Ashwin Lewis
Disney has been criticized for featuring princes who are often significantly older than the princesses. In Sleeping Beauty, Prince Charming is estimated to be between 19 and 21 years old, while Princess Aurora is only 16. This age gap has been deemed problematic, given that Aurora is a minor. Notably, Disney has not officially confirmed the ages of all its characters, and the ages of the princes, in particular, are often flexible or unclear. This may be due to the historical context of the original fairytales, in which young teenage girls often got married, and the focus of Disney movies being primarily on the princesses.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Prince Phillip/Henry/Charming |
| Age | 19-21 years old |
| Princess's Name | Aurora/Cinderella |
| Princess's Age | 16 years old/19 years old |
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What You'll Learn
Prince Charming's age is estimated to be 19-21
Disney has been criticised for featuring princes who are often significantly older than the princesses. However, the age of each Disney princess and prince is not always known and is sometimes just estimated. For example, in the case of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the princess was thought to be 14 in the film, and the prince was thought to be 31, but other sources suggest that they were 18 and 17 respectively.
In comparison to other Disney couples, the age gap between Prince Charming and Princess Aurora is relatively small. However, it is worth noting that Aurora is a minor, and the large age gaps between other Disney couples have been criticised as problematic. For example, in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the prince is four years older than Snow White, who is 16 years old, and in Atlantis: The Lost Empire, the age gap between the main couple is between 8468 and 8768 years.
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Princess Aurora is 16, creating a 3-5 year age gap
Disney has been criticised for featuring princes who are often significantly older than the princesses. In the 1959 film Sleeping Beauty, Princess Aurora is 16, creating a 3-5 year age gap with her love interest, Prince Phillip, who is estimated to be between 19 and 24 years old. This age difference is notably smaller than many other Disney Princess relationships, where the princes are often depicted as older based on their role in their kingdoms.
While the ages of Disney princesses and princes can be estimated, their ages are not always known or clearly stated. For example, in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Snow White is thought to be 14, while the Prince is estimated to be 31, creating a 17-year age gap. Similarly, in The Little Mermaid, Ariel is 16, and her love interest, Prince Eric, is 18, resulting in a 2-year age difference. However, in other Disney films, the princesses' ages are explicitly mentioned, such as in The Little Mermaid when Ariel says, "I'm 16 years old, I'm not a child."
Belle, from Beauty and the Beast, and Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog, are both estimated to be 17 years old, while their respective princes, Adam and Naveen, are thought to be 21 and 19-22 years old, creating a 4-year and a 2-3 year age gap, respectively. In Frozen, Anna is 18 years old, and her love interest, Kristoff, is 21, resulting in a 3-year age difference.
It is worth noting that many of the more recent live-action Disney movies have addressed the age differences by casting older actresses as the princesses, thereby reducing the age gap with their love interests. Additionally, some modern and unofficial Disney princesses, such as Elsa and Moana, do not have a love interest, with their stories focusing on sisterhood and self-discovery instead.
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Prince Charming is not the oldest Disney prince
While the exact age of Prince Charming from Sleeping Beauty is unclear, estimates place him at around 19-21 years old. This makes him younger than several other Disney princes, including Prince Phillip from Brave, who is 24 years old, and Prince Adam from Beauty and the Beast, who is estimated to be 21 years old.
In fact, the age gap between Disney princesses and their princes has been a topic of discussion and controversy. Some of the largest age gaps include the 17-year difference between Snow White, who is thought to be 14, and her prince, who is thought to be 31. Hercules and Meg have a similar age gap, with Hercules estimated to be 18 and Meg 28.
Another notable age difference is between Rapunzel and Flynn Rider from Tangled, with an eight-year gap between the characters, as well as Mulan and Li Shang, with an estimated 7-10 year gap. These age differences have been criticized as being uncomfortable and problematic, especially considering the young ages of some of the princesses.
While Prince Charming's age may not be the oldest, the exact ages of Disney princes are often flexible or unclear, and they often appear older based on their roles in their kingdoms. Additionally, many of the fairytales that Disney adapts were written at a time when young teenage girls often got married, which has influenced the ages of the characters.
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Disney princesses are often minors
Disney has been criticised for featuring princes who are often significantly older than the princesses, many of whom are minors. In "Sleeping Beauty", for example, Princess Aurora is 16, while Prince Phillip is 19 or 20. In "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", Snow White is thought to be 14, and the Prince is thought to be 18 or 31. In "The Little Mermaid", Ariel is 16, and Prince Eric is 18. In "Aladdin", Jasmine is 15, and Aladdin is 18. In "Pocahontas", Pocahontas is 18, and John Smith is 20 or 22. In "Mulan", Mulan is 16, and Li Shang is estimated to be between 23 and 26. In "Beauty and the Beast", Belle is 17, and Prince Adam is 21. In "Cinderella", Cinderella is 19, and Prince Charming is 20 or 21. In "Frozen", Anna is 18, and Kristoff is 21.
While the ages of Disney princesses and princes are sometimes explicitly stated, they are often estimated by viewers, and in some cases, the ages are left ambiguous. The large age gaps between some Disney couples have become a talking point, with some viewers expressing discomfort at the age differences, particularly when one of the characters is a minor.
In recent years, Disney has moved away from traditional fairytale romance storylines, and many modern and unofficial Disney princesses do not have a love interest at all. For example, Elsa and Moana's stories focus on sisterhood and self-discovery. Additionally, some live-action Disney movies have cast older actresses as the princesses, addressing the harsh realities of the princesses' ages in the animated films.
While the age differences between Disney couples have been a source of controversy, it is important to note that the fairytales on which the Disney princesses are based were written at a time when young teenage girls often got married. As a result, the original characters were much younger than modern audiences would expect.
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Disney has been criticised for large age gaps
Disney has also been criticised for age gaps between actors in relationships on screen. In "Boy Meets World", Angela and Shawn shared intense makeout scenes despite the actors having a 10-year age gap, with Rider Strong being 17 and Trina McGee being 28. In "Another Cinderella Story", Selena Gomez was 15 while Drew Seeley was 26, and the two shared an onscreen kiss.
In "Sleeping Beauty", Aurora is betrothed to Phillip since her birth. While there are conflicting reports of their ages, with one source stating that Aurora was 16 and Phillip was 20, and another stating that Phillip was 24, there is still a notable age gap.
While some of these age differences may not seem like a lot, it is important to consider the power dynamics and life stage differences that these gaps can entail. Additionally, the normalisation of age gaps in media can influence viewers' perceptions of what is acceptable in relationships.
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Frequently asked questions
The age of Prince Charming from Sleeping Beauty is unclear. However, it is estimated that he is between 19 and 21 years old.
The oldest Disney prince is Prince Dorian from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, who is thought to be 31 years old.
The couple with the biggest age gap is Milo and Kida from Atlantis: The Lost Empire. Milo is 32, while Kida is between 8500 and 8800 years old, resulting in an age gap of between 8468 and 8768 years.
