History Main / PrincessForADay

* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', Spike needs to handle Twilight's princess duties for a day after she passes out at a royal summit. This doesn't go too well.

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', Katara does this (with Toph's help) to infiltrate the Earth King's palace. Aang and Sokka try it, but [[HilarityEnsues it didn't work out as well for them]].

It could be part of TheCon, or because she's been telling a loved one or rival living somewhere else that she is part of the upper class. If it's the latter, expect the deception to be exposed, and AnAesop about honesty and being yourself. Other times, it's just that girl showing up and having a good time.

* The medieval Christian tradition of the Feast of Fools included a choirboy being appointed bishop for a day, with all the rights of that rank, on Holy Innocents' Day (28th December). This was sometimes part of a more elaborate ritual in which, over the week between Christmas and January 1st, there would also be a Vicar Bishop, a Deacon Bishop, and a Sub-Deacon Bishop. By the Early Modern period this sort of thing was seen as somewhat blasphemous, especially given that some of the lower clergy were said to have abused their temporary position. However, in some places the Boy Bishop specifically escaped most of the accusations to survive as a purely ceremonial tradition, because ChildrenAreInnocent.

* Makoto from ''Anime/ElHazardTheMagnificentWorld'' is forced to replace the kidnapped Princess Fatoria until such a time that she can be found and rescued. Makoto, [[DudeLooksLikeALady a guy]], isn't fond of this idea.
* It's not a party, but at one point in ''Manga/FruitsBasket'', Tohru is invited to take a vacation at a Sohma family-owned hot spring resort as a White Day gift. Lampshaded when a blown-over Tohru says that she feels like a princess, since she isn't used to such luxuries.

* In a ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' filler, Ino is tasked with filling in for a princess, who's ashamed of her weight (after stress-eating) but has to [[ArrangedMarriage meet her fiance for the first time]] before the wedding. (Ino is specifically chosen because she looks like the princess.) [[spoiler: Little does she know that her fiance is actually a ChubbyChaser.]] Naruto uses his Sexy Jutsu and gets in on the act, too.

* In an early Franchise/{{Batman}} story (almost certainly inspired by the ''Lady for a Day'' movie), Batman persuades all of Gotham City to play along with a charade to allow a small-town girl to convince her parents that she is a successful actress.

* Creator/JosephJacobs's "Literature/{{Catskin}}"
* [[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/cinderella/stories/katie.html "Katie Woodencloak"]]
* [[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/cinderella/stories/rashin.html "Rashin Coatie]]"
* [[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/donkeyskin/stories/allfur.html "All-Kinds-of-Fur"]]
* [[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/donkeyskin/stories/kingdaughter.html "The King Who Wished To Marry His Daughter"]]

* Tiana in ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'', accidentally, which leads to the film's big twist. Also Charlotte, who is technically the princess of Mardi Gras for its duration, as Mama Odie's spell specifies.
* The titular character in ''WesternAnimation/Aladdin'' uses his first wish from the Genie to become a Prince, called Prince Ali. He does learn the lesson about being himself.

%%* ''Film/MissPettigrewLivesForADay''
%%* ''Film/MaidInManhattan''

* Jack dresses up like a first-class passenger in ''Film/{{Titanic 1997}}''.
* Creator/FrankCapra's 1933 film ''Film/LadyForADay'', based on the short story "Madame La Gimp" by Creator/DamonRunyon, is the trope namer. He remade it as ''A Pocketful of Miracles'' in 1961 with Creator/BetteDavis as the lady for a day.

* A 1950s TV game show was ''Series/QueenForADay''.
* To an extent, Liz in the ''Series/ThirtyRock'' episode "Black Tie". She got her fancy dress for the evening from the wardrobe department of the ShowWithinAShow.

** In Rory's freshman year at college, her grandmother wanted to make her into a princess to introduce Rory to Emily's friends' sons. She even wore a tiara for the occasion. She was hugely embarrassed when she realized that she's the only woman among bunch of men.

