Whistledown's Knack for Games Prompts the Queen to Revamp Her Diamond Tradition
The queen may delay in naming a diamond, but she certainly has her sights set on a lady that sparkles.
May 16 2024, Published 3:01 a.m. ET
Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers for Season 3, Part 1 of Bridgerton.
If there’s one thing Lady Whistledown of Bridgerton loves, it’s stirring up drama and toying with Queen Charlotte’s (Golda Rosheuvel) emotions. As the ton returns from the countryside to Mayfair in Season 3, the gossip pamphlet calls into question the queen’s delay in selecting a diamond, hinting it might be due to “fortitude or fear.”
Wait, is Lady Whistledown suggesting her queen is scared? Just as much as the scandal sheet’s writer wants to know if the queen will continue her diamond tradition, so do viewers. So, does Queen Charlotte choose a diamond in Season 3? Find out!
Queen Charlotte doesn’t choose a diamond in Season 3, Part 1 of ‘Bridgerton.' Here’s why.
Lady Whistledown may be trying to push the queen to name a diamond for Season 3’s annual social season, but she remains steadfast in her decision to wait. After all, bestowing the title as the season’s diamond does take time and patience.
The queen chooses not to name a diamond in Season 3, Part 1 because she hasn’t completed her assessment of the eligible ladies of the ton. That, and she refuses to give Whistledown the satisfaction of winning.
Whistledown is clearly playing games with the queen, and because Queen Charlotte relishes a good game, she finds a way to select a diamond runner-up so to speak until she’s ready to reveal her diamond to members of the social elite (if she does, at all). With Lady Danbury’s (Adjoa Andoh) inspiration, the queen sets her sights on a “sparkler,” in other words, a lady that sparkles among the crowded sea of single women anxiously awaiting betrothal.
Does choosing a sparkler sound a lot like naming a diamond? Absolutely, but the queen is being so discreet with her sparkler that it’s almost as if she’s testing the waters before making any official announcement. And naturally, she's keeping Whistledown guessing the whole time!
Who is the sparkler in Season 3 of ‘Bridgerton’?
With Lady Danbury’s guidance, the queen selects Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd) as her sparker for the season. Francesa, the newest debutante from the esteemed Bridgerton household, boasts both beauty and talent, making her a captivating choice for the social scene.
During a brief respite from the ball, Francesca indulges (privately) in her love for playing the pianoforte, a moment observed by none other than the queen, who applauds Francesca for indulging in her talent solely for her own pleasure. Could Francesca be promoted from sparkler to diamond in Part 2? Only time will tell!
Stream Seasons 1 and 2 of Bridgerton on Netflix now. Catch Season 3, Part 1 airing on May 16, 2024, and Part 2 on June 13, 2024.