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Politically-Active Princess

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The Politically Active Princess is a princess that takes active interest in and plays an active role in politics. Naive courtiers and commoners alike might view her only as a figurehead, but in truth, she discreetly uses her position and guile in order to achieve her ends. Skilled in diplomacy, she will usually attempt to solve conflicts via conversation or bargaining, rather than combat. Her defining trait is her involvement in politics or diplomatic matters, without letting herself serve only as a bargaining chip. That, however, does not mean she cannot be a Lady of War, Warrior Princess or Pretty Princess Powerhouse at the same time.

Although historically neither princes nor princesses were expected to involve themselves in such matters, in fiction, this trope is Always Female, as male royals are typically expected to act, while women... not so much.

A Sub-Trope of Royals Who Actually Do Something. A Sister Trope to Princesses Rule, where the princess is the de facto or de jure head of state. Due to her active role, is likely to be Princess Protagonist.

Compare Rebellious Princess, Spirited Young Lady, Silk Hiding Steel. Contrast Princess Classic.


Examples:

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    Anime and Manga 
  • Asseylum Vers Allusia of Aldnoah.Zero, princess of the Vers Empire of Mars, is introduced on a diplomatic mission to Earth, with whom her nation has been at uneasy peace since the inverse War of Earthly Aggression fifteen years ago. She's an All-Loving Hero who doesn't subscribe to the Empire's Cultural Posturing and doctrine of superiority, hoping instead to craft a more lasting peace between the planets. Unfortunately, an assassination attempt soon after she lands (by an extremist faction of the Martian nobility, no less) is seized by the Vers Orbital Knights as Pretext for War, kicking off the invasion of Earth.
  • Altair: A Record of Battles has several examples of this trope. Princess AyĹźe of Balta tries to overthrow her mother, the Sultan, and ends up becoming Prime Minister at barely 18-years-old. Meanwhile, the King of Urado has four daughters who are all active spies and/or diplomats.
  • Code Geass:
    • Actual Pacifist Euphemia li Britannia offers her own way to solve the problem with the Japanese peacefully. Lelouch even says she has won everything in a single move. At least until Lelouch's permanently active Geass forces her to go on a massacre...
    • Princess Cornelia is very active in both politics and the military.
    • In R2 blind and crippled Nunnally gets involved in Schneizel and Lelouch's games, despite the best efforts of her "advisor" to keep her just as a figurehead.
  • Daimos: Erika uses her position to encourage anti-war sentiments, saying that the Baam-seijin can co-exist peacefully with the humans. After Barandock dies, Erika takes his place as the leader of Utopia, and discusses the safety of the Earthern citizens with the government of New Zealand.
  • The Gundam franchise is fond of this kind of character:
    • Kycilia Zabi of Mobile Suit Gundam is the franchise's first example acting as a political and military leader, and eventually seizing control of the Principality from her brother Gihren after discovering that he murdered their father.
    • Audrey Burne (aka Mineva Lao Zabi) of Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn who wants to reform the Zeon remnants.
    • Relena Peacecraft from Mobile Suit Gundam Wing serves this role after undergoing some character development. She is a pacifist, and that motivates her to use her political clout to try to stop the war.
    • Lacus Clyne and Cagalli Yula Atha from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny are the political face and muscle of the Three Ships' Alliance and Terminal. Lacus wages a propaganda war against Patrick Zala and then Gilbert Durandal, while Cagalli leads the nation of Orb as president and commander-in-chief. While Lacus isn't a literal princess (PLANT is not a monarchy), as the daughter of PLANT Chairman Siegel Clyne, she gets treated like one by the people. Cagalli on the other hand is an actual princess, and though the United Emirates of Orb is a constitutional monarchy it has no problem with someone simultaneously being the reigning monarch, the elected president, and the top general of their military. By the age of 18.
    • Marina Ismail from Mobile Suit Gundam 00, although she's not very good at it, generally being labeled a weaker-willed version of Relena. While phrased as a compliment, her closest adviser tells her outright that she's far better at charitable work and being a goodwill ambassador than she is at politics and ruling.
  • Overlord (2012): Princess Renner is famed for her charity and her initiatives intended to improve the lot of the common people. Too bad she's a complete and utter sociopath only doing this to see the look of puppy-like adoration on her bodyguard Climb's face. She later gets involved in international politics when she conspires with the Guardians to bring her own kingdom down from within in exchange for safety in Nazarick. Albedo of all people thinks of her as a kindred spirit.
  • The role of Tawananna from Red River (1995) is a mix of this, Hot Consort and The High Queen. It also drives the plot since the main character, Yuri Suzuki, decides to rise in power and become this to counter the plans of the current Tawananna, Queen Nakia, who actually murdered the former one (Kail's mother Henti) to get her place. Furthermore, this trope is why Prince Kail is so picky about what woman he's going to marry: the Tawananna is expected to take an active role in ruling and he wants a woman who has good looks, a good heart and enough brains to become his partner and Queen.

