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1%% Image and caption chosen per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1332239939016038600
2%% Please do not change or remove either without starting a new thread.
3%%
4[[quoteright:325:[[WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/aurora_8.png]]]]
5[[caption-width-right:325:"One gift, beauty rare, [[HairOfGoldHeartOfGold Gold of sunshine in her hair]],\
6Lips that shame the red, red rose,\
7She'll walk with springtime wherever she goes."]]
8
9->''A princess is kind...\
10A princess is smart...\
11A princess is caring...\
12A princess likes to dress up...\
13A princess is brave...\
14A princess is ready for fun...\
15A princess loves to see new things...\
16A princess is a dreamer...\
17A princess is polite...\
18A princess loves to sing and dance...\
19And a princess always lives happily ever after!''
20-->-- ''Franchise/DisneyPrincess'', "What is a Princess"
21
22When we think of a Princess, the most common association is the [[ArchetypalCharacter archetypical princess]], the perfectly good, innocent, and beautiful princess, who is practically a saint with a royal title. These are largely associated with {{Fairy Tale}}s, and are considered to be as old as those types of stories.
23
24Actually, this character [[NewerThanTheyThink started in the Victorian Era]]. In that time when stories were being shaped by {{Disneyfication}} and {{Bowdleri|se}}zation, the concept of CourtlyLove was warped to take all the sexual SubText out and turn the noble lady into an [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism ideal of the times]]. All to provide only the most positive and uncomplicated image to children, and even adults as well.
25
26Princess Classic has many general traits.
27
28These first three points are required:
29* Being Female.
30* Being [[RoyalBlood actual royalty]], by birth or marriage, or AdoptedIntoRoyalty.
31* She is [[TheIngenue innocence personified]]. All virtue, no vice. More than likely, she's a [[VirginPower virgin]] (if that even comes up). She's good and kind, no matter what, and would be an AllLovingHero or even a MessianicArchetype.
32
33The following traits are typical, though optional, and since Administrivia/TropesAreFlexible, any of them can be mixed & matched.
34* [[TheBeautifulElite She is usually beautiful]], whether or not she is the WorldsMostBeautifulWoman. In animation, her beauty can shower her with {{sparkles}} and flowers, and [[FriendToAllLivingThings make birds and small woodland creatures flock around her]]. NiceMice are common, as is the BluebirdOfHappiness.
35* LongHairIsFeminine, which it's doubly so for her. When it's not done up in a ladylike style, it will fall in wavy tresses at least past her shoulder. HairOfGoldHeartOfGold can apply, but any hair color will do.
36* Her clothes are elegant, whether [[ModestRoyalty simple]] or [[ErmineCapeEffect opulent]] (and either [[VirginInAWhiteDress white]], [[PrincessesPreferPink pink]], [[TrueBlueFemininity blue]], or [[GracefulLadiesLikePurple purple]]). If she [[PrincessInRags ends up in rags]], she still makes the rags beautiful on her. When she wears her RequisiteRoyalRegalia, it tends to be dainty, to represent her demure and delicate nature. Particularly, her CoolCrown will often be a tiara or small crown.
37* If it's a musical, her singing voice is [[BeautifulSingingVoice gorgeous]] and probably [[InnocentSoprano a soprano]].
38* She is shy and demure, and so delicate that [[DamselInDistress she usually can't lift a finger to defend herself]]. That's what [[KnightInShiningArmor the brave knight]] [[MenAreTheExpendableGender is for]]. It's okay, since DelicateIsBeautiful.
39* A modern contrast with the above trait is that she may be outspoken, opinionated, and willing to defend herself, but despite that is never rude (when she can help it), is still kind and wishes to help others, and will never actively seek to harm another (unless driven that far).
40* She lives HappilyEverAfter with her {{prince|Charming}}, with whom she always falls in love, even if it's an ArrangedMarriage.
41* If the story is for children, she doesn't die at the end. If the story is for older audiences, she may die--but she will definitely be TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth.
42
43Now [[ValuesDissonance changing values]] have eroded the idealism that this character represented. So even though [[DiscreditedTrope this character has only slightly more credibility than the geocentric universe theory]], she's not a DeadHorseTrope yet. She's still around in some fiction for really young children due to the GrandfatherClause. And even in everywhere else, there is still the belief that [[GarnishingTheStory Everything's Better With Princesses]].
44
45Also, there is still the important fact that Administrivia/TropesAreTools and this trope doesn't mean a princess must lack CharacterDepth. She can still be well-rounded while having some of these traits.
46
47These days, if she's played straight in a story, it's highly unlikely for that story to be taken seriously. Most writers would give her some flaws, some depth. She could be sheltered and demure, but not a FlatCharacter.
48
49Also, being ground zero for any PrincessTropes, she can [[TookALevelInBadass get an upgrade]] to PrettyPrincessPowerhouse if the story requires her to (and can even overlap with KickingAssInAllHerFinery). Likely to browbeat SillyRabbitCynicismIsForLosers into any [[TheCynic cynic]] she finds.
50
51A SisterTrope to TheIngenue, ProperLady, (those two are also archetypes built of idealistic views), SouthernBelle, ThePollyanna, YamatoNadeshiko, TheHighQueen, ShelteredAristocrat, KnightInShiningArmor, PrinceCharming (the latter two being her {{Spear Counterpart}}s).
52
53Compare IdleRich, ParasolOfPrettiness, OldFashionedRowboatDate.
