-reigning monarch until Queen Elizabeth II.
In real life, Queen Victoria would eventually ascend to the throne in 1837 after the death of her uncle, King William IV. Given the timeline of Queen Charlotte season 1, it seems unlikely the show or its sister show Bridgerton will actually extend to the ascension of Queen Victoria. Regardless, Queen Charlotte’s Queen Victoria tease shows that the future of the British monarchy is secured in the Bridgerton universe.