The Prince and the Princess is a short webcomic by Kewe, based loosely on The Prince and the Pauper, originally hosted on SmackJeeves. It tells the story of a young prince named Edmund, who wants nothing more than to be a princess, but his tutor scoffs at him for thinking such things. This changes when a neighbouring queendom's princess Emilia, who looks incredibly similar to Edmund, visits with her mother, and doesn't want to be treated like a girl. The two decide to swap places.
It can be found here
.
This webcomic provides examples of:
- Action Girl: Princess Emilia wants to be this, and demonstrates such by swordfighting a reluctant Edmund as soon as she can. By the end of the comic, it's implied she has fully become one, serving as a knight to protect her citizens.
- Crossdresser: Edmund and Emilia dress in each other's clothing to try to trick their parents into thinking they are each other.
- Double Standard: The story points these out relating to the roles a prince and a princess are expected to play, respectively, and the different ways they are treated, even if against their will.
- Good Parents: Despite the kids looking almost identical, not only do their parents immediately recognize them both when they try to swap places, but both Edmund's father and Emilia's mother accept them for who they are without hesitation.
- Hates Wearing Dresses: Emilia takes off her dress as soon as she's able to do so without the adults seeing.
- Identical Stranger: Emilia immediately notices Edmund looks very much like her when they meet, leading to a Twin Switch though they aren't related.
- Masculine Girl, Feminine Boy: Semi-accurate, as Edmund transitions by the end of the story and is actually female at heart, while Emilia lets herself be referred to as a girl even while retaining her masculinity.
- Men Act, Women Are: Part of the reason Emilia wants to switch with Edmund is that, as a princess, she is constantly stopped from doing anything she wants to, such as swordfighting. Meanwhile Edmund wants to be more passive, spending his days painting and knitting.
- Men Are Strong, Women Are Pretty: Edmund wants to be a girl so he can wear beautiful dresses like his mother.
- Non-Action Guy: Edmund doesn't want to learn how to swordfight at all.
- Stay in the Kitchen: Nobody ever agrees to swordfight with Emilia, stemming from her being a princess rather than a prince.
- Prince and Pauper: Subverted The story, including the name, is a play on this format, but the children's ruse is discovered instantly by their parents.
- Tomboy Princess: Emilia wants to be treated like a boy, but unlike Edmund, doesn't seem to actually want to be seen as male, considering that at the end of the comic, she is still a princess alongside Edmund, but as a knight in masculine clothing with a sword protecting the kingdom.
- Trans Tribulations: When Edmund finally admits that he wants to be a princess to his tutor, he is immediately shut down with traditionalist rhetoric.
- Twin Switch: The story involves this, and currently provides the page image. However, Edmund and Emilia aren't actually related, they just look very much alike. The ruse is instantly seen through by their parents as well.
- Wanted a Gender-Conforming Child: While not a parent-child example, Edmund's tutor is hostile to even the concept that Edmund doesn't want to do typical "princely" activities.
