In Queen Charlotte, the stakes of the Great Experiment are most vocally echoed by Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh in her later years and Arsema Thomas as a young woman), who is revealed to be African royalty with wealth that exceeds that of most of the British nobles but has to fight to be accepted among British nobility. Here, she is a Black teenager whose interracial marriage to the mentally ill King George III (Corey Mylchreest in youth James Fleet as the older version) led to an event called “the Great Experiment.” In Queen Charlotte and the original Bridgerton series, the Great Experiment refers to Britain’s (clearly fictional) decision to fully integrate Black people and other people of color into their society, including the noble class. The prequel series gives Queen Charlotte (India Amarteifio in youth and Golda Rosheuvel in her later years) the spotlight. The premiere of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, a Shondaland production based on the romance novels by Julia Quinn, tries to cement the public image of the monarch as an undeniably Black woman. And now, millions more will believe it too.
But even though the evidence for Charlotte’s Black heritage is weak, many do genuinely believe it. And when these lifelong adversaries finally kiss, they just might discover that the one person they can't abide is the one person they can't live without.The first time I heard someone call Charlotte, Queen Consort to King George III, the “first Black queen of England,” I thought they were taking the piss. Because when Billie and George are quite literally thrown together, a whole new sort of sparks begins to fly. But sometimes fate has a wicked sense of humor. Which is perfectly convenient, as she can't stand the sight of him, either. He may be the eldest and heir to the earldom, but he's arrogant, annoying, and she's absolutely certain he detests her. There is only one Rokesby Billie absolutely cannot tolerate, and that is George.
Sometimes you fall in love with exactly the person you think you should. The two families have been neighbors for centuries, and as a child the tomboyish Billie ran wild with Edward and Andrew. Everyone expects Billie Bridgerton to marry one of the Rokesby brothers. Sometimes you find love in the most unexpected of places.
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