In this article, I explain what the Disney Princes franchise is. You will discover the list of officially recognized princes, those who are not included, and the criteria Disney uses to define this category. Why are some heroes considered Disney Princes while others are not? I also provide a FAQ to answer the most common questions.
Overview of the Disney Princes franchise
There is no official “Disney Princes” franchise. In reality, only the Disney Princesses franchise was created by Disney to group and promote its most iconic heroines.
However, several male characters from the same films are considered Disney Princes by association, because they play a central role alongside the princesses or in the storyline.
They are not part of an official franchise, but they remain important Disney characters thanks to their popularity and their place in the princess stories.
Over time, these princes have also become key figures, even though they are not grouped under a dedicated franchise.
The list of official Disney Princes
Discover the complete list of official Disney Princes, presented in chronological order of their first appearance. Although they are not part of a dedicated franchise, they are often linked to the Disney Princesses line.
These characters remain popular and play an important role in the Disney universe.
Prince Florian
First appearance: 1937
Film: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Prince Henri
First appearance: 1950
Film: Cinderella
Prince Phillip
First appearance: 1959
Film: Sleeping Beauty
Prince Eric
First appearance: 1989
Film: The Little Mermaid
Prince Adam
First appearance: 1991
Film: Beauty and the Beast
Aladdin
First appearance: 1992
Film: Aladdin
John Smith
First appearance: 1995
Film: Pocahontas
Li Shang
First appearance: 1998
Film: Mulan
Prince Naveen
First appearance: 2009
Film: The Princess and the Frog
Eugene Fitzherbert
First appearance: 2010
Film: Tangled
The list of unofficial Disney Princes
Kristoff Bjorgman
First appearance: 2013
Film: Frozen
How Disney Princes are defined
The definition of Disney Princes is not an official or clearly established process.
Unlike the princesses, there is no dedicated franchise. Princes are generally linked to the male characters who appear in Disney Princess films.
At first, only a few characters such as the Prince from Snow White, Prince Charming from Cinderella, or Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty were considered iconic princes.
Over time, other male heroes were associated with this category, including Aladdin, John Smith, and Flynn Rider, depending on their central role alongside a princess or their importance in the story.
This recognition is therefore mainly based on their role in the films and on how the audience identifies them, rather than on an official list defined by Disney.
Why some princes are included and others are not
The list of official Disney Princes also has its nuances. For example, since Mulan is part of the Disney Princesses line even though she is not from a royal family, Li Shang is often considered an official prince by association.
On the other hand, Elsa and Anna are not part of the franchise despite their royal status, which automatically excludes Kristoff from the list of official princes.
These differences show that the criteria are not strictly defined and depend more on franchise decisions than on the logic of the stories.
Other cases, such as Pocahontas or Moana, both daughters of chiefs but not from a traditional monarchy, make this distinction even more flexible.
To learn more
Who are the official Disney Princes?
The official Disney Princes are: Prince Florian (1937), Prince Henry (1950), Prince Phillip (1959), Prince Eric (1989), Prince Adam (1991), Aladdin (1992), John Smith (1995), Li Shang (1998), Prince Naveen (2009), and Eugene Fitzherbert (2010).
Who are the other unofficial Disney Princes?
Among the many princes who appear in Disney stories, some capture the audience’s hearts without being part of the official Disney Prince line. One of them is Kristoff Bjorgman (2013). But the range of unofficial princes goes far beyond that, including iconic characters such as Bambi (1947) and Simba (1994).
Why is Mulan an official Disney Princess?
Mulan became an official princess after a popularity poll in 2006, even though her non-royal background may seem unusual compared to traditional royalty conventions.
Are there specific criteria to become a Disney Prince?
Unlike the princesses, who must follow specific rules to be considered official, the criteria for princes are simpler. A character only needs to be the husband of an official Disney Princess.
Will new princes be added in the future?
It is likely that new princes will be added in the future, depending on upcoming animated films that capture the audience’s interest and meet the criteria established by Disney.
The world map of Disney Princes
