Bridgerton fans are eagerly awaiting the drop of Netflix's new Queen Charlotte series which will focus on the formidable royal and her early relationship with King George. A big part of that early relationship will be Charlotte's arrival in London and her relationship with the city.
The real life Queen Charlotte travelled from her home in Germany to London in 1761 under the orders of King George who thought she would make a suitable wife. The couple reportedly lived a happy life together with 15 children up until George's mental deterioration.
King George preferred his time at country estates to his courtly life and the royals spent their summers at Kew Palace in Richmond, according to Historical Royal Places. In 1772, Queen Charlotte's cottage was constructed in the bluebell woods of Kew Gardens.
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The cottage was built as a retreat and acted as a spot for the royal family to enjoy private picnics, tea times, and leisurely walks. Bridgerton viewers might remember the season two scene in which Queen Charlotte showed off her zebras.
Many were baffled by the scene but it might well have been influenced by Kew. Attached to the Queen Charlotte cottage was a paddock homing exotic animals such as black swans, kangaroos (the first to arrive in England), and the now extinct quagga - an animal similar to a zebra.
Queen Charlotte had a keen interest in botany and loved to draw the species of plants and flowers she encountered at Kew gardens. After the royal died in 1818 the palace was closed. It was not until 1898 that the palace and cottage were opened to the public.
Today, visitors can look inside Kew Palace and Queen Charlotte's cottage when visiting Kew Gardens. Both are currently closed for the season but will reopen in Spring 2023. You can still visit the gardens and the ever-popular Christmas at Kew evenings start on November 16.
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