    Comic Books 
  • Then there’s Marasiah Fel, heir to the throne of the Fel Empire and later empress in Star Wars: Legacy. She aids the fight against the Sith Empire that has taken over in the era of the story.
  • Princess Diana of Themiscyra, a.k.a. Wonder Woman, is her country's ambassador to "man's world". The nature of superhero comics, however, leads to there being far more focus on punching supervillains in the face than on political activity.
  • In Xanadu: The unicorn Empress Alicia is notorious for her ribald antics, but she also has a keen political savvy as well, whether it is making sure that a politically ambitious colonel is no threat to her throne, or subtly dismantling her land's unjust caste system in a way that will be permanent.
  • X-Wing Rogue Squadron: After retaking the throne, Plourr Illo is considered Empress Heir-Apparent and basically the ruler of her world, though she takes time off now and then to fly missions with her old fighter squadron. She is shown here and there handling the difficult nobility.

    Fanfiction 
  • The Homestuck fic Officium Est Electionem is more politically focused than canon, so its plot is centered around Feferi being this.
  • Too many Frozen fanfics to list generally revolve around Anna and Elsa being characterized as these.
  • RainbowDoubleDash's Lunaverse has Princess Luna Equestris, though far less so than she should be due to her fears of Jumping Off the Slippery Slope and following her sister into madness.
  • In Discworld fic Strandpiel, by A.A. Pessimal, graduate Assassin, Ruth N'Kweze, is recalled Home by her father, an autocratic King, to take up her duties as Paramount Crown Princess. Since she was perfectly happy and comfortable in Ankh-Morpork, she resents being called back to Howondaland. She then obeys her father's command to the very letter. But not the spirit. She begins by exercising the prerogative of the Paramount Crown Princess to raise an impi of fighting soldiers for the Zulu Empire. But nobody has ever specified how many soldiers make up an impi. Or what sex they should be. She raises - and leads in battle - two thousand female soldiers. And having established her credentials as a Princess, she then starts to steer the future course of the Empire. This necessarily involves The Glorious War of Sisterly Rivalry. She has a big advantage here. She was trained as an Assassin.
  • In many A Song of Ice and Fire that features a female Jon Snow, she is this trope if aware of her true origins. Same goes for Princess Elia Martell.

    Film - Animated 
  • Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper: Anneliese's Character Development sees her grow from a Princess Classic to one of these, beginning the movie resigning herself to an Arranged Marriage to save her kingdom from bankruptcy, to kickstarting a new mining industry when she finds some geodes in the caves, her background in science allowing her to realize how valuable they were—something her mother's Treacherous Adviser completely missed. She was always Spoiled Sweet, but it's also implied that meeting Erika (the pauper) opened her eyes to how unfair life is to the poor, and that she now intends to use her position to do something about it.
  • In Brave King Fergus and the Scottish lords are on the verge of war when Princess Merida brings the four factions back together and declares that one should choose whom he or she marries according to his or her heart. Her suitors agree, stating that their arranged marriage was their fathers' idea. Thus, the clan leader agrees that their sons must win Merida's heart before winning her hand.
  • In Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, Rose Wilson gives off this vibe, though she's actually the President's daughter. This is somewhat awkward for her father since specifically she speaks out against his policy of appeasing the Crime Syndicate.
  • Frozen: Although the plot doesn't allow it to be focused on, Elsa does have a degree of involvement in Arendelle's trade relations.
  • Moana is an understated example; when told that her dream of exploring the sea is impractical, she spends her time learning leadership skills and becoming socially and politically active in her community, making important decisions under her father's guidance.
  • Kiara in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride shows she’s willing to fight, but her focus is ending the war within the pride and stopping anymore blood from being shed. She manages very well although Zira, the leader of the outsiders,refuses to give in and ends up dying as a result.