54
55Contrast TomboyPrincess, RebelliousPrincess, LadyOfWar, PrettyPrincessPowerhouse, RoyalBrat, PoliticallyActivePrincess, DaddysLittleVillain, VillainousPrincess.
56----
57!!Examples
58
59[[foldercontrol]]
60
61[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
62* ''Literature/ACertainMagicalIndex'' has the youngest royal daughter, Villian, who is an apparently timid but virtuous young woman.
63* Princess Charlotte in the ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' is the sheltered and demure version of this. [[spoiler:After the Eclipse, the Kushan empire took Wyndham and Charlotte was taken prisoner by Ganishka. Griffith rescues her after being reincarnated back on earth. She's now part of his new Band of the Hawk]].
64* ''Anime/CodeGeass'': Euphemia also fits in the oozing virtue and sweetness and light way [[spoiler:until Lelouch accidentally geasses her and sends her out on a killing spree.]] She's also a [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstruction]] as she proves to be ''painfully'' naive and out of her depths despite her best efforts and attempts to move into being more proactive. [[spoiler: Her [[KillTheCutie death]] ends up being the point of no-return for many characters as the story takes a ''very'' dark turn.]]
65%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample. What traits of the trope does she show?** Nunnally Lamperouge looks the part at first glance, but the moment you ''begin'' going below the surface she suddenly becomes more of a deconstruction than anything. She's ''much'' more like her [[GuileHero Guile]] AntiHero brother than at first glance.
66%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample* Princess Rune Venus of ''Anime/ElHazardTheMagnificentWorld'' is played this way most of the time, although she's considerably more politically savvy than the usual princess.
67%%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample* Princess Fala of ''Anime/GoLion'' (aka Princess Allura of ''Anime/{{Voltron}}''), even when fighting the bad guys.
68* While she isn't royalty (though [[NationsAsPeople being a principality]] is pretty close), Monaco from ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'' [[LongHairIsFeminine grew out her hair]] to give off this vibe according to WordOfGod, though the actual word used is Grand Duchess, not Princess.
69* ''Manga/OnePiece'': Princess Shirahoshi meets most of the criteria. She's the actual princess of Fishman Island. She's so utterly committed to peace between Fishmen and humans that she ''doesn't reveal the identity of her mother's killer for a decade.'' Her beauty is said to rival that of [[WorldsMostBeautifulWoman Boa Hancock]]. Her clothing is about as pimped-out as the traditional mermaid sea-shell halter would allow. About the only way she doesn't play this trope straight down the line is that [[spoiler:she turns out to be not so defenseless, having the nigh-apocalyptic power to control Sea Kings]]. She's also estimated to be 17 meters tall, which is unprincess-like from a human perspective.
70%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample. What traits of the trope do they display?* Played with at every turn in ''Anime/PrincessTutu''. Neither [[MagicalGirl Princess Tutu]] nor [[DarkMagicalGirl Princess Kraehe]] are actually royalty--the only reasonable explanation for their titles is that they both assume they're going to marry [[PrinceCharming the Prince]]. Tutu might fit the model aside from that (replacing "amazing singer" with "amazing ballerina", naturally) except that [[FirstEpisodeTwist she's actually a duck]] and [[NiceJobBreakingItHero she inadvertently causes misery for the whole cast]], if not a DownerEnding. Kraehe isn't exactly innocent either. And [[spoiler:''Kraehe'' gets the Happily Ever After]].
71%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample* Screwed around with in ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena''.
72%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample. What traits of the trope does she display?* ''Manga/TheRoseOfVersailles'' both {{deconstruct|ion}}s this, through the filter of UsefulNotes/MarieAntoinette's actual history and {{invoke|dTrope}}s it when Maria Theresa orders a PR campaign to make her daughter seem like this.
73* ''Franchise/SailorMoon'':
74** Princess Serenity in the '90s anime. Actual royalty? Check. Innocence personified? The only vice she seems to have is a ForbiddenLove with Prince Endymion of Earth and that solely exists so Usagi and Mamoru can have a ReincarnationRomance. There's very little chance she would've been punished for breaking the law that Earth and Moon people couldn't interact. She is, of course, pretty with blonde hair almost long enough to reach the ground. Her clothes are SimpleYetOpulent and she has a small crown. While she isn't shy, she seems to be demure, polite, and courteous and is definitely helpless; it's why she has bodyguards and her PrinceCharming is knight-themed with a sword. She ends up dying (along with Endymion). Her reincarnation is instead the one who gets the HappilyEverAfter. She's also a MessianicArchetype due to the anime implying that this is Usagi's most powerful form. [[spoiler:It seems like every important battle with the Big Bad of the season has her transform into Serenity to beat them and save the Earth]].
75** Subverted in the manga and ''Crystal'', especially if your introduction to the character was the 90s anime. While the physical description still applies, her personality is the complete opposite of a Princess Classic. Princess Serenity here is a lot like Usagi: flighty, reckless, doesn't like school and will actively attempt to avoid her lessons, into boys, and generally lives in a dream world. Her and Endymion's relationship thus ceases to be her only vice. She's still helpless and has bodyguards and a knight-themed PrinceCharming with a sword, but it's to emphasize how different she is from Sailor Moon, who's a strong fighter in her own right (actually stronger than her boyfriend and bodyguards put together) and how she fights alongside of them instead of being protected by them. She still dies, but instead of being TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth, she's painted as a tragic princess. [[spoiler:Also committing suicide isn't very Princess Classic-like. Takeuchi was instead going for a ''Romeo & Juliet'' vibe fitting with the manga's maturer tone.]] Also the manga implied that Endymion and Serenity were having sex, but didn't portray the act as in any way sullying her.
