Bridgerton’s Simone Ashley looked regal at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival on Friday – a day after the period drama dropped its raciest episodes yet.
Simone, 29, who found fame on Sex Education, also on Netflix, looked flawless in a figure-hugging dark red gown, intricately designed with leaves which appeared submerged.
She then shared a sweet kiss of greeting with Albert II, Prince of Monaco, on stage at the Opening Ceremony.
The monarch was there to present Ashley with the International Golden Nymph award for Most Promising Talent at the 63rd annual festival.
Albert, 66, the eldest son of the late Grace Kelly, wore a black suit with a white shirt and a patterned blue tie.
![Bridgerton's Simone Ashley Stuns in Red Dress at Monte-Carlo TV Festival 2 Bridgerton's Simone Ashley, 29, looked regal at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival on Friday - a day after the period drama dropped its raciest episodes yet](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/14/20/86137061-13531699-image-a-1_1718392760583.jpg)
Bridgerton’s Simone Ashley, 29, looked regal at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival on Friday – a day after the period drama dropped its raciest episodes yet
![Bridgerton's Simone Ashley Stuns in Red Dress at Monte-Carlo TV Festival 4 Simone who found fame on Sex Education, also on Netflix , looked flawless in a dark red gown intricately designed with leaves which appeared submerged](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/14/20/86137063-13531699-image-a-2_1718392763962.jpg)
Simone who found fame on Sex Education, also on Netflix , looked flawless in a dark red gown intricately designed with leaves which appeared submerged
![Bridgerton's Simone Ashley Stuns in Red Dress at Monte-Carlo TV Festival 6 She then shared a sweet kiss of greeting with Albert II, Prince of Monaco, 66, on stage at the Opening Ceremony](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/14/20/86137057-13531699-image-a-3_1718392834370.jpg)
She then shared a sweet kiss of greeting with Albert II, Prince of Monaco, 66, on stage at the Opening Ceremony
Bridgerton series three Part 2 dropped on Netflix on Thursday and picked up right where fans left Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan).
Kate Bridgerton (Simone) and her husband Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), who led series two, featured frequently.
Though Part 2 featured a six-minute sex scene, some fans were still left unimpressed.
Fans were cast back to the very first series when Nicola, 37, stripped fully nude in front of her soon-to-be husband.
But they will be left disappointed as they watch on and discover that there’s not much more to come.
And while Variety’s Aramide Timudu called the scene of the ‘sexiest things seen on television since Bridgerton series one’, the Evening Standard’s Vicky Jessop felt the highly anticipated regency romp left a little to be desired.
![Bridgerton's Simone Ashley Stuns in Red Dress at Monte-Carlo TV Festival 8 The monarch was there to present Ashley with the International Golden Nymph award for Most Promising Talent at the 63rd annual festival](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/14/20/86137059-13531699-image-a-4_1718393025465.jpg)
The monarch was there to present Ashley with the International Golden Nymph award for Most Promising Talent at the 63rd annual festival
![Bridgerton's Simone Ashley Stuns in Red Dress at Monte-Carlo TV Festival 10 Albert, the eldest son of the late Grace Kelly, wore a black suit with a white shirt and a patterned blue tie](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/14/20/86137055-13531699-Albert_the_eldest_son_of_the_late_Grace_Kelly_wore_a_black_suit_-m-20_1718393333787.jpg)
Albert, the eldest son of the late Grace Kelly, wore a black suit with a white shirt and a patterned blue tie
![Bridgerton's Simone Ashley Stuns in Red Dress at Monte-Carlo TV Festival 12 Despite the fact Part 2 of Simone's series Bridgerton featured a six-minute sex scene between Nicola Coughlan (pictured) and Luke Newton, some fans and critics were left unimpressed](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/14/20/86062627-13531699-After_a_slow_build_Bridgerton_series_three_finally_made_good_on_-a-21_1718393515015.jpg)
Despite the fact Part 2 of Simone’s series Bridgerton featured a six-minute sex scene between Nicola Coughlan (pictured) and Luke Newton, some fans and critics were left unimpressed
‘Steamy this is not,’ she said. ‘Watching it feels like seeing two teenagers fumbling their way through an awkward clinch.’
Critics’ opinions on part two were largely restricted to episode five and six, as Netflix guarded the final two for its main drop on Thursday.
Vicky gave part two a damning two-star review, as she asked: ‘Is Bridgerton losing its touch?’