    Film - Live-Action 
  • Jasmine in the live-action Aladdin has ideas for running Agrabah but her father just wants her to marry a prince and obey him.
  • Princess Leia Organa from Star Wars is a senator (until Palpatine disbands the Senate) and then an important member of the Rebellion. In Star Wars Legends, she goes on to become one of the Alliance's top diplomatic leaders before eventually becoming President of Outer Space. In The Force Awakens she gives up her royal title but not her military or political activity (she sends a political emissary to the capital of the New Republic in a deleted scene), leading the Resistance against the First Order as General Organa.
  • The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement: A lot of emphasis is placed on Mia learning what her duties are, both as a public figure and a member of government, while she's being groomed to succeed her grandmother as Queen. Clarisse even makes a statement that the view most people have of princesses isnt accurate.
    Queen Clarisse: People think that a princess is supposed to live in the castle, marry the prince, and live happily ever after, but it's not like that. It's a real job.

    Literature 
  • In The Arts of Dark and Light, the Dalarn princess Fjotra tries to be this, but comes from a small kingdom and doesn't really understand how politics and high society work in a Byzantine empire like Savondir. A big part of her Character Development is to learn this, so she can work more effectively for her own people's interests.
  • The Asterisk War: Deuteragonist Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld is heir apparent to Lieseltania, a constitutional monarchy in central Europe, and chose to attend Seidoukan Academy and become a Festa tournament fighter to force political change in her homeland. She starts with using her Phoenix Festa victory wish to force the integrated enterprise foundation that really runs her country to fund an orphanage she often visited as a child and escalates to planning to use her Gryps Festa wish to expand the powers of the king (her elder brother) so he can really work to improve the lives of common citizens. That this puts her in danger is noted.
  • Princess Ahnna of Ithicana from The Bridge Kingdom Archives takes an active role in her country's politics, since she is a member of the Ithicanian council. And when her brother, king Aren, is captured by the enemy, she becomes the country's leader.
  • Expected, in A Brother's Price, largely because males who survive birth are so rare in that world. Of course the princesses, taking over from the retiring queens, are expected to take a very active role in governing Queensland.
  • Dark Shores: King Serrick's daughter Malahi is taking an active (although at first mostly hidden) role in Mudamora's politics, planning to depose her father and become the new Queen.
  • In Deryni:
    • Araxie Haldane is clearly this, particularly in the period just prior to her marriage to Kelson in King Kelson's Bride. When presented with a plan to evacuate the family to the safety of Rhemuth, her mother and sister raise many objections over the incomplete wedding preparations, and Araxie steps in to get them to cooperate. She later makes a diplomatic suggestion to resolve Kelson's difficulties with his prospective Ramsay in-laws (for which she gets a relationship-changing kiss from Kelson), and leads the negotiating team to convince Rothana to take the scola position Kelson offered.
    • Morag Furstana is sister to King Wencit, but cannot rule under Torenthi laws and traditions. Even so, she serves as a regent for two of her sons in succession, and she is depicted as an equal participant in the family deliberations. Later still, Liam asks her opinion on what to do with Teymuraz directly after the failed coup d'etat.
  • Sarene from Elantris, by Brandon Sanderson. By age twenty-five, she's been serving for a long while as an (apparently highly-ranked) member of her father's diplomatic corps, and both she and others note her appreciation for (and skill at) political games.
  • Princess Josetta of Elemental Blessings is an interesting example, almost a deconstruction. She's the king's eldest daughter and most likely heir since he has no sons, so she was certainly raised to be this. The deconstruction comes from the fact that she loathes politics, and has no real talent for them.
  • In Empire Star by Samuel R. Delany, the woman Jo meets who is hiding on Prince Nactor's battleship turns out to be Nactor's sister, who is hiding because she has a plan to free the Lll from slavery, and Nactor wants to stop her. Like Jo, she's trying to get to Empire Star.
  • Princess Cimorene from Enchanted Forest Chronicles is completely uninterested in being a Proper Lady, and studies various "unprincess-like" subjects throughout childhood, politics being one of them. She doesn't have much opportunity to use her knowledge at home, but once she runs aways and becomes the dragon Kazul's princess, she begins to get involved in dragon politics, much more so once Kazul becomes King of the Dragons. By the second book, she's the one implementing systems to make dragon society more functional, and by the end of the second book, she's Queen of the Enchanted Forest, and her husband Mendanbar is more than happy to have her equally running the kingdom.
  • Princess Henrietta from The Familiar of Zero is very active politically. For example, at one point she hires Saito and Loise to spy on a village to confirm her suspicions about corruption within the nobility, because she doesn't trust the usual sources. However, it appears that not only is Princess Henrietta the heir to the throne, when her father dies, she is running the country, as her mother "did not have the heart to continue to rule Tristain after her loss".
  • Princess Romana of First Sword Chronicles, who is the only member of her family (including the Emperor himself) who cares about the parlous state her country is in or has any sort of plan to improve the situation.