76** Invoked in a {{filler}} episode of the '90s anime when Usagi went to "princess classes" in an attempt to be more like her past self due to feeling inadequate about being the reincarnated Moon Princess they had spent the past few episodes looking for. Of course, it turned out to be a trap set by the villain. [[FemininityFailure She fails]] [[EpicFail and in the process manages to out herself as Sailor Moon to the]] MonsterOfTheWeek.
77* In ''Manga/SkipBeat'', it's rather PlayedForLaughs that Kyoko tends to see every fairy tale this way. This goes so far as to see famous celebrities who appear nice or frail to be the typical Princess Classic. Kyoko's visions are repeatedly beaten down. [[FridgeHorror Her tendency to see things this way takes on a darker turn if you recall that this may be a coping mechanism of hers due to her own emotionally abusive childhood]].
78[[/folder]]
79
80[[folder:Comic Books]]
81* ''ComicBook/PrincessUgg'' is about an academy for these sorts of characters... and what happens when a Barbarian Princess joins them. The "classic" princesses are mostly concerned with marriage, grace, and diversions like sewing and fashion, to the point where their history teacher [[{{Deconstruction}} calls them on it]] by claiming an over-focus on those subjects makes them appear dull to prospective princes. The four named princesses themselves are a subversion, at least initially, as they start out as Ulga's antagonists, though Phonecia and Desdemona are closer to the trope than Julifer and Jasmin.
82[[/folder]]
83
84[[folder:Fan Works]]
85* ''Fanfic/LittleHandsBigAttitude'': Blaze manages to be this trope despite living her whole life in an apocalyptic wasteland without any resources in absolute poverty. She is the last descendant of the Sol Royal line, and despite the horrible conditions she grew up in she tries her best to hold herself with poise, elegance, and grace. She curtsies in introductions. She is very kind to everyone and self-sacrificing, and always feels like she must repay the kindness of other people. Other people call her "young lady", and she is interested in the history and politics of her new home. She is absolutely loyal to the people close to her, and they love her in return.
86* ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'': Prim Fiorire is a teenage version. The basics are there: female, [[RoyalBlood royal]], and TheIngenue. Additional traits include being part of TheBeautifulElite that is [[TheAlliance the Seven Shields]], the long [[RoseHairedSweetie pink]] hair, the [[CoolCrown tiara]], and the preference of SimpleYetOpulent clothing in either white or pink. Prim straddles the line between the traditional and modern take of this archetype. She's described as [[DelicateIsBeautiful delicate]], because she wasn't groomed to be a KnightInShiningArmor like her cousin Alicia. Nonetheless, she proves to be quite opinionated in the belief that [[NinetiesAntiHero the Hunter]] is actually not a bad person and is able to contribute to Eostia's cause. Astonishingly, the resident [[TheCynic cynic]] of the story (the aforementioned Hunter) has never [[SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids mocked Prim for her idealism]].
87[[/folder]]
88
89[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
90* The WesternAnimation/{{Barbie}} film franchise has many of them, befitting a toy line whose main character is practically the personification of HairOfGoldHeartOfGold:
91** In ''WesternAnimation/BarbieInTheNutcracker'' when Clara is revealed [[spoiler: to be the Sugarplum Princess, her wardrobe gets upgraded to a shimmery [[PrincessesPreferPink pink dress]] and tiara, then she dances a graceful pas de deux with the Nutcracker, who is revealed to be the missing Prince]].
92** Rapunzel in ''WesternAnimation/BarbieAsRapunzel'' alternates between PinkMeansFeminine and GracefulLadiesLikePurple in her attire and is revealed to be [[spoiler: a long-lost princess who marries the handsome prince Stefan at the end of the film]].
93** Odette from ''WesternAnimation/BarbieOfSwanLake'' is a graceful dancer and the only person in her village who is [[FriendToAllLivingThings kind to a unicorn that appears]]. She also alternates between TrueBlueFemininity and GracefulLadiesLikePurple in attire and [[spoiler: marries into royalty at the end of the film]].
94** Princess Anneliese from ''WesternAnimation/BarbieAsThePrincessAndThePauper'' is a sweet, innocent, and dutiful princess whose signature color is [[PrincessesPreferPink pink]].
95** Princess Genevieve from ''WesternAnimation/BarbieInTheTwelveDancingPrincesses'' is caring, brave, and a beautiful dancer whose signature color is [[PrincessesPreferPink hot pink]].
96** Ro from ''WesternAnimation/BarbieAsTheIslandPrincess'' is a sweet FriendToAllLivingThings who [[spoiler: finds out she is the long-lost Princess Rosella and marries the handsome Prince Antonio]].
97* Of the "core" Franchise/{{Disney Princess}}es, the three earliest - the Original Era princesses: WesternAnimation/{{Snow White|AndTheSevenDwarfs}}, WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}} and [[WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty Aurora]], fit this trope:
98** The sweet-singing, sweet-natured, and beautiful Princess WesternAnimation/{{Snow White|AndTheSevenDwarfs}} ends up with her prince in a castle in the clouds.
99** WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}} is gentle and kind to ''everyone'', even mice and the [[CatsAreMean nasty cat]] [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Lucifer]], and becomes a princess at the end of the movie when she marries into the royal family.
100** WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty Princess Aurora is one of the best fits of this trope in the entire franchise. Beautiful with a lovely singing voice (soprano, of course) and [[LongHairIsFeminine long]] [[HairOfGoldHeartOfGold blonde hair]], elegant even when dressed as a peasant, shy and demure, she is a FriendToAllLivingThings who accepts her duty even when it pains her. She even wears [[PrincessesPreferPink pink]] ''and'' [[TrueBlueFemininity blue]] and has a dainty tiara.
101* ''WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}}'': Princess Rapunzel has HairOfGoldHeartOfGold.
102* ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'': Princess Anna is a {{Reconstruction}}. She has an innocent and optimistic disposition despite being a bit tomboyish, and even falls in LoveAtFirstSight with a handsome prince, but [[spoiler: that prince charming reveals himself to be a power-hungry sociopath who preyed on her naivete. However, her choice to stay kind and optimistic enables her to realize that the main antagonist is NotEvilJustMisunderstood, saving herself, said antagonist, and the kingdom, and she moves on to a man who reciprocates her care.]]
103* In ''WesternAnimation/TheCareBearsAdventureInWonderland'', the Princess of Hearts is like this, to the point where the purity of her touch [[GreenThumb can revive withering flowers]].
104* One half of the soul and fiber of ''WesternAnimation/Shrek1'' is about subverting this one by turning Princess Fiona into TheLadette. Princess Fiona is beautiful and content to play by the rules she's been given and be the DamselInDistress... so long as her PrinceCharming actually shows up. If she's attacked, she'll turn into a PrettyPrincessPowerhouse, though, and as she spends more time with Shrek, she slowly reveals a somewhat naughty side. (She's not always so nice to animals.) She's not as demure as she seems, and at the end of the movie, [[spoiler:she transforms into an ogre permanently.]]
105%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample* Princess Oriana of ''WesternAnimation/FelixTheCatTheMovie''.
106* Odette from ''WesternAnimation/TheSwanPrincess''. Born a princess, she's sweetness and light personified, especially in the sequels. She also sticks firmly to her principles. Much of the plot is driven by her refusal to marry her LoveInterest until he can list a reason to love her ''beside'' her beauty.
107* Fairy Princess Dawn in ''WesternAnimation/StrangeMagic'', is feminine, naïve, and InLoveWithLove. All to contrast with her elder sister, Marianne. Coincidentally, Marianne herself was also a stereotypical princess before her then-fiancé cheated on her.
108%%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample. Is she royalty and pure-hearted?* Once the Unicorn is transformed into a human in ''WesternAnimation/TheLastUnicorn'', she starts displaying these qualities, being more soft-spoken and depressed than when she was a unicorn, and falling in love with a handsome prince.
109[[/folder]]
110
111[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
112* ''Film/{{Enchanted}}'': Giselle is a spoof of this, but [[AffectionateParody a loving spoof]]. Giselle's personality is an exaggerated version of the kind associated with this trope. Not only is Giselle kindhearted and friendly to everyone, romantic, beautiful, an excellent singer, and [[TheDeterminator determined against all odds to make the best of her situation]], but she is so naturally positive that she doesn't experience anger until adulthood, genuinely does not realize that there is a possibility that anything could go wrong with her engagement to a man she has never had a conversation with, and does not understand sarcasm. She's not born royal, but gets engaged to a prince, setting her up to become royal and complete the trope [[spoiler:until it's subverted when she and the prince realize they're not right for each other and end up marrying other people, keeping her nonroyal]].
113* Lyssa from ''Film/{{Krull}}'', rebukes the advances of [[BigBad The Beast]], and holds faith in ThePowerOfLove, [[spoiler:which does bear out, although [[KillItWithFire ultimately in a pretty violent way]]]].
114* Princess Lili from ''Film/{{Legend|1985}}'' starts out as a quintessential Princess Classic, only to go through a BreakTheCutie process, accumulating in an intense case of CorruptTheCutie, only for [[spoiler:this to be revealed as a ruse she put on in order to trick Darkness into letting her get close enough to free a captured unicorn.]]
115* The princess of ''Film/SnowWhiteAndTheThreeStooges''. Her first scene shows her sweet as a little girl and flashes forward to showing her sweet as a young woman, both with her innocence symbolized by white skating dresses [[PrettyInMink trimmed with white fur]].
116* The titular mouse in ''WesternAnimation/TheTaleOfDespereaux'' searches for and finds one of these in the beautiful but useless Princess Pea.
117[[/folder]]
118
119[[folder:Literature]]
120* Subverted in Creator/MarkTwain's ''Literature/AConnecticutYankeeInKingArthursCourt'' where Morgan realizes the ladies are as rude and crude as the not-so-noble knights.
121%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample* Princess Alexandra from ''Literature/AHoleInTheWorld'' is this. She's also a lesbian. Her PrinceCharming is a girl named Bianca.
122* George R. R. Martin's ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'':
123** Sansa Stark always aspired to be this since toddlerhood and she actively cultivates all the traits of the trope she can express as hard as possible throughout the series ([[PassiveAggressiveKombat including turning them into barely adequate weaponry when needed]]). She can even do the "can talk to the well-trained and polite animals" one (for a time). Unfortunately, she also lives in a politically volatile CrapsackWorld within a [[DeconstructorFleet story dedicated to deconstructing common fantasy tropes]] (with some {{reconstruction}} [[DeconReconSwitch on the side]]). So you can guess where her initial bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, pink-dyed romanticism [[BreakTheCutie is heading]].
