History Main / PrincessesRule

** Princess Peach in many of the games. [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1 The original game's]] English-language instruction manual referred to her as the daughter of the Mushroom King, but [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse the games never mention him again after that]]. He does appear in the ''ComicBook/NintendoComicsSystem'' and ''Literature/NintendoAdventureBooks'', but he's so laughably incompetent that his daughter often ends up being the ''de facto'' ruler anyway.

* Gender-inverted and justified with Sturmhalten from ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'', a Transylvanian principality that we first see ruled by [[FeudalOverlord Prince Aaronev IV]]. The crown is later inherited by Aaronev's son Tarvek, but Tarvek spends most of the story too far away from his principality to run it.

** Princess Bubblegum rules over her kingdom. {{Justified}} as Princess Bubblegum did not inherit her title from a king- she is an EmperorScientist who [[CreatingLife literally created]] her kingdom and all her subjects, and chose the title "Princess" herself.

* The first episode of ''WesternAnimation/ElenaOfAvalor'' explains that the title character can't become queen until she comes of age, according to the laws of her nation. As such, she is crown princess with a council to help her rule until then.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': All [[WingedUnicorn Alicorns]] are given the title of "Princess" and assigned different areas to govern: Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are the rulers of Equestria (also an ExaggeratedTrope since their power is close to that of deities, moving the sun and moon each day and night), while Princess Cadance retains her title when she becomes ruler of the Crystal Empire, which was once overseen by her ancestor, Princess Amore (once referred to in-show as [[TheHighQueen a queen]], making for the series' first--if brief--aversion). Twilight Sparkle, after becoming an alicorn, rules her own castle at first and [[spoiler: later succeeds Celestia and Luna as ruler of Equestria, following their retirement]]. The show makes an InUniverse explanation that the "Princess" title isn't exclusively passed down from a bloodline, but is handed out based on talent and worthiness. Still, WordOfGod says the decision to use the title in the first place is due to ExecutiveMeddling dictating that little girls think princesses are good but [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen queens are evil]].

** Princess Zelda in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds A Link Between Worlds]]'' is portrayed as the ruler of her kingdom, and the same thing applies to her [[DarkWorld Lorulean]] counterpart Princess Hilda.

* Inverted male example. Belshazzar, referred to as the King of Babylon in Literature/TheBible Literature/BookOfDaniel, even though he was never officially enthroned as king (a separate ancient text called ''Nabonidus Chronicle'' called him "the crown prince") and was only serving as a temporary ruler while his father, King Nabonidus, was away. As such, Belshazzar was only able to offer the position of "third ruler in the kingdom" to the person who can give interpretation to the handwriting to the wall, because he's not actually the highest authority figure and would not have been able to give "the second highest authority in the land", as was the case with [[Literature/BookOfGenesis Joseph and the Pharaoh]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/Shrek2'', Prince Charming is the ruler of an unspecified kingdom and he seemingly lacks a father. His mother [[spoiler:Fairy Godmother]] is still alive, but is at no point called "queen".

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*** In ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast A Link to the Past]]'', ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'', ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap The Minish Cap]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild Breath of the Wild]]'', her father is the one on the throne when the BigBad rears its ugly head. At the end of the ''[[ComicBook/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast A Link to the Past]]'' comic in ''Magazine/NintendoPower'', Zelda is even crowned queen, since [[spoiler:unlike in the game, her father isn't revived at the end]].

* In both timelines of ''VideoGame/RadiantHistoria'', Queen Protea is deposed one way or another, but Eruca continues calling herself Princess. Justified, as there's bigger issues preventing her having time to be crowned, [[spoiler:and Stocke being being her older brother Ernst makes her claim to the throne unclear for a while]].

*** In ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast A Link to the Past]]'', ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarina Ocarina of Time]]'', ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap The Minish Cap]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild Breath of the Wild]]'', her father is the one on the throne when the BigBad rears its ugly head. At the end of the ''[[ComicBook/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast A Link to the Past]]'' comic in ''Magazine/NintendoPower'', Zelda is even crowned queen, since [[spoiler:unlike in the game, her father isn't revived at the end]].

