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MonNov 18

National Princess Day – November 18, 2024

National Princess Day comes around annually on November 18, so clear your schedule and prepare for a magical day of pampering and fabulousness. Everyone has a favorite princess (real or fake) and dreams of being treated like one (at least for a day). A dream is a wish your heart makes, and it’s time to make that wish come true. 

History of National Princess Day

The first princess to come to our TV screens was Snow White in 1937’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Based on the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, this movie was also the first full length traditional animation film as well as the earliest Disney animated feature film. When Xena: Warrior Princess came out in 1995 and Mulan was released in 1998, they showed everyone that a princess can do more than wear a pretty dress. These two iconic women let children everywhere know that a princess can also be a strong and adventurous warrior. New wave princesses like Moana and Frozen’s Elsa show us that you can still be a princess while maintaining your independence.

We all grew up with animated, and live action, princesses guiding us through life. When thinking of our favorite princesses, our minds instantly go to Disney. However, when it comes to National Princess Day, Disney had very little involvement in its inception. Nest Family Entertainment, a Texas based entertainment company, teamed up with Rich Animation in 1994 to create the animated film The Swan Princess, a musical adaptation of Swan Lake. The studio wanted people of every age to have a day to celebrate like royalty, embodying the kindness and grace that we all associated with princess at the time — and thus, National Princess Day was created.

The definition of a princess is constantly changing. From the 1930s until the 1990s, princesses were meant to be saved by a prince and live happily ever after. Nowadays, princesses create their own happily ever after, save the prince, and then put the prince squarely in the friend zone. So basically, embodying a princess on National Princess Day is to embody, what the kids call, the G.O.A.T (greatest of all time).

National Princess Day timeline

2013
​Time magazine recognized this princess’ influence

​Princess Kate made Time’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” list for the second time.

​2012
Pretty smart princess

​After earning a B.A. in International Relations at Sukhothai Thammatirat University and a Masters of Law and Doctor of Juridical Science degree at Cornell Law School, Princess Bajrakitiyabha of Thailand received an honorary Doctor of Law degree.

​2011
​A humanitarian award

​Princess Ameera, a Saudi Arabian princess, received the ITP Special Humanitarian Award for her work with the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation.

​1987
​This (very) popular princess advocated for AIDS

​Princess Diana opened the first hospital unit dedicated to AIDS in Middlesex Hospital. This is the same location where she famously hugged an AIDS patient four years later.

​1970
​Princess Ann took on a cause

​Princess Ann of England served as president of the Save the Children organization, an non-governmental group that advocates for children rights and supports children in developing countries.

National Princess Day FAQs

 What is a princess?

A princess is a feminine regal rank describing someone who is the daughter of a King and Queen or a woman who married a prince.
 

How many Disney princess movies are there?

There are 13 Disney Princess movies; however this number does not include sequels such as Mulan II or Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World. 
 

Who is the youngest Disney princess?

The youngest Disney princess is Snow White, who is only 14 years old. The oldest is Princess Tiana, who is 19.
 

National Princess Day Activities

  1. Bestow your friends with a princess party invite

    For kids, stick to a princess-themed party with castle, crown, and princess inspired foods (cupcakes, cookies, brownies, cake). For adults, focus on sparkly decor and pink cocktails. Want an easier alternative? Gather a group of friends for happy hour and gift them with a princess tiara for a fun, festive touch.

  2. Act like a princess

    Let National Princess Day be a good reminder to focus on how you present yourself to the world. For example, princesses are known for the way they walk, talk, sit, and eat (to name a few examples we can remember from The Princess Diaries). But maybe the princess you're embodying is Xena, so be the leader you were born to be! 

  3. Indulge in a treatment fit for royalty

    Fashionable, flawless, fabulous — these are just a few words that come to mind when thinking about a princess (real or fictional). So on National Princess Day, treat yourself to something that’ll make you feel like one. Book a facial or massage, get a manicure or pedicure, go on a shopping spree or make an appointment with your hairstylist — whatever you choose to do, we hope you feel and look fashionable, flawless, and fabulous by the end of the day.

​5 Little-Known Disney Princess Facts

  1. One Disney princess has ink

    ​Pocahontas is the only Disney Princess who has a tattoo.

  2. Snow White's a star

    ​Snow White received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame —the only Disney princess to receive one — in 1987.

  3. ​An ancient Chinese legend inspires Disney

    ​The legend of Hua Mulan, a female warrior from the poem “The Ballad of Mulan,” inspired the Disney character.

  4. ​“Ariel” has a rad Hebrew meaning

    ​The name Ariel — from "The Little Mermaid" — translates from Hebrew as “lion of God”.

  5. ​A princess saves a prince

    ​Belle from "Beauty and the Beast" is the first Disney princess to save her prince when she transforms the Beast back into a human.

Why We Love National Princess Day

  1. It celebrates healthy personality traits

    Princesses are inspiring because they typically kick butt while still being poised, confident, and kindhearted. However, feeling and embodying those traits is not always easy. Thankfully, National Princess Day reminds us to get in touch with our inner princess who’s ready to rule the world.

  2. It’s an opportunity to feel special

    National Princess Day gives us non-royalty folks a reason to step out of our norms. However you choose to celebrate, thanks to this day, you can dress up, take control and be the heroine.

  3. It’s an excuse to treat yourself

    If your daily life is similar to Cinderella’s before she meets the prince (you know — chores, having a boss like her awful stepmother, wearing old, lackluster clothes) then National Princess Day is the perfect time to break that cycle. Throw on your glass slippers and treat yourself.

National Princess Day dates

YearDateDay
2024November 18Monday
2025November 18Tuesday
2026November 18Wednesday
2027November 18Thursday
2028November 18Saturday

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