124** The late Elia Martell is often described in these terms. Elia was a princess of Dorne and married into the Targaryen royal family. She is an example of DelicateIsBeautiful as she was prematurely born and noted to have "delicate beauty". She was known to be kindhearted, sweet, clever, and not to mention, brave. She fought fiercely to save her infant's life and was brutally murdered for it. Many remark she was absolutely TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth.
125* Poked fun at in ''[[Literature/GarrettPI Angry Lead Skies]]'', when Garrett ponders Kip Prose's childish fantasies about saving beautiful princesses, and how, despite having run into everything ''else'' on his weird cases, he's never met a Princess Classic. [[BrickJoke Near the end]], Garrett does catch sight of two genuine royal daughters, and they're both quite ''un''attractive, yet are praised and fawned upon constantly by political kiss-ups.
126* Literature/FirebirdTrilogy: Princess Carradee Angelo is gentle, honorable, sweet, and rather uninterested in politics. Unfortunately for her, as eldest, she is the heir to the throne, which leads to her being thrust into ruling before she is truly ready for it. She contrasts with her sisters Phoena, who is a PoliticallyActivePrincess, and Firebird, who barely acknowledges her role as princess.
127* Although she is an Empress rather than a princess, Portia from ''Literature/FirstSwordChronicles'' fits all the other points of this trope, as she beautiful, elegant, kind, gentle, demure, royal by marriage, and in need of [[TheChosenOne Miranda's]] protection from the machinations of the court.
128%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample* The Lady Amalthea in ''Literature/TheLastUnicorn'' acts like this as she loses her memories of being the last unicorn.
129* ''Literature/OfFireAndStars'': Dennaleia is a NiceGirl who's beautiful, with long hair, wears the beautiful dresses you'd expect, is demure, though she also [[PoliticallyActivePrincess wants to be politically involved]] (not just sit around court) to help others, and in a twist she's also a LipstickLesbian who's soon drawn to bisexual TomboyPrincess Mare, who's her fiance's sister.
130* ''Literature/ThePaperBagPrincess'' has Princess Elizabeth starts as this type of character, but becomes an ActionGirl later on, especially when she finds that [[PrinceCharmless Prince Ronald]] is an UngratefulBastard.
131* The Princesses of Sweet Rhyme and Pure Reason in ''Literature/ThePhantomTollbooth''. They are universally loved for their "great beauty, their gentle ways, and their ability to solve all controversies fairly and reasonably." Even better, their unjust exile from the Kingdom of Wisdom is what sends [[TheHero Milo]] on his quest in the first place.
132* ''Literature/TheQueenOfIeflaria'': Esofi is a beautiful, feminine, elegant princess who's devoted to her kingdom, accepting being in an arranged marriage as just part of her duty and not understanding other people disliking them.
133* Belinda in ''Literature/TheRapeOfTheLock'' by Alexander Pope is certainly meant to reflect this trope. She's not any sort of royalty, but the Queen Bee of all the court she surveys, while still being friendly (and uncommitted) to everyone. That is, until a certain involuntary haircut happens.
134* Princess Frida from ''Literature/{{Unimaa}}'' [[spoiler:is a complete and utter subversion, as while at first glance she appears to be sweet and eager to make friends in what she calls "Frida's Friends Club", the reader learns that the whole thing was a sham to steal the souls of sleeping children, and she's revealed to be a BitchInSheepsClothing. On top of all of this, [[FakeKing she's not even the true ruler of Unimaa]].]]
135* Lissa Dragomir from ''Literature/VampireAcademy'' fits all the bullet points of refined royalty. She is actual royalty by birth, she is a MessianicArchetype (though not a virgin), she is beautiful, good with animals, wears elegant clothes, and needs protection from her guardians.
136* PlayedWith in the tale of Vivenna and Siri from ''Literature/{{Warbreaker}}''. Vivenna was raised as a Princess Classic but ended up getting pushed into a PrettyPrincessPowerhouse role, while her RebelliousPrincess sister Siri ended up in the Princess Classic slot. Both do excellently in their new role.
137* Beautiful, royal, and good--Princess Paulina in ''Literature/WhyPolly'' fits this trope to a tee. Polly is unsure how to relate to a princess classic in real life.
138%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample* In ''Literature/{{Xanth}}'', Princess Irene was a RoyalBrat. Her daughters, Ivy and Ida, are straight examples.
139[[/folder]]
140
141[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
142%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample* Princess Ariadne from ''Series/{{Atlantis}}'', though she gets a bit more spunk than this trope usually implies.
143* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
144** Just like in the source material, Sansa tries to be one. Though not initially a princess in her own right, she was raised by her mother be a ProperLady and is eager to fulfill this role when she is betrothed to Prince Joffrey, only to find her dream PrinceCharming is in actuality a total PrinceCharmless, petulant RoyalBrat, and TheCaligula and she lives in a major CrapsackWorld. Then her brother Robb declares himself King in the North, which ''does'' make her a princess in her own right. Too bad her hosts don't recognize Stark claims of sovereignty. By the time she could be undeniably referred to as a princess (in Season 6 when her brother Jon is crowned king), the naiveté and innocence associated with the trope have long faded. [[spoiler:She concludes the series by being crowned Queen in the North in her own right, promoting her from this to TheHighQueen.]]
