Every ‘Bridgerton’ Couple’s Book Timeline: The Years They Met, Got Married & More
What To Know
- Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton book series is set during the Regency era.
- The Bridgerton siblings and their love interests have varying ages (and age gaps) during their books.
- Leading couples meet at different over a span of 14 years, with some stories overlapping.
Even when Bridgerton is in between seasons, it’s safe to assume that the Swooon team is still thinking about the Netflix show on the regular. When we’re not reflecting on which couple had the best meet-cute or the steamiest love scene, we’re re-reading all of the Regency romance novels that the show is based on.
Julia Quinn’s book series is worth checking out for more reasons than one, especially if you want to gain a deeper understanding of the show. The Bridgerton timeline can be hard to keep track of if you’re only watching the events unfold onscreen. What year does each couple meet, and how much time does each book cover? And when do they get married, for that matter? There are some differences in the adaptation, of course, but also plenty of commonalities.
As we prepare ourselves for Benedict (Luke Thompson) and Sophie’s (Yerin Ha) love story — January needs to hurry up — we thought it was a good time to dive back into the books.
In what time period does Bridgerton take place?
The Duke and I, which follows Simon (Regé-Jean Page) and Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor), kicks off in 1813. The period is known in British history as the Regency era, which lasted from 1811 to 1820. It gets its name because George, Prince of Wales, served as the country’s regent when his father was mentally incapable.
When was each Bridgerton sibling born?
Thankfully, Quinn has a nifty family tree on her website, so you don’t have to check every book for a refresher. (Though we’re always down for a re-read.)
Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) was born in 1784. That makes him the eldest Bridgerton sibling. Benedict came along two years later in 1786. Colin (Luke Newton) was born in 1791, Daphne in 1792, and Eloise (Claudia Jessie) in 1796. Francesca (Hannah Dodd) was born exactly one year after Eloise, so they share a birthday. Gregory (Will Tilston) and Hyacinth (Florence Hunt), the two youngest, were born in 1801 and 1803, respectively.
When were the Bridgerton love interests born?
Going in order of their appearance in the books, Simon was born in 1784, the same year as Anthony. Kate (Simone Ashley), Anthony’s love interest, was born in 1793. That couple has a nine-year age gap, but Kate is aged up in the show. Benedict and Sophie’s book age gap is similar to Kanthony’s, the latter having been born in 1794.
Colin and Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) are five years apart, the latter having been born in 1796. Eloise is two years younger than Sir Phillip Crane (Chris Fulton), who was born in 1794. Michael Stirling (aka Michaela, played by Masali Baduza) was born in 1791, six years before Francesca. Lucy, Gregory’s love interest, was born in 1807, putting six years between them. Last but not least, Gareth was born in 1797. He’s older than Hyacinth by six years.
When does each Bridgerton couple meet?
Simon and Daphne meet in 1813. Kate and Anthony’s story begins exactly a year later. Benedict and Sophie’s story is unique in that they’re introduced in 1815 at the Bridgerton masquerade ball, but they don’t meet again until two years later.
Here’s where the books really start to deviate from the show. Penelope and Colin technically meet as children, but they reunite after Colin’s travels and fall in love in 1824. That’s right: It’s a full decade after Anthony and Kate meet. Not nearly as much time passes between Seasons 2 and 3 of the Netflix show.
Francesca and Michael’s first meeting is also a bit tricky. Francesca had been married to Michael’s cousin, John (Victor Alli), for two years before When He Was Wicked unfolds. Michael meets his future bride shortly before she weds John, falling in love at first sight. That places their first meeting somewhere around 1818.
In another complicated situation, Eloise and Phillip don’t technically meet until 1824, but they start exchanging letters about a year prior. Hyacinth and Gareth also know each other before their book takes place, but it’s unclear exactly when they met for the first time. Hyacinth’s been regularly reading to Gareth’s grandmother, Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh), when her book begins in 1825.
Gregory and Lucy, on the other hand, don’t have before their first interaction in 1827.
When does each Bridgerton book take place?
Quinn has a quick explainer on when each book starts, too, but we went back to source material to check how long the stories last — and most importantly, when each couple wed.
The Duke and I: April to August 1813 (wedding in May 1813)
The Viscount Who Loved Me: April to June 1814 (wedding in May 1814)
An Offer From a Gentleman: May 1815 to June 1817 (wedding in June 1817)
Romancing Mister Bridgerton: April to May 1824 (wedding in May 1824)
When He Was Wicked: March 1820 to June 1824 (wedding in May 1824)
To Sir Phillip, With Love: May to June 1824 (February 1823 prologue; wedding in June 1824)
That’s right: The main chunk of Colin, Eloise, and Francesca’s stories takes place almost simultaneously, unlike the show. That’s why many fans of the show aren’t sure about who will lead Season 5: Eloise or Francesca.
It’s In His Kiss: May to June 1825 (1815 prologue; wedding in July 1825)
On the Way to the Wedding: May to July 1827 (wedding date unknown)
And there you have it! Hopefully, that clears up any of your burning Bridgerton timeline questions, though the show has already proven that it doesn’t follow it exactly. We’ll have to wait and see if Season 4 will make Benedict pine for two years before finding his Lady in Silver again. (We sure hope Bridgerton does. Swooon loves a tortured yearner.)
Bridgerton, Season 4, Part 1 Premiere, Thursday, January 29, 2026
Bridgerton, Season 4, Part 2 Premiere, Thursday, February 26, 2026