*** In ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast A Link to the Past]]'', ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZelda Ocarina of Time]]'', ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap The Minish Cap]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild Breath of the Wild]]'', her father is the one on the throne when the BigBad rears its ugly head. At the end of the ''[[ComicBook/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast A Link to the Past]]'' comic in ''Magazine/NintendoPower'', Zelda is even crowned queen, since [[spoiler:unlike in the game, her father isn't revived at the end]].

* The setting of ''Webcomic/RustyAndCo'' is ruled by The Princess, who's [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking also a formidable fighter]]. No Kings nor Queens are ever mentioned, and lesser nobles who want to steal the throne would send assassins on the Princess, implying that she is the absolute sovereign of the kingdom.

* Inverted male example. Belshazzar, referred to as the King of Babylon in Literature/TheBible book of Daniel, even though he was never officially enthroned as king (a separate ancient text called ''Nabonidus Chronicle'' called him "the crown prince") and was only serving as a temporary ruler while his father, King Nabonidus, was away. As such, Belshazzar was only able to offer the position of "third ruler in the kingdom" to the person who can give interpretation to the handwriting to the wall, because he's not actually the highest authority figure and would not have been able to give "the second highest authority in the land", as was the case with [[Literature/BookOfGenesis Joseph and the Pharaoh]].

* Princess Gutrune of ''VideoGame/EtrianOdyssey III: The Drowned City''. In her case, it's stated by locals that the Senatus is seen as holding all the ''real'' power, particularly Senator Flowdia, while Gutrune is seen as a pretty figurehead.

** In ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'', [[AllThereInTheManual supplementary material]] say that Princess Zelda was about to be crowned queen before everything started going to hell; the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' manual also refers to her as "queen", for what it is worth.

%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample** Graciella the fairy princess in ''WesternAnimation/BarbieAFairySecret''.

* This is discussed in ''Fanfic/BadFutureCrusaders'' when Twitch, one of Lightning Dust's wingponies in the R.E.A.F., can't understand why Princess [[AccidentalMisnaming "Celestial"]] went by Princess instead of Queen.

* The ''Fanfic/StoryShuffle'' series, for each of its anthologies:

* In ''WesternAnimation/BarbieAndTheSecretDoor'', this is played with, as BigBad Princess Malucia only rules the kingdom while her parents are away.
* In ''WesternAnimation/BarbiePrincessCharmSchool'', the land of Gardenia is a kingdom, as late monarch Isabella [[spoiler:(Blair's biological mother)]] was called a queen. Still, her niece Delancy is supposed to sit on the throne while being called a princess. [[spoiler:When finally Blair is crowned instead of her, she is referred to as a princess rather than a queen by everyone, certainly to fit the movie's title.]]

%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample* Graciella the fairy princess in ''WesternAnimation/BarbieAFairySecret''.

* Cornelia and Euphemia of ''Anime/CodeGeass'' both reign as Viceroys of Area 11 on behalf of their father, the Emperor, and it's shown that they're given pretty broad authority to rule as they see fit. [[spoiler:In the second series, Nunnally also briefly becomes one, at least until Lelouch's rebellion finally succeeds. And averted in the finale, as Nunnally is elevated to the rank of Empress.]]

* {{Justified|Trope}} in ''VideoGame/{{Xenoblade}}'' with Princess (and later ''Crown'' Princess) [[spoiler:Melia Antiqua]]. Turns out that even after [[spoiler:her father died]], she wants to become a [[RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething royal who actually does something]][[labelnote:note]] Not that her father wasn't one already...[[/labelnote]] by [[spoiler:joining Shulk's party]] (she's got her duties covered [[spoiler:via substitute]]); even though, as the Crown Princess, she should be the next ruler of the High Entia. This puts her duties taken temporarily by her brother who, in turn, averts this trope himself by becoming the regent of the High Entia and not the prince.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': All [[WingedUnicorn Alicorns]] are given the title of "Princess" and assigned different areas to govern: Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are the rulers of Equestria (also an ExaggeratedTrope since their power is close to that of deities, moving the sun and moon each day and night), while Princess Cadance retains her title when she becomes ruler of the Crystal Empire, which was once overseen by her ancestor, Princess Amore (once referred to in-show as [[TheHighQueen a queen]], making for the series' first--if brief--aversion). Twilight Sparkle, after becoming an alicorn, rules her own castle at first and [[spoiler: later succeeds Celestia and Luna as ruler of Equestria]]. The show makes an InUniverse explanation that the "Princess" title isn't exclusively passed down from a bloodline, but is handed out based on talent and worthiness. Still, WordOfGod says the decision to use the title in the first place is due to ExecutiveMeddling dictating that little girls think princesses are good but [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen queens are evil]].