145** Margaery is an astute politician and manipulator who puts on the persona of a charming and harmless princess to all and sundry. This has gained her the fanatical support of most of the common people, to whom she's highly charitable.
146** Myrcella is a young, lovely, golden-haired princess in a PerfectlyArrangedMarriage to a handsome PrinceCharming. Of course, this being [[CrapsackWorld Westeros]], she's TooHappyToLive.
147* [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]] on ''Series/Merlin2008'' with the portrayal of Princess Mithian. Characterized as the embodiment of a Princess Classic, she's genuinely lovely, as well as beautiful, regal, elegant, talented, and with an extensive wardrobe of gorgeous outfits; yet it's all done in order to provide more impact to the fact that Myth/KingArthur turns her down for the sake of the blacksmith's daughter.
148%%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample* Queen Anne from ''Series/TheMusketeers'' may technically be a ''queen'' (and occasionally passes into TheHighQueen territory) but for the most part embodies all the traits of a Princess Classic instead.
149* ''Series/TalesOfTheTinkerdee'': Princess Gwendolinda is a beautiful and soft-spoken princess, for whom any knight in the kingdom would gladly risk his head--and they tell you that [[PhraseCatcher repeatedly]].
150[[/folder]]
151
152[[folder:Music]]
153* Fairytale imagery featured on Music/TaylorSwift's second album, ''Fearless''. She explored the disconnect "between fairy tales and the reality of love": "We're raised as little girls to think that we're a princess and that Prince Charming is going to sweep us off our feet". Seen in "Love Story", "White Horse", and "Today Was A Fairy-Tale".
154[[/folder]]
155
156[[folder:Video Games]]
157* Princess Sarah of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyI'' is a kind gentle lady and AllLovingHero according to her subjects. She wears a golden dress, is demure in person, and gives away an ancient family heirloom without a second thought to the heroes as thanks for saving her life.
158* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros''' Princess Peach is the quintissential Princess Classic of video games: Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom, possesses IncorruptiblePurePureness, is beautiful, has long, golden hair... Depending on the game, she flip flops between being a helpless DamselInDistress who needs saving, and being more than capable of defending herself and kicking butt alongside heroes like Mario and Luigi.
159%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda's'' Zelda starts out like this. Zelda even lampshades this in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks'' by saying that waiting for the hero to do his job is a "family tradition."
160* Rozalin in ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 2|Cursed Memories}}'' is what you get when you take a Princess Classic and [[FallenPrincess throw her in the boondocks without warning]]. ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 3|Absence of Justice}}'s'' Sapphire, on the other hand, [[AxeCrazy gleefully decapitates this trope]] with a [[ChainsawGood chainsaw]].
161** Melodia from ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 6|Defiance of Destiny}}'' is a deconstruction of the Princess Classic. She's introduced as a DamselInDistress, frequently breaks out into song, and her life's goal is to find her KnightInShiningArmor who can give her a "[[HappilyEverAfter happy ending]]". However, she thinks [[ItsAllAboutMe the whole world revolves around her finding her happy ending]] and despite preaching about the PowerOfLove, she doesn't really care for the 665 or so previous princes who threw away their lives for her. Her character development involves her realizing there's more to it than just her vague definition of a happy ending and falling in love for real.
162* ''VideoGame/DragonQuestV'': Nera Briscoletti is a pink-wearing princess who is kindhearted, gentle, and loving.
163* Princess Shine from ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' often struggles to maintain the image, particularly in her language, and of course, the fact that most Princesses don't take on threats to her kingdom head on in a (oddly cute) HumongousMecha.
164* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar'': Princess Julia. RoyalBlood? She's got it. Innocent? Definitely (Virgin? Well, she cannot marry without really knowing what you're doing.) Pretty? [[{{Moe}} Well, extremely cute would be the line here.]] Elegant Clothing? She wears long white robes with a purple cape held by intricate gold shoulder wraps. Good and Sweet? [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation Usually when]] [[MurderTheHypotenuse she's not]] BrainwashedAndCrazy. Shy and Demure? Check. However she's a LadyOfWar, of the Caster Variety. Notable that her ultimate weapon summons a dragon to do the fighting. Marries the Prince and lives happily ever after? [[BrotherSisterIncest She Can. If the player knows what to do. Note that there aren't many countries for her Prince to be from... and all the other countries' Princes are taken...]] Doesn't die? Ummm... AnyoneCanDie in this game. TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth? No. [[NintendoHard If she dies, it's a tragedy]] [[{{Unwinnable}} that should've been avoided]].
165* Princess Satera from ''VideoGame/ShiningWisdom'' is this. Daughter to the King, described as beautiful, [[SaveThePrincess prone to kidnapping]], always wears an elaborate dress with [[CoolCrown magical tiara]], shy and it's hinted that she has a thing for the hero.
166* The [[HumanoidAbomination Incognito Princess]] in ''VideoGame/SunlessSkies'' is a [[SubvertedTrope subversion]] played for dark comedy by way of CosmicHorror. Hordes of starlings seemingly materialize around her (only to die soon after; she lounges on piles of their corpses like sofas), and she’s so stunningly beautiful that people will [[BrownNoteBeing gouge their eyes out in her presence]] or be reduced to enthralled “suitors.” Her “innocence” is just an inability to tell right from wrong, and she leaves massive bodycounts everywhere she goes.
167* ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'''s [[WhiteMagicianGirl Estellise]] "Estelle" [[ShelteredAristocrat Sidos]] [[CombatMedic Heurassein]] [[{{Reconstruction}} reconstructs]] this. Definite girly girl, innocent, sweet, and has powerful HealingHands abilities from her [[RoyaltySuperPower royal heritage]]. Fully capable of [[PrettyPrincessPowerhouse kicking ass]], is actually ''not'' a FriendToAllLivingThings despite attempts otherwise, she's somewhat stuck politically speaking in a SuccessionCrisis, and said healing power [[spoiler: actually makes her an ApocalypseMaiden until the resident TeenGenius Rita solves the problem.]] She does, however, still need some saving at times (though it's fully justified) and though she has a "[[KnightInSourArmor Knight]]" in [[DeadpanSnarker Yuri]] [[BloodKnight Lowell]], there is absolutely no romance between her and him (though there is some ShipTease, it's ultimately not portrayed as a romance); she instead shows more interest in the [[BlackMagicianGirl hot-tempered mage]] Rita, who is [[LesYay even more interested in her]].
168* ''VideoGame/WorldsEnd'' brings Vera van Arkand, youngest child of the Voronese royal family. She has long hair, wears a purple dress, thinks the world of her subjects, dotes on her big brother, is warm and accepting of others, brave enough to charge into battle, and can wield powerful healing magic. However, she is a bit prissy, has an obsession with Aizu to the point where she eagerly supports her "blood drenched angel of vengeance", can also wield powerful attack magic, and [[spoiler:fuels her power with necromancy stones made from her dead subjects. Albeit she's not aware of that last one.]]
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171[[folder:Visual Novel]]
172* Sonia Nevermind from ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair'' is said to be the Ultimate Princess. She's rich, beautiful, and in line to become queen one day of the small country of Novoselic. She has a few moments of being a FishOutOfWater due to being unfamiliar with Japanese culture, and there's hints that she's a CovertPervert and a NightmareFetishist. Even so, [[SpoiledSweet Sonia is unfailingly polite and nice to everyone]], even taking the role of TheHeart late in the game by [[HopeBringer leading the other students into holding onto hope]] in the face of the BigBad trying to [[HopeCrusher make them all succumb to despair]]. Sonia's role as The Heart and her kindness even helps her in another way: [[spoiler:the only way to escape the DeadlyGame set up by Monokuma is to literally get away with murder. Since Sonia's so sweet and polite to the other students, nobody ''wants'' to kill her. Indeed, Sonia survives the events of the Killing Game and escapes, even making a cameo in ''Danganronpa 3'' where she retains her kindness to keep the newest victims' spirits up]].
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175[[folder:Web Animation]]
176* Charlie Morningstar from ''WebAnimation/HazbinHotel'' fits this trope to a T, although she prefers suits over dresses. She is sweet, kind, completely adorable, and prone to bursting into song. She also quite stubbornly believes the best of everyone and wants everyone to have a chance to be the best person they can be. It's just that her domain happens to be {{Hell}}, and Charlie is literally the daughter of Lucifer. Since Hell's inhabitants are overall utterly depraved, it's a ParodiedTrope, and her sunny attitude and faith towards them comes across as barely sane.
177* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': [[Characters/RWBYSalem Salem]] serves as the inspiration for the heroine in a classic fairy tale, recalled as an innocent, golden-haired maiden rescued from her father's castle. But unlike the story, the real Salem was a far more complex person and ultimately Subverted the trope. While it's true that she started out as a sheltered maiden, her magic was strong enough to allow her to fight alongside Ozma. And while she was innocent, she was emotionally immature rather than pure of heart. She refused to accept Ozma's death, demanding that the Gods return her lover to her, and too proud to back down even after being cursed. With time, she has developed into a cunning manipulator and a terrible Queen, but retains her stubborn pride and unwillingness to let Oz go.
178%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample* ''WebAnimation/TheLittlePainter'': Princess Creme Brule is the daughter of King Souffle.
179%%
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181
182[[folder:Web Comics]]
183* ''Webcomic/CursedPrincessClub'': Zigzagged with the three Pastel Kingdom princesses. While they're all {{Nice Girl}}s who wear regal dresses and have been consciously trained from birth to be this trope, how well they actually fit the archetype varies:
184** Maria is the most straightforward (and even stereotypical) example. She's a pretty blonde girl who passively receives assistance from [[FriendToAllLivingThings cute woodland animals]], is noted in-story to have a BeautifulSingingVoice, and is generally a CoolBigSis to her younger siblings.
185** Lorena, with her cute purple hair, [[PinkIsFeminine pink clothes]], and ability to make flowers sprout around her while she sleeps, has a very princessy vibe. However, she also desires to be TheStrategist when she grows up, and she can be [[ActionGirl surprisingly violent]] when she feels she's in danger.
186** Gwendolyn, the main character of the series, certainly has the ''characterization'' down pat, what with her AllLovingHero personality, [[FeminineWomenCanCook great cooking skills]], GirlyGirl demeanor, and so on. But she's also ''looks'' considerably uglier and [[FaceOfAThug scarier]] than this trope typically allows, resembling a [[WitchClassic witch]] or a [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent goblin]] more than a princess. Unfortunately, Gwen and her sisters were so sheltered growing up that it never crossed their minds that [[UnusuallyUninterestingSight there might be something unprincess-like about her appearance]] -- which makes it all the more painful when she overhears a potential fiancé from outside of their social bubble calling her ugly.
