It is no secret that before Meghan Markle the royal family could never have imagined the possibility of a black queen. When creating Bridgerton Shonda Rhimes rewrote that script. It is important to note that this paper will be focusing on Rhimes’ spinoff of the show that highlights Queen Charlotte titled “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story”. However, the character of Queen Charlotte plays an important role in both shows. In Bridgerton, she is not only queen but royal matchmaker for members of high society. Meanwhile, the spin off features her at a much younger age when she was the one undergoing a “match” to King George III. In the opening of the series “Lady Whistledown” (the narrator) gives the disclaimer that the series “is not a history lesson” but instead “fiction inspired by fact” (Victorian 2023, 1)(Mojo, 2023).
Shonda Rhimes an african-american woman herself, is known for her work as a screenwriter and television producer. Most famous for the 21 season television series Grey’s Anatomy. Rhimes frequently showcases diversity in her work (Marta Rocchi, and Elisa Farinacci 2020, 30). While she aims to portray strong, and diverse female figures in her work she puts equal emphasis on casting diverse people in her roles. Which is why it is no surprise that when she created her hit television series “Bridgerton” she chose to make the queen of England (Queen Charlotte) a woman of colour. However, Rhymes doesn’t stop there as she casted people of all different races to play members of high society in eighteenth century London.
The topic of race in the British Royal family in today’s day and age has become so rampant due to former actress turned royal Meghan Markle. So much so that the term “Black Majesty” was coined by Nicole Wilson (Yelin, and Clancy 2021). Although Markle will likely never be queen she is the only person of colour to have joined the royal family to date. Her lack of power in the monarchy is exactly why Rhimes’ interpretation of Queen Charlotte as a black woman holds so much significance (Kehinde 2020, 1). Other than differences in facts due to Rhimes “Fiction inspired by fact” (Mojo, 2023) Queen Charlotte in the series and Queen Charlotte in real life share many similarities even appearance (see image above); with the main difference being the pigment in the skin. I believe Rhimes did this intentionally as an attempt to continue to break down racial barriers as she is known for (Marta Rocchi, and Elisa Farinacci 2020, 30). The British Royal family has a long history of racism (Wilson 2020, 1). Rhimes’ choice to cast a black woman to play one of the most powerful people in the monarchy highlights a significant juxtaposition of racial stereotypes and hundreds of years of racial inequality showcased by british royals. The series shows us people of colour (poc) in positions of power in unconventional ways. The British monarchy at the time of the period piece was the pinnacle of power in England. By placing female women of colour in historically white roles Rhimes highlights intersectionality breaking down racial and feminist barriers. The character of queen Charlotte is a strong, beautiful, powerful, determined, intelligent, feminist, woman of colour, and leader. In the original series Lady Danbury is the first to mention race as she gives a gentle reminder that it was not until King George III fell in love with a black woman that British society overcame racism (The Courtauldian 2023). Meanwhile the real royal family appears to fail in accepting women of colour into the family (Kehinde 2020, 3). This moment shows cultural and historical significance as in the series the way Lady Danbury describes it this shift happened rapidly whereas in real life Meghan Markle has yet to be accepted by the Royal family (Yelin, and Clancy 2021). Highlighting a substantial difference from the norm.
Both of these series showcase women of colour in a position of historically white power. Smashing down systematic racial and sexist hierarchy. As a whole, seeing more representation of women and people of colour in the media aids breaking down barriers and showcasing to you that women and people of colour deserve to be successful and powerful.
Regardless of what historians have to say about the authenticity of the series, Rhimes makes it clear from the very beginning that the show “is not a history lesson” but instead “fiction inspired by fact” (Victorian 2023, 1)(Mojo, 2023). For Rhimes to base the entire series off of the concept of fiction that is inspired by fact. Who is to say that Charlotte along with many of the other members of high society featured cannot be people of colour.
Bibliography:
Andrews, Kehinde. “The Post-Racial Princess: Delusions of Racial Progress and Intersectional Failures.” Science DIrect, 102432, 84, no. January-February 2021 (December 10, 2020): 1–6. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277539520308116.
Bond, Cynthia D. 2010. “Laws of Race/Laws of Representation: The Construction of Race and Law in Contemporary American Film.” Texas Review of Entertainment & Sports Law 11 (2): 219–65. https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=72c79ebd-6ee8-3916-9e00-763e4638b3ad.
Marta Rocchi, and Elisa Farinacci. 2020. “Shonda Rhimes’s TGIT: Representation of Womanhood and Blackness.” Series. International Journal of Tv Serial Narratives 6 (1): 29–41. doi:10.6092/issn.2421-454X/10454.
Mojo. “Top 10 Things Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Got Factually Right & Wrong.” YouTube, May 12, 2023. https://youtu.be/dXvxc-ukRMc?si=YulICOxAoBET3scB.
The Courtauldian. “Netflix’s Bridgerton: The Significance of the Insignificance of Race.” The Courtauldian, August 12, 2023. https://www.courtauldian.com/single-post/netflix-s-bridgerton-the-significance-of-the-insignificance-of-race#:~:text=It%20is%20not%20until%20episode,exist%20in%20the%20Bridgerton%20world.
Victorian, Brande. “Who Was the Real Queen Charlotte?” The Hollywood Reporter, May 23, 2023.https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/queen-charlotte-true-story-bridgerton-1235494416/.
Yelin, Hannah, and Laura Clancy. 2021. “Introduction to Special Issue—Race, Royalty and Meghan Markle: Elites, Inequalities, and a Woman in the Public Eye.” Women’s Studies International Forum 84 (January). doi:10.1016/j.wsif.2020.102436.
Wilson, Nicole. “‘I like My Baby Heir with Baby Hair and Afros’: Black Majesty and the Fault-Lines of Colonialism.” Science Direct, January-February, 84, no. 102432 (December 18, 2020): 1–11. https://www-sciencedirect-com.ezproxy.tru.ca/science/article/pii/S0277539520308104.
Oreoluwa Alakaba
Great comparison. I particularly like the fact that you made use of the current situation of the monarchy in England and the subtle hints of racism that existed until Meghan Markle became a member of the royal family and how you made a comparison of the portrayal of the fictional character, Queen Charlotte with Queen Charlotte of the Gregorian period. The image used for submission fits the theme of your assignment as it properly highlights Golda Rosheuvel, a woman of colour, who plays Queen Charlotte in the Bridgerton series, and the actual Queen Charlotte. Giving a back story on Shonda Rhimes and her constant inclusion of diversity in her productions at the beginning of the article also sets the pace for your topic, which was brilliant. However, you didn’t explain why this choice resonates with viewers which could have been a concrete addition. Highlighting as mentioned by Rhimes that it was “fiction inspired by the fact” and your last statement, “Who is to say that Charlotte along with many of the other members of high society featured cannot be people of colour.”, was a strong way to conclude your submission, leaving readers to have something to think about.
Great choices on your sources as well, although in your source, “Laws of Race/Laws of Representation: The Construction of Race and Law in Contemporary American Film.”, the link for the journal as cited doesn’t seem to produce a search result. Anyways, great work!
Bronté Lauzé
Here is the active link hope this helps 🙂
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1603622