  • In the Firebird Trilogy, Princess Phoena Angelo of Netaia is very politically active. After the Federacy takes over Netaia, she heads the resistance group and spearheads research into a biological Weapon of Mass Destruction capable of wiping out an entire planet, which she intends to use to threaten the Federacy into withdrawing. She contrasts with her Princess Classic older sister, Carradee, and her Warrior Princess younger sister, Firebird.
  • The ruling family in the Heralds of Valdemar series are always Royals Who Actually Do Something, but the standout is Princess Elspeth. When she realizes that mages are going to be an active threat to the kingdom, she sets out personally to find her own magical resources so they can be defended. In the process, she wins allies among the reclusive Tayledras and discovers that she is a mage herself. Later, she becomes a sort of diplomat to the newly-reorganized Kingdom of Hardorn and helps them settle their own magical problems.
  • Kris Longknife:
    • Downplayed with Kris. She's the daughter of Wardhaven's prime minister and great-granddaughter to the man who is crowned King of the United Society at the end of the first book and was raised to be her elder brother's campaigner, before rebelling against her family and joining the Navy instead. She's not terribly politically active due to the demands of her military career, but she will use her celebrity (and her money) to help causes when she feels she needs to (which often puts her at loggerheads with her Corrupt Corporate Executive grandfather).
    • Vicky Peterwald, Grand Duchess of the Greenfeld Empire, is a justified example. A naval officer as well, she's forced to become active in politics as a survival tactic after her stepmother puts a price on her head, and puts a lot of work into political reform of the Empire (first having to reconquer much of it from her stepmother's relatives).
  • In the Montmaray Trilogy, Veronica is the driving force behind their campaign to get Montmaray back from the Nazis, gives a speech at the League of Nations that is applauded and wins unanimous votes for a condemnation of Germany's behaviour and ends up as one of the first women working as a diplomat at the British Foreign Office.
  • Of Fire and Stars: Mare and Dennaleia, both princesses (of opposite kinds), become heavily involved with Mynaria's politics, then those in Zumorda later, to stop threats against them.
  • Princess Renner of Overlord (2012) has instituted several reforms that result in her being adored by the people and viewed as a naive goody-two-shoes by most of the nobles in the kingdom. Too bad she's a complete sociopath who only does it to see the look of utter adoration on her bodyguard Climb, and end up selling out the kingdom to Nazarick.
  • In A Practical Guide to Evil First Prince Cordelia Hasenbach was this before becoming leader of her country. She starts off as a castle's seneschal at age 12, and at age 13 already largely runs her mother's realm. In her teenage years, she uncovers and then tries to expose the foreign influence fanning the flames of civil war in her country to her fellow aristocrats, and around age 20 ends the aforementioned war. Unlike many aristocrats in the setting, she isn't at all martially inclined, instead, her weapons are letters, treaties, courtesies and clever use of court ettiquette.
  • The Queen of Ieflaria: Princess Esofi is very concerned with the issues of Ieflaria, since the reason she went there to begin with is forging a marriage alliance between it and Rhodia, her home country. She's intent on protecting them from dragon attacks with her battlemages and setting up a university to train more.
  • In The Royal Diaries none of the main characters are expected to participate in politics because they're all underage. Many of them will never be expected to be political since they're supposed to just be the wife or sister of the king. Those who defy expectations include Cleopatra VII: Daughter of the Nile who stands up for her father and country, in Latin, to General Pompey the Great, Kristina: The Girl King, and Elisabeth: The Princess Bride.
  • the secret lives of Princesses: Princess Barbara of Babel is practiced in high diplomatic functions, and is the royal ambassador for all the courts' princesses.
  • In The Seven Realms Series, Princess Raisa invokes this trope with the Briar Rose Ministry, a charity she founded and funds.
  • Princess Amelia Wil Tesla Seyruun from the Slayers series, when not out adventuring with the rest of the gang, often acts as Seyruun's envoy to other kingdoms.
  • Sister Fidelma, a religious sister of 7th-century Ireland, is sister to the King of Muman (Munster). Because of her detective skills, she often acts as his troubleshooter, since many of the series' mysteries have political implications.
  • A Song of Ice and Fire has many female nobles of different rank who are actively involved in the incredibly complex power games. Which ones actually count as princesses depends on who you ask, since various characters recognise different kings, but the ones who consider themselves princesses are Daenerys (who considers herself queen after her brother's death), Asha Greyjoy (once her father declares himself a king), and Arianne Martell (who is from a land where she can actually inherit from her father, the reigning prince, and rule as princess in her own right). This is not counting the various queens and noble ladies who are at least as active as their male counterparts.
  • Tom Robbins's Still Life With Woodpecker has as its heroine Princess Leigh-Cheri, last of the line of Von Furstenburg-Barcalona, who is liberal, fervently environmentalist, and idolizes Ralph Nader (the novel is set in the late '70s or maybe early '80s, when Nader was best known as a crusading public-interest lawyer).
  • Thayet jian Wilima, wife of King Jonathan in the Tortall Universe, is very patriotic and is willing to fight for her people and country. At one point she left a court function to respond to a call of the Queen's Riders.
  • Elayne in The Wheel of Time, although there is considerably more gender equality in that world's version of Medieval Stasis.

