Bridgerton’s Take On Regency London Set Tongues Wagging – But Here’s How Accurate It Really Is

Dearest Gentle Reader, if you have been keeping up with the word of the ton, then you should know that Netflix’s Bridgerton has been named the streaming service’s Incomparable. The period drama presents a picture perfect version of England – and specifically, London – during the Regency era. But how much of the story is true? And what is simply embellishment or, indeed, pure gossip? Well, be assured, we shall uncover the truth…

40. Was Queen Charlotte really Black?

It’s hard to say for sure because even experts disagree on this. But there’s enough evidence to suggest that perhaps she was. In fact, historian Mario De Valdes y Cocom traced the queen’s ancestry back to Black Portuguese royals. And portraits of her may well have lightened her skin, thus concealing her ethnicity. But as showrunner Chris Van Dusen told Esquire magazine in 2021, “With our show, we strive to honor the history, but we're not beholden to the history.”

39. Would Daphne have had a white wedding dress?

The ceremony may have been hastily arranged, but Daphne still managed to look perfect on her big day. Although she may appear the very epitome of a diamond of the first water, her dress is not very historically accurate. In fact, it was not until decades later that Queen Victoria popularized the white wedding gown at her own nuptials. Back in the Regency Era brides would have looked far more Featherington than Bridgerton, decked out as they were in bright colors and gold.

38. Could women have really had their own businesses?

If you want to be the talk of the town, you must surely pay a visit to the Modiste run by Madame Genevieve Delacroix. But would she really have been allowed to run a successful business in that era? The slightly surprising answer is, yes – as long as she stuck to “women’s work.” It was acceptable for a lady to excel in dressmaking or writing for example, but it would have been scandalous for her to have moved into anything that could be considered a man’s world of business.

37. Was “promenading” real?

It sounds like it could be the Regency era version of “prom,” right? Well, there were some similarities. If a young man and woman went promenading it meant they were a couple, with marriage very probably on the horizon. And this public display was a vital part of “courtship” – the year-long ritual that ensured everything about romance was done properly. Which, to this jaded author, doesn't sound like the worst dating philosophy…