When a TV show introduces a plethora of characters right off the bat, it is easy for new viewers to become completely overwhelmed and simply give up on the show. However, with Netflix’s beloved lighthearted period romance entitled Bridgerton, a family of nine is immediately put in the spotlight, and fans have found that it is surprisingly easy to keep up with all eight siblings and their loving mother. Each character has been meticulously crafted to have their own quirks and pursuits, and while they do often come together to support one another, fans feel like the varying storylines are actually easy to keep up with, especially when love interests get involved.
Season 1 put Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor), the eldest girl among the eight siblings, at the forefront of the show as her mother and brother properly introduce her to society during London’s social season. While Daphne’s main concern is finding a husband before the end of the season, her siblings have their own things to worry about.
The second season then focuses on the eldest male of the family, Viscount Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), as he must find a suitable match for himself. With the third season coming out in May 2024, and the already-large Bridgerton naturally growing, it would do fans some good to take a moment to actually see how the Bridgerton family tree (and the characters’ actual ages) lines up before anyone else gets added to the mix.
The Bridgerton Family Tree
Edmund and Violet Bridgerton
The Parents Who Created a Huge Family
While most marriages were conducted more like business transactions during the Regency era, the union between Edmund Bridgerton (Rupert Evans) and Violet Ledger (Ruth Gemmell) was pure and full of passionate love. The two wed when Edmund was just 20 years old, and Violet was 18. Because there were no qualms about money, status, or their love for one another, the two were pretty much on the same page about having a large and loving family.
Throughout their marriage, Violet birthed seven healthy children (four boys and three girls). However, Edmund died when he was just 38 due to an allergic reaction from a bee sting while Violet was pregnant with their eighth child, a baby girl. Unfortunately, this means viewers don’t get to see much of Edmund, except through heartbreaking flashbacks. After the tragic incident, Violet retreated into herself, but she eventually realized that she needed to do and be better for the sake of her children. Violet never remarried, but instead, she made it her duty to find suitable matches for all of her children and make sure their happiness always came first.
Viscount Anthony Bridgerton
Eldest Brother Who Became the Patriarch
Anthony Bridgerton (played by Jonathan Bailey) is the eldest child of Edmund and Violet, and he tragically watched his father die right in front of him when he was just 18 years old. By the time the events of season one roll around, Anthony is 29, and, as he is the man of the house, he assumes the responsibility of finding a suitable match for his sister during her very first social season.
As the 9th Viscount Bridgerton, Anthony begins to take his role more seriously once he realizes that what he chooses to do within his own life greatly affects his family. Within Season 1, this includes him breaking things off with a young woman who sadly was not born into the right social class to be deemed worthy of his hand in marriage. In Season 2, Anthony finds himself in the hot seat as his mother has deemed it time for him to find a suitable match to run the Bridgerton estate alongside him. This becomes somewhat of a headache as Anthony has to choose between his head and his heart.
Benedict and Colin Bridgerton
Older Brothers Who Enjoy Their Freedom
With Anthony as the eldest son, Benedict (Luke Thompson) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) feel as if a lot of the familial pressure is off of them. Rather than having to focus on what is best for the family at all hours of the day, the brothers get to dabble in their own respective hobbies.
Even as a young boy, Benedict had a love for the arts, and his goal was always to go away to art school and really focus on his craft. Happily, in Season 2, the second Bridgerton son, who is 28 at the time, is able to secure a spot at a prestigious art institute (though he would later find out that his older brother’s large donation contributed to his acceptance), and there, he quickly learns that no artist has a perfect life.
Colin, on the other hand, is third in line for the Viscount title, and unlike Benedict, who almost had to take over Anthony’s spot as head of the family, Colin truly gets the pleasure of doing what he wants without any hesitation. In between the first and second seasons, the 22-year-old is able to escape any and all family obligations and go travel the world. During his travels, Colin becomes somewhat of a “worldly man” who feels confident in talking about the different cultures and natural beauty he experienced while away. He even gives his brother, Benedict, some herbs to help him calm his nerves, but the drugs take full effect and put him into a hilarious yet useless state of mind.
Daphne Bridgerton
Eldest Daughter Becomes Duchess of Hastings
Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor), who is now Daphne Basset, is the fourth Bridgerton child, but she is the firstborn girl in the family. With this prestigious label, a lot of the family’s reputation falls on Daphne to set an example of what a proper lady from a proper home is capable of accomplishing.
Within the first season, Daphne was just 21 years old when she was presented to society as an eligible woman ready for marriage. However, being called the “Queen’s Diamond of the Season” certainly did not make things easy when young men were literally lining up to ask for her hand in marriage. Daphne ended up wedding the Duke of Hastings out of obligation, but familiarity certainly bred fondness.
By the second season, after a few hard and honest conversations were had, Daphne and Simon seemed to be doing just fine as they happily welcomed a baby boy into their lives. Daphne, feeling a bit wiser than even her older brothers due to her marital status and experience, was not shy at all to give her opinion on things when it came time for Anthony to settle down and wed.