    Live-Action TV 
  • Deconstructed in Barbarians Rising. In "Ruin", Emperor Valentinian's sister tries her hand at politics but is manipulated by Geiseric, King of the Vandals into seeking a match with Attila the Hun, which leads him to invade the Western Roman Empire in force to claim the throne.
  • In The Empress of China, many imperial wives hold this position. Consort Wei manages to manipulate chancellors or generals through their sisters/daughters in the harem, Consort Yang intents to restore the Sui dynasty through her son, and obviously, there's Wu Meiniang, who had a lot of influence on the emperor before becoming her own political figure.
  • Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones. By Season 6, she officially holds the title of princess since her brother Jon is crowned King in the North. After many years surviving and learning how to play the game of thrones in the south, Sansa actively assists Jon in navigating the new political arena that they find themselves in, even going toe-to-toe with Littlefinger when he attempts to manipulate and undermine their rule. In Season 7, she and her sister Arya finally put him through a Kangaroo Court and execute him. Season 8 sees Jon exiled to the Wall, Bran on the Iron Throne, and Sansa crowned as the Queen in the North.
    • Rhaenyra Targaryen aspires to be this in the first season of House of the Dragon, especially after her father names her his heir. She already attends Small Council meetings as the cupbearer, although when she tries to make suggestions she tends to be politely ignored. She does make an effort to have sway over decisions, choosing Ser Criston Cole as the new Kingsguard (as he has the most combat experience) and resolving the dragon egg theft incident diplomatically, though she's well aware people may not listen to her on account of her being a girl. Come "King of the Narrow Sea", she is no longer in cupbearing duty and is seated in the Small Council (presumably in her capacity as Princess of Dragonstone). By the season's end, she's The Leader of the Black faction and a queen claimant.
  • Princess Michelle Benjamin of Kings, who campaigns to get her father to pass a healthcare bill.
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Subverted by Galadriel. She is princess belonging to the house of Fingolfin and a member of Gil-galad's inner political cycle, but unlike her book counterpart, she is not interested in politics like Elrond. She make use of politics strictly when it can help her get Numenor to fight for her cause.
  • Merlin:
    • Lady Morgana (who is a princess in every other respect) spends the first season of the show constantly arguing with Uther about his treatment of those with magical abilities.
    • A central part of Guinevere's Character Arc involves her gradually integrating herself into the politics of Camelot, and proving herself incredibly good at it.
  • Wonder Woman: Princess Diana joins the fight against the Nazis in World War II once she understands the political threat that they represent to the world in general and to Paradise Island in particular. In "Mind Stealers from Outer Space", she goes so far as to personally address the United Nations itself.

    Tabletop Games 

    Theater 
  • Diana: The Musical: Princess Diana's prominent acts of charity are portrayed with pushback from her in-laws the royal family. Prince Charles views it as 'common' and antithetical to their purpose to serve as symbols. Nevertheless, she resolves to use her influence to do good; the show includes the famous incident of Diana bringing photographers to her visit to an AIDS clinic in order to humanize them.

