Is He a Disney Prince? List of Royalty vs. Main Men Without a Crown

Snow White’s prince (not explicitly named in the film) is widely considered the first Disney prince.

Appearing in "Snow White," the first full-length Disney animated film released by Walt Disney Pictures, he functions almost entirely as a symbol. He has little screen time, no backstory, and exists mainly as the love interest who breaks the wicked stepmother’s curse with true love’s kiss.

Prince Charming from Cinderella helped cement the classic fairy-tale formula. As a member of the royal family with minimal dialogue, he represents opportunity and escape rather than personality.

Still, Prince Charming remains one of the most recognizable Disney princes due to the film’s box office success and cultural reach.

Prince Phillip (sometimes misspelled "Prince Philip") marked a turning point.

Unlike earlier princes, he fights the dragon, defies royal expectations, and actively rescues Sleeping Beauty. His duel in the dark kingdom gave Disney its first action-oriented prince and made him a more compelling character than his predecessors.

Prince Eric reintroduced princes for a new era of Disney movies. As Ariel’s love interest, Eric is curious, kind, and visibly conflicted between duty and desire.

His role in "The Little Mermaid" helped revive Disney animation and showed a prince who could grow alongside the princess.

Prince Adam, better known as the Beast, is one of Disney’s most complex male leads.

Cursed into beast form for his arrogance, he must learn empathy to return to human form. "Beauty and the Beast" reframed the prince as someone who must earn love, not simply arrive as a reward.

Aladdin is a street rat turned prince by a magic lamp. Though not born royal, he becomes Prince Ali Ababwa through Genie’s power. His arc centers on honesty, identity, and self-worth, making him one of the most relatable Disney princes.

Prince Naveen is technically royal, but his story intentionally subverts the classic prince archetype.

He begins as a carefree noble and grows into a true partner through humility and responsibility, reflecting Disney’s modern character-driven approach.

These characters often appear on Disney prince lists, but they are not princes by title.

1. Li Shang — 'Mulan' (1998)

Li Shang starts as a captain and is a general by the end of the movie—not a prince by birth or title.

Still, he is often included on Disney prince lists due to his role as Mulan’s love interest and his leadership arc, which fits the traditional narrative role of a Disney prince.

2. Flynn Rider (Eugene Fitzherbert) — 'Tangled' (2010)

Flynn Rider is not royal at all. As a thief turned hero, he represents Disney’s move away from inherited power toward earned character and emotional openness.

3. Kristoff — 'Frozen' (2013)

Kristoff is an ice harvester with no royal lineage. "Frozen" positions him as a supportive partner rather than a traditional prince, emphasizing trust and shared growth over destiny.

4. Ralph — 'Wreck-It Ralph' (2012)

Ralph is a video game character, not a fairy-tale prince nor a love interest. His character reflects how Disney broadened the definition of heroism to include self-acceptance and sacrifice outside royal narratives.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.