Bridgerton stars break down what that surprise nod to the Queen Charlotte spin-off means for season 4

*Warning: This article contains a minor spoiler for the Bridgerton season 4 part 1 finale.*

Although it was released back in 2023, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story remains a fan-favourite spin-off of the original Regency drama. The series lifted a lid on the indomitable Queen (Golda Rosheuvel) and her backstory, taking us through her whirlwind romance with King George and was a hit of a series.

There haven't been any plans for a continuation of that spin-off but nevertheless, fans of the Regency drama remain committed to the memory of Queen Charlotte series.

Going forward in the original series, fans now have a greater understanding of the younger years of not only the Queen, but also of Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) and Lady Violet (Ruth Gemmell).

So, fans will undoubtedly be delighted to see a small nod to the Queen Charlotte series in Bridgerton season 4!

While not a big moment by any means, eagle-eyed fans will spot that Lady Danbury makes her way through the Queen's palace with her in tow, but stops for a moment to admire one of the grand paintings adorning the hallway.

When she looks up at it properly, we then get to see that it's actually a portrait of the Queen and Lady Danbury but as their younger selves. As Danbury stops to look at it, the Queen turns back and says: "Agatha?" but no more words are exchanged as she simply smiles and carries on.

Seeing as the Queen Charlotte spin-off was such a success, how did it feel to incorporate that nod to the series and their younger characters? Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com, Adjoa Andoh said: “You’ve got it, woo! First of all, I’m chuffed that you got that because it’s very delicately in there and not everybody will perhaps notice it. I think what it’s saying is ‘Do you remember, audience? Do you remember those young women?’.

"You see that remembrance and you understand the length of that friendship and all the vulnerabilities that were on display in that spin-off series. That series was a real gift to us and a real brilliant Shonda lightbulb flashing into our story."

Read more:

• Bridgerton showrunner confirms which characters will be the leads of seasons 5 and 6
• Bridgerton star teases "confronting" season 4 character dynamic between Francesca and Michaela

She went on: "I love that thing where you look at someone and are like ‘I wonder what you were like when you were 12’. I think everybody has that moment where they do have that wondering so it’s beautiful that we were able to have that in the show.

"It just really does inform how we’re able to play these moments now because we know their history. We know for a fact … we physically embodied those stories, we know what’s gone on for them in our younger versions in Arsema [Thomas] and India [Amarteifio].”

In this first batch of season 4 episodes, it hasn't exactly been plain-sailing between the Queen and Danbury. While the pair have clearly been friends for decades and do respect one another, Danbury's reveal that she wishes to leave the Ton has clearly upset the Queen.

Revealing how that upsets the Queen this season, Rosheuvel said: “I think it has [come out of left field]. I think the Queen has sort of naively been coasting along, rather nicely.

"I think Danbury’s ask really shifts the Queen into realising that she has been coasting a little bit and realises, through Whistledown and the comment that Whistledown makes, that she is trapped. She is confined in her own world and can’t go out and you know, go somewhere as Danbury is asking."

Bridgerton season 4 part 1 premieres on January 29th and Part 2 on February 26th, both on Netflix. Seasons 1-3 are available to watch on Netflix now. You can buy the Bridgerton book series on Amazon.

Add Bridgerton to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.

Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.