* In an episode of ''Series/FullHouse'', the Tanners vacation in Disneyland and, while visiting an attraction based around the genie's lamp from ''Aladdin'', Michelle winds up winning the position of the amusement park's "Princess of the Day" and is rewarded three wishes -- all while simultaneously domineering her sisters around and eventually learning her lesson about it.

* In ''Theatre/{{Pygmalion}}'' by Creator/GeorgeBernardShaw and the musical adaptation ''Theatre/MyFairLady'', working-class Eliza Doolittle gets to attend an embassy ball as a lady. The one person who suspects her ends up entirely convinced that she's the genuine article. Unlike many versions, this one puts a lot of emphasis on the large amount of speech and etiquette training required to pull off the deception convincingly, and also the question of whether, after an experience like that, one can just go on with one's life as if nothing had happened.

* 2nd edition ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' had the spell Kiss of Sharess which could have this effect.

* In ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIII'', after returning the stolen crown, the king willingly steps down and declares you king in his place. The former king is more than happy to step down so he can have fun gambling at the monster pit, but you have far more important things to do like saving the world. Fortunately, the former king understands this and is willing to retake his throne... though every time you save there, he will again offer you the opportunity to become king again in his stead.

* In one episode of ''[[WesternAnimation/NoddysToylandAdventures Noddy Toyland Detective]]'', Queen Sparklewings helps Cloppycorn the Naughticorn pretend to be the King of Toyland after seeing how sad he is from being bossed about by Hoof and Bling.
* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', Spike needs to handle Twilight's princess duties for a day after she passes out at a royal summit. This doesn't go too well.

* Ladies' Day at the Ascot race meeting. To an extent. Guests were reminded in 2009 that they were required to wear underwear.

Alternative titles Prince For A Day

* "Literature/{{Cinderella}}": After several years of performing drudge work for her step-family (her father having died in the meantime), Cinderella encounters a Fairy Godmother that dresses her up and provides a Coach, just so Cinderella could attend a costume ball that night. Of course, by doing so, she catches the eye of the Duke's son....

* British drummer [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmie_Nicol Jimmie Nicol]] was establishing a respectable career as a working musician in 1964 when he unexpectedly got a phone call asking him to sub for Music/RingoStarr on Music/TheBeatles' world tour, as Starr had been taken ill with tonsillitis for a few weeks. Nicol jumped at the opportunity, even adopting the signature mop-top haircut for the occasion, but said afterward that his short taste of fame and fortune on that level made it be very difficult to be content back in his normal life.

* Smurfette in ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs'' was made queen for a day by her fellow Smurfs in one episode as a way to celebrate her birthday. The problem was that Father Time fell asleep while fishing, so he forgot to end the day, resulting in EndlessDaytime.

* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'': Dawn in "Dawn of a Royal Day". She swaps places with Princess Salvia so the latter can participate in a Pokemon Contest. Salvia enjoys herself, Dawn [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor doesn't]]. She gets a Togekiss out of the deal, though.

* ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'': Vanellope Von Schweetz crosses the finish line and resets her game Sugar Rush, which returns her to her proper place -- princess of the game. But her tenure is short-lived as she gives it up for her regular clothes and position of President.
* Tiana in ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'', accidentally, which leads to the film's big twist. Also Charlotte, who is technically the princess of Mardi Gras for its duration, as Mama Odie's spell specifies.
Aladdin in Aladdin uses his first wish from the Genie to become a Prince, called Prince Ali. He does learn the lesson about being himself.

* [[Anime/YesPrettyCure5 Nozomi]], [[Anime/SmilePrettyCure Miyuki]] and [[Anime/MahoGirlsPrecure Mofurun]] all become Cinderella for an episode of their respective show. However, Miyuki and her team actually transform into princesses since episode 23 onwards.