Disney princesses are everywhere. And you can’t miss them with their hyper-ornamented ball gowns, reflecting jeweled tiaras, and their waves—the iconic, cupped palm that moves as if in slow motion from left to right, and back again. They get movies named after them, their own floats in Disney parades, and on Disney.com they even have their own portion of the website with a dedicated Internet address: princess.disney.com. Notice “princess” comes even before “Disney.” Yeah, they are divas.
Then there are the Disney princes. These are the guys who have fallen for those bedazzled beauties. They are heroic, handsome, and never try to steal the attention away from the princesses. They will wait calmly in the background while their lady breaks out into song at an event or as she reveals some annoyingly adorable story at a social gathering with friends. And when the princesses get in some sort of trouble (and they always do), these noblemen are there to catch them. Disney princes are truly gentlemen.
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we thought we would give some love to these heroic gents who have sacrificed everything for their leading ladies. These Cinderfellas, we’ll call them, have waited long enough for their chance in the spotlight. It’s time you get to know some of your Disney princes.
Our first two Disney princes—from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Cinderella—don’t even have names. But they don’t need them because they have entire kingdoms. In fact, everything about the first two Disney princes is iconic: the castle on the hillside, the white horse, and the smile.
Name: They call him “The Prince.”
Villain to Contend With: The Queen, a shapeshifter.
Secret Weapon: His kiss.
Known to Say: “I have but one song only for you.”
Where You’ve Seen Him: He is now being played by Josh Dallas on ABC’s Once Upon a Time.
Name: He’s referred to as “Prince Charming.”
Villain to Contend With: His stepmother-in-law, Lady Tremaine.
Secret Weapon: Kill ‘em with kindness.
Known to Say: “It’s not about the slipper. It’s the girl in the slipper.”
Where You’ve Seen Him: Probably at his enormous castle at Walt Disney World, which we’re guessing was renamed Cinderella Castle when his princess moved in.
The first Disney prince with a name finally comes along in Sleeping Beauty. And the rest of the guys to follow in this list have them as well; some even have two names:
Name: Prince Phillip.
Villain to Contend With: Maleficent.
Secret Weapon: The Sword of Truth.
Known to Say: “We’ve met before.”
Where You’ve Seen Him: Dancing in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland, which like Magic Kingdom’s Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World was renamed for his princess.
Name: The Beast (Prince).
Villain to Contend With: Gaston.
Secret Weapon: A Magic Mirror.
Known to Say: “You must promise to stay here forever.”
Where You’ve Seen Him: New York. He was the first Disney prince to get his own show on Broadway.
Name: Prince Eric.
Villain to Contend With: Ursula the Sea Witch.
Secret Weapon: He’s a great swimmer.
Known to Say: “You know, I feel really bad not knowing your name. Maybe I can guess. Is it, uh… Mildred?”
Where You’ve Seen Him: At Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom or Disney California Adventure in the attractions based on The Little Mermaid film.
These princes were not born royals, but through marriage to a princess they eventually are added to the royal family:
Name: John Smith.
Villain to Contend With: Governor Ratcliffe.
Secret Weapon: His empathy.
Known to Say: “What do you say to a tree?”
Where You’ve Seen Him: Exploring the “New World.”
Name: Flynn Rider (Eugene Fitzherbert).
Villain to Contend With: Mother Gothel and the Stabbington Brothers.
Secret Weapon: His horse, Maximus.
Known to Say: “They just can’t get my nose right.”
Where You’ve Seen Him: Climbing a tower.
By D23: The Official Disney Fan Club’s Billy Stanek