187%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample* In ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'', when Zeetha tells Agatha that she is [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120420 in serious need of some princess lessons]], Agatha's first thought is of this trope. Cured when Zeetha starts, "First lesson. Every princess needs a battle axe."
188* ''WebComic/PrincessPrincess'': Sadie is a shy, kind, innocent girl with long hair who's always clad in a blue gown.
189* Khun Maria Jahad of ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'' was so perfect and pure in the eyes of [[TheLancer Khun]] [[GuileHero Aguero]] [[SupportingProtagonist Agnes]] that [[EnforcedTrope he made sure]] she would become am adoptive daughter of King Jahad.
190%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample* In ''Webcomic/YetAnotherFantasyGamerComic'', this trope is lampshaded, harpooned, and trampled into the ground in "The [=DinSea=] Princess" (starting with episode 2200).
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193[[folder:Web Original]]
194%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample* Subverted with all the subtlety of a chainsaw in [[http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/5e27224abb/disneys-princess-kesha this video]] starring Music/{{Kesha}} as, well, ''herself'' if ''she'' were a Disney Princess. Yeah, [[SelfDeprecation that's really her in the video]].
195* ZigZagged with Princess Cecily of ''WebOriginal/IWentToAnotherWorldButGotSentBackWithMyParty''. Being the stereotypical princess from a Medieval Fantasy world, she has a constant air of politeness and elegance, but by the time the story begins Damian has known her long enough to see [[ToughLeaderFacade vulnerability behind the mask.]] Then there's the fact [[PrettyPrincessPowerhouse she knows how to fight]]: her [[FantasyCharacterClasses character class]] is ''assassin'', and she's really good with her knives.
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198[[folder:Western Animation]]
199* [[Characters/AdventureTimePrincessBubblegum Princess Bubblegum]] of ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' is mostly an AffectionateParody of this trope, but is often played straight. She is prim, proper, poised, is frequently a DamselInDistress, and loves pink. Later seasons have been subverting it more and more, revealing her to be a LadyOfWar ActionGirl, PragmaticHero who will do ''[[WhatTheHellHero anything]]'' to protect her people, and teetering very close to becoming a MadScientist, all of which earned her quite a few RonTheDeathEater portrayals by fans. Her male counterpart Prince Gumball fits the trope a lot closer, being more demure, less combat-oriented, and gleefully taking interest in feminine hobbies like baking.
200* Defied by [[StrawFeminist Hailey]] in the ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' episode "Familyland". She visits Fairy Tale Land, a section of the Familyland theme park, and convinces girls that the classic princess role model is an outdated stereotype.
201* Princess Yue from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' who ends up TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth by way of a HeroicSacrifice.
202* Princess Clara from ''WesternAnimation/DrawnTogether'' is a DeconstructiveParody of this kind of princess. She's drawn in a style reminiscent of classic Disney movies like ''Sleeping Beauty'' and ''Snow White''. But Clara is also a SpoiledBrat who believes that she should always get her way, and is openly racist due to being a BlueBlood who has never been out of the house before the show started.
203* Angelica Pickles in ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'' suspects she may be one but decides to take three tests to prove it. First is by having [[Literature/{{Rapunzel}} Phil and Lil try and climb up her hair]]. Second she attempts to see if [[Literature/ThePrincessAndThePea she can feel a pea through a series of pillows]] but Chuckie eats the pea so they use a fork instead. And finally they check to see if [[Literature/{{Cinderella}} a slipper fits her foot]].
204* The titular Sofia from ''WesternAnimation/SofiaTheFirst'' fits perfectly within the characteristics mentioned on this page. She is known to stand up to what she think is wrong and is not always a perfect girl, but at the end she always does what is right and learns a lesson along the way.
205* PlayedForHorror in ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil''. While the title character is a RebelliousPrincess, there also exists St. Olga's Reform School for Wayward Princesses, where rebellious princesses are sent. While there, they are psychologically broken down and brainwashed into becoming perfect princesses.
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208[[folder:Real Life]]
209* Debatable if there are actual examples in RealLife (that weren't this from being sheltered and not taught about the world), but Queen Victoria of Great Britain did her best to make royal ladies appear to be this way. This is where we get the UrbanLegend of noblewomen being advised to "[[LieBackAndThinkOfEngland close your eyes and think of England]]". Queen Vicky was pretty sheltered herself, as a result of her mom not wanting her to see her dad's relatives and their scandals potentially affecting Vicky's reputation before she hit puberty. In fact, it was probably this upbringing that led to Victorian prudishness in the first place (and her husband [[RareMaleExample Albert]] was even more prudish than her!).
210* On the subject of saints with a royal title, Saint Catherine of Alexandria provides a very early example of this trope (her name was once thought to come from [[IncorruptiblePurePureness "katharos", the Greek word meaning "pure"]], but this is less certain nowadays. But certainly this supposed etymology played a role in the name Katharine and its various forms being immensely popular throughout Christendom). It is a somewhat unusual one, however, as the virgin princess is wed to [[UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} Jesus Christ]] in mystic marriage (ie. a dream-vision) and chooses martyrdom rather than betraying her vows to Him, which would be cheating in the eyes of the Church. "Thou shall not commit adultery" was one of the Ten Commandments.
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