Queen Charlotte’s role in Bridgerton season 3 is as big as in previous seasons of the Shondaland-Netflix TV show if not more, but despite that, not much is shared about King George or his and Charlotte’s story. The lack of information about King George’s health in Bridgerton season 3 clashes with his part in Bridgerton season 2. There, King George’s role, albeit fleeting, offered an insight into his and Queen Charlotte’s love, making his absence in Bridgerton season 3 particularly noticeable, especially after Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story focused on the queen and king’s simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking love story.

Thematically, it made sense for Bridgerton season 2 to offer a glimpse into George and Charlotte’s private life, not only because of the upcoming, at the time, spinoff but also because it worked with Edwina’s choice between resuming her wedding or looking for true love. At the same time, with Queen Charlotte tirelessly focusing on finding the truth about Lady Whistledown in Bridgerton season 3, it didn’t make sense for the series to offer updates on King George, as he was never part of Queen Charlotte’s search for Whistledown’s real identity. Here’s where King George is in Bridgerton season 3.

Is King George Still Alive During Bridgerton Season 3?

According To History, King George Is Still Alive In 1815

Continuity between Bridgerton’s seasons and Queen Charlotte establishes Bridgerton season 3 as happening right after the events of Queen Charlotte’s present timeline, as Queen Charlotte asked for Violet’s help in getting her sons married after acknowledging the matriarch’s success in getting two children married off in Queen Charlotte. This makes King George likely alive in Bridgerton season 3, as he was seen alive by Queen Charlotte’s ending, which should have happened mere months before Bridgerton season 3, given that the ton’s families returned to London in spring for the season, and Queen Charlotte’s events happened in winter.

History also suggests King George is still alive in the year Bridgerton season 3 is set. Whistledown first being released in the season of 1813 and being at its 32nd issue by Queen Charlotte’s beginning and at least at its 35th in Bridgerton season 3 establishes the events of season 3 as happening in 1815. Historically, 1815 is right in the middle of George IV’s regency from 1811 to 1820, when George III died, making King George still alive in Bridgerton season 3 and the following, provided Bridgerton season 4 doesn’t include time jumps.

Queen Charlotte Makes King George’s Absence Hit Differently

Bridgerton Season 2 & Queen Charlotte Already Showed The King’s Heartbreaking Struggles

Queen Charlotte paints a heartbreaking picture of King George’s condition in both timelines. If the past shows George struggling to keep his illness secret from Charlotte as he’s subjected to treatments tantamount to torture, the present shows how the two monarchs can still find who they were and cherish their love as they struggle with the realities of King George’s illness in Queen Charlotte’s ending. However, knowing the challenges King George and Queen Charlotte had to face from their story in Queen Charlotte and knowing their real story makes George’s absence all the more difficult in Bridgerton season 3.

Indeed, Bridgerton season 3’s setting places it halfway through George VI’s regency, hinting George’s condition has probably worsened in Bridgerton season 3. Knowing how bad things already were in Queen Charlotte and Bridgerton season 2 makes his and Charlotte’s story all the more heartbreaking, partially justifying Queen Charlotte’s excessive focus on finding the truth about Lady Whistledown in Bridgerton season 3 if that distracted her from the heartbreaks of her private life.

Bridgerton season 3 is now streaming in its entirety on Netflix.