Eloise Bridgerton
Independent Middle Child Who Challenges the Patriarchy
Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) is the textbook definition of a middle child; she is rebellious, openly voices her opinions despite a lot of them not being “ladylike” or appropriate, and is more stubborn than all of her siblings put together. At the ripe age of 17, Eloise knows for a fact that she does not want to just be someone’s wife or mother; she wants to continue her studies, travel, and experience everything life has to offer. Unfortunately, her mother and society have different plans for her future.
During the first season of Bridgerton, Eloise is grateful that a lot of her mother’s attention is on Daphne’s affairs rather than her own because she is left alone to admire and try to figure out the true identity of Lady Whistledown. However, in the second season, when Eloise has her social debut, she pretty much fights the urge to faint, throw up, and just yell at everyone about how ridiculous the entire event is from an educated woman’s perspective. Happily, Violet’s attention once again turns towards another one of her children, Anthony, as she desperately tries to get him to find a suitable match.
Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth Bridgerton
Youngest Three Children Who Watch the Chaos Unfold
The younger three Bridgerton children — Francesca (Ruby Stokes), Gregory (Will Tilston), and Hyacinth (Florence Hunt) — have, for the most part, managed to stay out of the spotlight. Then again, with every crazy thing that has gone on with their older siblings, it is probably for the best.
In Season 1, just after attending Daphne’s social debut, Francesca leaves London to stay with her aunt so that she may improve her piano playing. For most of the first season, Francesca stays away, but when she returns, she shows off her musical talents. In the second season of Bridgerton, Francesca acts just like her mother and fawns over her new little nephew, but after the first three episodes, she is nowhere to be found. Because Francesca (who will be played by Hannah Dodd in the third season) will either be 18 or be turning 18 in the following season, fans hope that she will get more of a storyline where she also comes out to society.
In the first two seasons of Bridgerton, we really don’t see Gregory and Hyacinth apart. Since they are both children — Gregory is 12 in season one, and Hyacinth is 10 — their main priority is to play with one another, mind their business when it comes to the massive amount of gossip strung throughout their home, and attend the family functions when Violet and Anthony see fit.
Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings
Married Daphne in Season 1
Every romance series has to have a “bad boy” or forbidden love sequence, and with the Duke of Hastings, Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page) coincidentally coming to town when his best friend’s younger sister just happens to be making her social debut, their fate was practically sealed before the scandalous gossip even began.
At the beginning of Season 1, Simon is 29 years old, just like his good friend Anthony Bridgerton. With only eight years between him and Daphne, no one really bats an eye at the courtship. After they get married, Simon lets it be known that he cannot have children. However, after some very serious conversations, Daphne learns that her husband’s situation is not so much of a “can’t have children” as opposed to “does not want to have children.” Eventually, she is able to make him see that he is worthy of becoming a great father and that he does not have to be anything like the man who refused to properly raise him. Happily, the two bring a baby boy into the world, and if the Netflix series stays on track with the books, there are more little Bassets to be found in the near future.
Viscountess Kate Sharma
Married Antony Off-Screen in the Season 2 Finale
Miss Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) gave Eloise a run for her money with her own stubbornness, but the older Sharma sister had a very good reason for her attitude towards society. Kate and her younger sister Edwina (Charithra Chandran) made their debut in Season 2 of Bridgerton. Kate decided it was her duty to look out for her sister and make sure whatever match she found was perfect for her. However, that match turned out to be Anthony Bridgerton, whom Kate had her own feelings towards.
Viewers then watch this will-they-won’t-they game played between Kate and Anthony as they try to hide their own feelings for the sake of duty and Edwina’s feelings. Of course, this all comes to a head on Edwina and Anthony’s wedding day, and in the end, the younger sister proves that she is wise beyond her years and wishes that Kate would do something that would make her big sister truly happy — this understanding takes place after a lot of hurt feelings and hard conversations. In the end, the 26-year-old professes her feelings to the viscount, and she and Anthony have a wedding off-screen. We get a peek at the newlyweds looking absolutely blissful before the second season’s credits begin rolling.
August “Augie” Basset
Simon and Daphne’s Son and Heir
The youngest member of the Bridgerton clan (though his last name is actually Basset) is Daphne and Simon’s first son, August. Young Augie does not get a lot of screen time, but when he does join his mother for their little outings, nearly every woman just fawns over him. Without knowing exactly when Daphne gave birth, it is safe to say that Augie is just a few months old at the start of season two, and he should be just under a year old by the time Kate and Anthony are married.
With each season of Bridgerton focusing on a different family member, fans don’t expect to see too much of Augie in the upcoming seasons. However, we do hope that Simon and Daphne have a splendid life with their little one, as Simon learns all about what it means to be an active and loving father to his very own children.