    Video Games 
  • Defied in Double Homework with Amy. She doesn’t want anything to do with being a princess.
  • Ashe of Final Fantasy XII tries to reclaim her kingdom by bargaining with The Empire and other factions for most of the game. Although she's a Warrior Princess and would rather fight against the Archadian Empire, she slowly understands that to achieve peace, she needs to take the diplomatic route.
  • Elodie of Long Live the Queen is forced to become this in the wake of her mother's sudden death, since she can't take the throne before her 15th birthday.
  • Jagged Alliance: Emma LaFontaine, daughter of the abducted president of Grand Chien, is actually the one who decides to employ you and A.I.M. to free her father. She continues to work with loyalist elements in the background, and prepare for what will happen whent he civil war is over.
  • Princess Eruca in Radiant Historia would be one, except her reigning stepmother vetoes all of her suggested acts. So she secretly became the leader of the Resistance to force changes for the better in her kingdom and makes political alliances once her cover's blown.
  • Anastasia Romanov tries to be one in Shadow Hearts: Covenant, but given her youth, her ability to actually be one is limited. Her primary accomplishment is to get the rest of the party access to the palace so that they can do the actual work.
  • Princess Natalia from Tales of the Abyss, despite her initial brattiness, is very much one of these. Luke even refers to her as a "wannabe queen" at one point. She mainly uses her influence for the benefit of her people or engaging in international diplomacy, to the point where she's already almost universally considered a much better ruler than her father, the king. The people, in fact, are so fond of her that they choose to protect her even after her lineage is revealed, i.e. that she is not a real member of the royal family.

    Webcomics 
  • In 8-Bit Theater Princess Sara is given this Alternative Character Interpretation (compared to her Damsel in Distress Final Fantasy counterpart). Mostly because leaving King Steve to his own devices would pretty much be the end of their dynasty.
  • Most of the female cast of Drowtales counts; since their society is a Matriarchy, it's expected. Zala'ess Vel'Sharen is probably the best example since she's the politician among her three sisters. And because Queen Diva is quite reclusive, all of her daughters perform most of her duties. In fact, the older sisters convinced Zala to help them imprison their mother in a secret coup.
  • Feferi, Empress-to-be of the Trolls in Homestuck, has big plans for social reform, although The End of the World as We Know It understandably forced her to give up those plans.
  • Princess Voluptua in The Inexplicable Adventures of Bob! is very politically savvy. She has to deal with the awkward relationship between the dragons and the Nemesite Empire, she's expressed a desire for political reforms in the empire, and she's made it her personal mission to help ease Earth into full membership in the Empire peacefully.

    Western Animation 
  • Star vs. the Forces of Evil: Star averts this at first, having been more interested in having interdimensional adventures with her friends, and at one point she questions if she even wants to become Queen after her mother. However, she starts playing it straight after some Character Development. After the Battle for Mewni Star declared her intention to be a better princess to Mewni, and she's starting with mending the Fantastic Racism between Mewmans and Monsters (easier said than done).
  • Tangled: The Series: Rapunzel isn't the most active, as she's still learning the ropes after being raised in isolation for eighteen years, but she ramps up her involvement from learning the basics to leading ceremonies to invoking the law to temporarily ruling and holding audiences in less than a year.

    Real Life 
  • In 1507, Catherine of Aragon, Princess of Spain and Dowager Princess of Wales, became the first European woman to act as ambassador to a foreign court. It wasn't permanent; she'd written to her father, King Ferdinand, asking him to recall his current ambassador and send a new one, and Ferdinand chose her to act in the interim. It didn't last very long — she married her second husband, Henry VIII, two years later. However, during the short time it did last, she's reported as having been an effective ambassador, which surprised her future husband and courtiers, who expected her to be easily manipulated.
  • Princess Marie of Orleans (1865-1909), the daughter-in-law of King Christian IX of Denmark, is widely credited as the one who finally persuaded the old, conservative king to accept Parliamentarism in Denmark and appoint a liberal Prime Minister in 1901.
  • Jahanara, princess of the Mughal Empire, was the favorite daughter of her father, Emperor Shah Jahan. When her mother, Mumtaz Mahal, passed away, Jahanara was appointed Padshah Begum (basically the imperial First Lady). She was an important advisor to her father and one of the most influential figures behind the throne.
  • This trope is heavily discouraged in the British Royal Family. Basically, because the monarchy is supposed to be politically neutral, members of the royal family are told to eschew doing anything publicly that could be seen as political, up to and including voting.

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