Stacy De Novo (Hudgens) is a high-strung Chicago baker who runs her own shop along with sous chef and longtime friend Kevin (Sagar). Upon arriving in the fictional country of Belgravia during Christmastime for a prestigious baking competition, she stumbles upon Lady Margaret Delacourt (also Hudgens), the Duchess of Montenaro, who looks identical to her. Margaret is anxious about her upcoming nuptials to the prince of Belgravia, Edward (Palladio), which is just around the corner, and offers to swap places with Stacy for a few days so she can know what it's like to be a normal person. Complications ensue as the two women become more and more ingratiated into each other's lives.
The film was directed by Michael Rohl and released on Netflix in November 2018. A sequel, The Princess Switch: Switched Again, was released in December 2020. A third film, The Princess Switch 3: Romancing The Star, was released in November 2021.
This film contains examples of:
- Arranged Marriage: Between Prince Edward of Belgravia and Duchess Margaret of Montenaro.
- Crossover: Amber and Richard (with their baby) from the ''A Christmas Prince'' trilogy appear at the coronation in The Princess Switch: Switched Again. This somewhat complicates things, as The Christmas Prince was recognized as a film in-universe in the first movie.
- Fictional Country: Vaguely European monarchies Montenaro and Belgravia.
- I Am Very British: The nobles in the film speak with British accents, despite ostensibly not being British, to emphasize how high-class they are. Lampshaded when Stacy tries to imitate Margaret's accent.Margaret: Do I really sound so Downton Abbey?
- Identical Stranger: Stacy and Margaret look extremely similar, allowing the plot to begin. The sequels throw in Margaret's cousin Fiona.
- I Just Want to Be Normal: Margaret is uncomfortable with the trappings of nobility and wants to experience being a normal person.
- Like Brother and Sister: Despite Olivia asking after it, longtime friends and business partners Stacy and Kevin really are very platonic buddies. Kevin and Margaret, on the other hand...
- Meaningful Name: Stacy De Novo. "De novo" means "again" in Portuguese.
- Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping: In-Universe, Margaret-impersonating-Stacy's British accent occasionally slips through when talking to Kevin.
- Out-of-Character Alert: Olivia becomes suspicious when "Stacy" doesn't do their Handshake Substitute properly.
- Perfectly Arranged Marriage: Played With — Edward falls hard and fast for his arranged bride Margaret, but it's really commoner Stacy impersonating her.
- Prince and Pauper: "Normal" baker Stacy and European duchess Margaret swap lives for a few days.
- Product Placement: Kevin and Margaret watch Netflix itself.
- The Rival: Brianna Michaels, Stacy's snooty cooking school classmate and cheating competitor at the baking competition.
- Secret Chaser: Frank, Edward's chauffeur, is tasked by the king to find out why "Margaret" is acting so different.
- Secret-Keeper: One on both sides of the Prince and Pauper switch: Margaret's assistant Mrs. Donatelli and Kevin's daughter Olivia are both informed of the swap.
- Sequel Escalation: The second film introduces a third doppleganger, Margaret's cousin Fiona.
- Shipper on Deck: Olivia for Margaret/Kevin, as she'd like a new mom.
- Shirtless Scene: Kevin pops by "Stacy"'s room asking to borrow toothpaste while shirtless. The sight stuns Margaret.
- Shout-Out: To 2017 Netflix holiday movie A Christmas Prince, which is Stacy's favorite Christmas movie and brings Margaret to tears. A Christmas Inheritance and other shows on the Netflix homepage are shown as well.
- Sweet Baker: Stacy is a hardworking, down-to-earth, kind young woman whose dream is to own her own bakery. She's good enough of a baker to qualify for an exclusive international baking contest, and sweet enough to charm a foreign prince.