* Cornelia and Euphemia of ''Anime/CodeGeass'' both reign as Viceroys of Area 11 on behalf of their father, the Emperor, and it's shown that they're given pretty broad authority to rule as they see fit. [[spoiler:In the second series, Nunally also briefly becomes one, at least until Lelouch's rebellion finally succeeds. And averted in the finale, as Nunally is elevated to the rank of Empress.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': All [[WingedUnicorn Alicorns]] are given the title of "Princess" and assigned different areas to govern: Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are the rulers of Equestria (also an ExaggeratedTrope since their power is close to that of deities, moving the sun and moon each day and night), while Princess Cadance retains her title when she becomes ruler of the Crystal Empire, which was once overseen by her ancestor, Princess Amore (once referred to in-show as [[TheHighQueen a queen]], making for the series' first--if brief--aversion). The show makes an InUniverse explanation that the "Princess" title isn't exclusively passed down from a bloodline, but is handed out based on talent and worthiness. Still, WordOfGod says the decision to use the title in the first place is due to ExecutiveMeddling dictating that little girls think princesses are good but [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen queens are evil]].

Occasionally in fiction, a princess is shown to be the absolute ruler of a realm, despite the fact that, logically, that would make her [[TheHighQueen a queen, or some other title, such as empress, sultana, etc]]. There could be [[JustifiedTrope a few reasons]] ''why'' she hasn't been crowned queen, such as the realm is explicitly a principality, they are waiting until the princess comes of age (although historically this doesn't usually happen), or the princess is only acting ruler, as regent for an incapacitated monarch, or she's ruling a feudal fiefdom granted by and subordinate to her parents (who are still the reigning monarchs overall). However, in fiction-land, this set-up doesn't usually even get a hand-wave. The ruler just is a princess for [[GratuitousPrincess some inexplicable reason]]. Likely done to avoid associations with [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen evil queens]], as pretty young girls are less likely to be evil than older women. (It tends to be a popular trope in works by and for little girls still in their {{Princess Phase}}s.)

Notably, the word princess (and its spear counterpart, prince) is derived from the Latin word "princeps", which means "first citizen". It was one of the titles of the Roman Emperor. Some real life countries--mostly small nations such as Andorra and Monaco--continue to refer to their leaders as "Prince" in this context. This is what we call a ''principality'', as opposed to a ''king''dom.

* Riliane in [[Music/{{Mothy}} Mothy's]] [[Franchise/EvilliousChronicles Story of Evil]] series is queen of her country, but chooses to be called Princess, out of respect for her late mother. She's not [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen a particularly ''good'' ruler]], though.

Occasionally in fiction, a princess is shown to be the absolute ruler of a realm, despite the fact that, logically, that would make her [[TheHighQueen a queen, or possibly an empress]]. There could be [[JustifiedTrope a few reasons]] ''why'' she hasn't been crowned queen, such as the realm is explicitly a principality, they are waiting until the princess comes of age (although historically this doesn't usually happen), or the princess is only acting ruler, as regent for an incapacitated monarch, or she's ruling a feudal fiefdom granted by and subordinate to her parents (who are still the reigning monarchs overall). However, in fiction-land, this set-up doesn't usually even get a hand-wave. The ruler just is a princess for [[GratuitousPrincess some inexplicable reason]]. Likely done to avoid associations with [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen evil queens]], as pretty young girls are less likely to be evil than older women. (It tends to be a popular trope in works by and for little girls still in their {{Princess Phase}}s.)

* It's gender reversed, but in ''Manga/DragonBallZ'', Prince Vegeta's father is dead and has been for a very long time by the start of the series, leaving him as the de facto ruler of the Saiyans, yet he never changes his title to king. [[JustifiedTrope However]], it is something of a moot point, given that Planet [[LordCountry Vegeta]] was destroyed with most of its inhabitants, and Vegeta himself was left basically enslaved to the tyrant who blew it up.