This article contains spoilers for Bridgerton season 3.
Summary
At the end ofBridgertonseason 3, the series unexpectedly jumps forward in time, offering a glimpse of Colin and Penelope nearly a year into their future together.Bridgertonis no stranger to time jumps, as each installment leaps forward to the next courting season. However, this final time jump in theBridgertonseason 3 endingis unique because it fast forwards right into Colin and Penelope’s future. Where otherBridgertoncouples have had to wait for their happily ever after, Pen and Colin get it right away.
TheBridgertonseason 3 time jump is one of the most heartwarming scenes in the season.Penelope, Prudence, and Philippa all have children now, and they gather with their babies at the Featherington house, along with Portia and Colin. It is revealed that Prudence and Philippa both had girls, while Penelope had a boy, making him the Featherington heir. More importantly though, the family has clearly mended their strained relationship. Plus, Penelope now writes Lady Whistledown as herself, not her pseudonym. The season 3 time jump thus serves up a sneak peek at the future of theBridgertonshow timeline.
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How Long Bridgerton Season 3’s Time-Jump Lasts
Bridgerton Jumped A Year Into The Future
AlthoughBridgertonnever discloses how long the season 3 time jump is, it can be assumed that it lasts about a year. The biggest indicator of this is that Penelope had a baby. Penelope’s baby looked to be about one to two months old, and she had to have been pregnant for nine months. Altogether, that isabout one year since the Dankworth-Finch ball. Prudence and Philippa’s babies also parallel this timeline, as they seem to be about three to four months old. Their clothes also hint that the season is spring again rather than winter.
At this time, there is no word on which Bridgerton sibling will leadBridgertonseason 4, however, the time jump confirms a few key details.
If theBridgertonseason 3 time jump really lasts a year, that would mean the time jump takes place duringBridgertonseason 4. EveryBridgertoninstallment begins at the start of the next social season, andifBridgertonseason 3 skipped ahead one year, then it would be courting seasononce again. At this time, there is no word on which Bridgerton sibling will leadBridgertonseason 4, however, the time jump confirms a few key details. Colin and Penelope are still together, have started a family, and should be around for the nextBridgertonseason.
Bridgerton season 4 could follow the love stories of Benedict, Francesca, or Eloise.
What Year Bridgerton Season 4 Will Be Set
Bridgerton Season 4 Takes Place In 1816
IfBridgertonfollows its usual schedule,season 4 should take place in the year 1816.Bridgertonseason 1 was set in 1813, and three seasons have gone by since Daphne and Simon fell in love. This also aligns with the timeline written by Julia Quinn in theBridgertonbooks. Ultimately,Bridgerton’stimeline will continue until 1820,when the final Bridgerton sibling gets married. At this point, the series still has Benedict, Eloise, Francesca, Hyacinth, and Gregory’s love stories left to cover.
The Duke and I
On the Way to the Wedding
Gregory
1816 is still firmly in the Regency Era of London. AlthoughBridgertontweaks the history a bit, the Regency Era refers to the span of history in which King George III was king, but his son acted as prince regent.Bridgertondoes succeed, however, at portraying the culture of the Regency Era, which was focused on wealth and socializing. The year 1816 saw a number of interesting events that could appear inBridgertonseason 4 such as Lord Byron’s controversial separation from his wife, Princess Charlotte’s marriage, or the summer that was notably wet and cold.
Bridgerton’s Time-Jump Presents A Problem For Anthony & Kate
Bridgerton’s Time Jump Does Not See Characters Return
Bridgertonseason 3’s time jump gives audiences a glimpse at Colin and Penelope’s happiness, but it ignores the fates of the otherBridgerton family members. With a year now gone by,Kate and Anthony’s baby will have been born by now, and they should be back from India. However, they are clearly not part of the new baby scene at the Featherington house. It could be that the journey from India delays them, but regardless, hopes are high thatAnthony and Kate will return inBridgertonseason 4.
The year-long time jump also means that Eloise should be back from Scotland. This raises questions aboutwhether audiences will see any glimpses of Eloise’s time abroad, or if she will simply come back changed. Furthermore, Eloise could break her promise to Benedict and not return by the time of Violet’s masquerade ball. Her absence from the time jump makes this unclear. Overall,Bridgertonseason 3’s time jump brings up more questions than answers, but it does start building excitement for the next season ofBridgerton.
Bridgerton
Cast
Bridgerton, released on July 20, 2025, is set in Regency-era England and follows the lives of the influential Bridgerton family. The series explores themes of wealth, lust, and betrayal, portraying societal dynamics through a blend of romance and intrigue.
