You're likely here because you finished a binge-watch of the latest season and now there's a Regency-sized hole in your life. It happens to the best of us. But here’s the thing: trying to figure out the bridgerton prequels in order is honestly a bit of a headache because Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes didn't exactly make it a linear process. You've got the books. You've got the Netflix spin-offs. Then you’ve got the Rokesby series, which most casual fans don't even realize is basically the "pre-prequel."
It’s messy.
If you just follow the release dates, you’re going to be jumping around like a confused debutante at her first ball. To get the real "Bridgerton" experience, you have to look at the timeline of the Ton. We’re talking about the years before Daphne made her debut and long before Anthony decided he was done with love.
The Queen Charlotte factor: Where the timeline actually splits
Most people think of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story as the definitive starting point. In terms of the Netflix show, it is. But even that show is tricky because it uses a "frame narrative." Half the show happens in 1817 (after Season 2 of the main show), while the meat of the story is set in 1761.
If you want to understand the bridgerton prequels in order, you have to decide if you’re a purist or a casual viewer.
Honestly? Start with the 1761 timeline. This is where we see a young Charlotte arrive in England to marry King George III. It sets the entire stage for the "integrated" society we see in the main series. Without this prequel, the racial dynamics of the later shows don't have their origin story. It’s heavy. It’s gorgeous. And it’s the earliest chronological point in the televised universe.
But wait.
The books are a different beast entirely. Julia Quinn wrote a whole series called The Rokesbys which takes place in the late 1700s. These are the actual Bridgerton prequels. They follow the generation before the eight siblings we know and love. We see the Bridgerton parents, Edmund and Violet, when they were just kids or young adults.
Breaking down the Rokesby series (The "Original" Prequels)
If you’re a reader, the bridgerton prequels in order must start with the Rokesbys. These guys live next door to the Bridgertons at Aubrey Hall.
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- Because of Miss Bridgerton (Set in 1779): This is the big one. It features Billie Bridgerton. She’s the aunt of the famous eight siblings. She’s wild, she wears breeches, and she’s nothing like the polished ladies of the 1813 era.
- The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband (Set in 1781): This moves the action to the American Colonies during the Revolutionary War. It’s a bit of a departure, but it’s essential for the family lore.
- The Other Miss Bridgerton (Set in 1786): Pirates. Seriously.
- First Comes Scandal (Set in 1791): This one brings us back to the domestic drama and features Georgiana Bridgerton.
By the time you finish these, you’ve basically lived through the late 18th century with this family. You see how the Bridgerton "vibe"—that chaotic, loving, fiercely loyal energy—started. It didn't just appear out of nowhere when Anthony took over as Viscount. It was inherited.
Why the order matters for your brain
If you watch Queen Charlotte and then read the Rokesby books, you might get "tonal whiplash." The Netflix show is high-drama, high-stakes, and very focused on the monarchy. The Rokesby books are much more "country house cozy."
Think of it this way: Queen Charlotte is the political prequel. The Rokesbys are the family prequels.
The Queen Charlotte book vs. The TV show
Here is where it gets confusing. Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes co-wrote the Queen Charlotte novel after the show was developed. Usually, it’s the other way around.
If you are strictly following bridgerton prequels in order based on when things happen, the Queen Charlotte book/show combo sits weirdly between the Rokesby series and the main Bridgerton series.
- Late 1770s - 1790s: The Rokesby Series (Books)
- 1761: The "Young Charlotte" parts of the Netflix Prequel
- 1813: The Duke and I / Bridgerton Season 1 begins
Basically, if you want the "true" chronological experience, you actually start with the young Charlotte scenes, then read all the Rokesby books, and then go back to the 1813 stuff. Does that sound like a lot of work? Maybe. Is it worth it? Absolutely.
What most people get wrong about Violet Bridgerton’s story
We see Violet as the "wise mother" figure. She’s the anchor. But the prequels—specifically the Queen Charlotte series—give us a glimpse of her as a young girl (Violet Ledger).
There’s a huge misconception that Violet’s life was always easy because she had a "great love" with Edmund. But the prequels show us the loneliness of her childhood and the complexities of her father’s life. If you’re looking at the bridgerton prequels in order to find out more about Violet, you need to pay close attention to the "Violet Ledger" scenes in the Queen Charlotte series. It recontextualizes everything she says to Daphne or Eloise later on.
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She wasn't just born a perfect mother. She was a girl who saw the world changing around her and decided what kind of woman she wanted to be.
The "Smithe-Smith" connection
You can't talk about these prequels without mentioning the Smith-Smith family. They are the ones who host the famously terrible musical performances. They show up in the Bridgerton books, the Rokesby books, and their own quartet of stories.
If you really want to go down the rabbit hole, the Smythe-Smith Miscellany occurs simultaneously with some of the later Bridgerton books, but their family history stretches back into the prequel era. It’s like a shared cinematic universe, but with more violins and less talent.
Real talk: Do you actually need to read them in order?
Kinda.
You won’t be "lost" if you don’t. Julia Quinn is great at making each book stand alone. But you lose the "Easter Eggs."
For instance, in the main series, characters often mention ancestors or "the way things used to be" at Aubrey Hall. If you’ve read the Rokesby books, those throwaway lines become "Aha!" moments. You realize that the study where Anthony does his taxes is the same room where Billie Bridgerton caused chaos forty years earlier.
The Actionable Strategy for Bridgerton Fans
If you want to consume the bridgerton prequels in order without losing your mind, follow this specific path:
Phase 1: The TV Foundation
Watch Queen Charlotte on Netflix first. Don't worry about the 1817 "future" scenes yet. Just focus on the 1761 story. It gives you the "why" behind the world.
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Phase 2: The Literary Roots
Read the four Rokesby books starting with Because of Miss Bridgerton. This bridges the gap between the 1760s and the 1813 start date. You'll see how the Bridgerton family wealth and reputation actually solidified.
Phase 3: The Violet Lore
Go back and read the short story The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown or look for the "Violet and Edmund" vignettes in The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After. This is the "missing link" between the prequels and the main series.
Phase 4: The Main Event
Now start Season 1 of Bridgerton or read The Duke and I.
By doing it this way, you aren't just watching a romance; you're watching a multi-generational saga about a family building a legacy. You'll understand why Lady Danbury has so much power. You'll understand why the King is hidden away. You'll understand why the Bridgertons are so much more "relaxed" than other noble families.
The history of the Ton isn't just about who marries whom; it's about how a specific group of people redefined British high society over a fifty-year span.
Final insight on the timeline
The most important thing to remember is that the "Netflix Timeline" and the "Book Timeline" are slowly becoming two different things. The show has introduced characters and stakes (like the Great Experiment) that don't exist in the same way in the books. If you are strictly a fan of the show, prioritize the Queen Charlotte content. If you love the deep lore of the family tree, the Rokesby novels are your gold mine.
To keep everything straight, focus on the dates at the start of the chapters. The Regency era officially begins in 1811, but the "Bridgerton World" starts much earlier, in the hearts of a young King and a girl named Billie who refused to act like a lady.
Next Steps for the Dedicated Fan
- Track the dates: Keep a small note of the years mentioned in the Rokesby books to see how they overlap with the American Revolution and other global events mentioned in the show.
- Check the family tree: Look at the official Bridgerton family tree provided in The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After to see exactly where Billie and the Rokesby boys sit in relation to Gregory and Hyacinth.
- Compare the Violets: Watch the scenes with young Violet in the Queen Charlotte series and then re-read the prologue of The Duke and I to see how the two versions of the character align.