Basic Trope: Princess who takes an active role, directly or indirectly, in the affairs of state.
- Straight: Princess Mary, daughter of King Bob the Nth of Troperia, uses her position and influence to influence decision making, and may have some official role in government or duties to perform (such as being an envoy to a foreign country, overseeing the affairs of state, etc.)
- Exaggerated:
- Princess Mary is the de facto ruler of Troperia in all but name, or the "woman behind the throne".
- Princess Mary not only is ruler of Troperia in her own right, but appoints her daughters, sisters and aunts (all princesses) to the key positions of government, making them examples of this trope.
- Downplayed: Princess Mary occasionally uses her position to campaign on matters close to her heart but otherwise relegates herself to charity work, public appearances and considering potential suitors.
- Justified:
- The Princess is heir to the throne or high up the line of succession, so it makes sense for her to be experienced with political matters in preparation for her role as ruler of the country.
- The royal family of Troperia pretty much is the government. Members of the royal family are expected to hold key positions in said government, females being no exception.
- The king and queen do not want their child to be an Idle Rich Royal Brat with no experience, so from an early age they teach her in politics.
- If as a woman Princess Mary isn't expected to have any formal political role and specific duties to that end, she still wields considerable influence at court and has the ear of her father the King, to influence decisions and campaign on things she cares about. Bonus points if all the men are too ill, incompetent, untrustworthy or mad to do anything right, compared to her.
- Troperia is a Matriarchy which believes Women Are Wiser; whilst it's legally possible for a male like King Bob to inherit the throne, he's treated as little better than a figurehead whilst the ladies of the royal family, daughters included, act as advisersnote and attend to the real business of state.
- Inverted: Princess Mary is technically acting ruler of Troperia and commander of the armed forces, yet spends all of her time holding balls, shopping for new dresses and generally acting like a Royal Brat when her ministers aren't pestering her with some decision to rubberstamp.
- Subverted: Princess Mary appeared to negotiate an elaborate peace treaty - only for it to be revealed that this is merely an overly elaborate hobby on her part.
- Princess Mary is being manipulated by her Evil Chancellor, Faye; on her own, she's clueless.
- Double Subverted: In preparation for when she will be entrusted to real power anyway.
- Parodied: Princesses are portrayed literally like politicians in a Purely Aesthetic Era and mix the associated 'princess' and 'modern politician' tropes based on Rule of Funny.
- Zig Zagged: ???
- Averted:
- Mary is a typical Princess Classic who has no influence on politics.
- Troperia is a republic, so there are no princesses, politically active or otherwise.
- Enforced: The producers need a princess character who doesn't act demure and submissive and actually plays an active role in the plot, in order to provide a "good role model" for modern young girls and avoid alienating feminists in the audience.
- Lampshaded: The court talks about how active the Princess is in politics, and one of them claims that other countries should be taking notes from her.
- Invoked: Justification #3.
- Exploited: Other characters know that if you wish to persuade the king, you go through Princess Mary.
- Defied: ???
- Discussed: "You mean to say the King's closest advisor... is his daughter?" "Yes, and she pretty much single-handedly saved the kingdom from civil war five years ago. She's a tough negotiator - don't underestimate her."
- Conversed: "Finally, a princess character who does more than just wear pretty dresses and wait for her prince!"
- Deconstructed: Mary's political activities bring her into conflict with powerful political actors who either oppose her goals, distrust her youth and inexperience, see her activism as defying established gender norms or the norms of her position, or simply can't accept being told what to do by a woman, making her a liability to her father and the government, jeopardizing her place in the line of succession, and potentially placing her and her family's lives in danger.
Back to Politically-Active Princess.
