Who is a Princess?

Princess is an attractive title for the daughter of a king or queen, or the wife of a prince. Some children enjoy having princess parties with fancy dresses and tiaras. A woman can also be called a princess for the way she treats her husband, such as when she tells him he is her “prince.”

But there is more to being a princess than dressing up and glamorizing oneself. A princess is supposed to represent her family, be involved in charitable activities, and uphold a certain level of etiquette and public service. There are some women who have been named princess but who do not perform these duties, such as the daughters of ex-royals who are not near enough to the throne to retain the title.

A good example of a princess who has served others was Alice of Battenberg. She was a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria and married Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark in 1903. During World War II she sheltered a Jewish family, which she didn’t mention publicly. She continued her charitable work, working for the Red Cross and organising soup kitchens in Athens. She died in 1969 and was buried at Buckingham Palace.

Other princesses are known for their philanthropy and good deeds, such as the late Princess Diana of Wales. She was a tireless advocate for children, AIDS-related causes and victims of landmines. She is also credited with modernizing the British monarchy. In an article titled Cinderella and the Problem with Princess Culture, Peggy Orenstein writes that princess movies teach young girls the wrong lessons, such as judging themselves based on looks.