Miya Pearson
In Disney's Sleeping Beauty, Princess Aurora is 16 years old, and her love interest, Prince Phillip, is 19 or 20 years old. This age gap is considered problematic by modern standards, as Aurora is a minor and the couple has little to no interaction before getting together. Disney has been criticised for featuring princes who are significantly older than the princesses, with the largest age gap being over 1000 years in Atlantis: The Lost Empire. However, in recent live-action Disney movies, the princesses tend to be older, and the focus has shifted from finding romance to self-discovery and sisterhood.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Princess in Sleeping Beauty | Aurora |
| Age of Princess Aurora | 16 years old |
| Name of Prince in Sleeping Beauty | Phillip |
| Age of Prince Phillip | 19-20 years old |
| Other Name of Prince in Sleeping Beauty | Florian |
| Age Gap between Princess Aurora and Prince Florian | 2 years |
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What You'll Learn
Aurora is 16 years old in Disney's Sleeping Beauty
Aurora, also known as Sleeping Beauty or Briar Rose, is 16 years old in Disney's 1959 animated film Sleeping Beauty. The film is based on Charles Perrault's 1697 fairy tale of the same name. In the film, Aurora is cursed by the evil fairy Maleficent to die from pricking her finger on a spinning wheel's spindle before sunset on her sixteenth birthday. However, one of the three good fairies, Merryweather, alters the curse so that Aurora will only fall into a deep sleep until she is awakened by true love's kiss.
To protect Aurora from Maleficent, the three fairies raise her as a peasant in a secluded cottage under the alias Briar Rose until her sixteenth birthday arrives. On her sixteenth birthday, Aurora meets a handsome man in the forest, unaware that he is actually Prince Phillip, to whom she has been betrothed since infancy. The two fall in love, but the fairies reveal Aurora's true identity to her and forbid her from seeing the prince.
Aurora's character has been recognised for her beauty and fashion, with her hairstyle and dresses ranked among Disney's best. The character's refined design was inspired by actress Audrey Hepburn's slender physique and graceful demeanour. Aurora's voice actress, Mary Costa, was almost not cast due to her strong Southern accent, but she proved that she could sustain a British accent for the role.
Aurora's story was retold from the villain's perspective in the 2014 live-action film Maleficent, where she is portrayed by Elle Fanning. In this version, Maleficent herself raises Aurora covertly, and the two develop a bond as Aurora regards her as her fairy godmother.
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Prince Phillip is 19 or 20 years old
In the story of Sleeping Beauty, the ages of the central characters, particularly the prince and princess, have been a subject of discussion and interpretation. While the exact ages are not explicitly stated in the original fairy tale by Charles Perrault and the Grimm Brothers, and vary across different versions and adaptations, one common interpretation places Prince Phillip's age around 19 or 20 years old.
Supporting this interpretation, several factors come into play. Firstly, in the context of the story's setting, reaching adulthood and marrying at a younger age was typical. Princes and princesses were often expected to marry and assume royal duties in their late teens or early twenties. This aligns with the idea of Prince Phillip being around 19 or 20, reflecting the societal norms of the time.
Additionally, the story's narrative arc suggests a sense of youth and innocence associated with both Sleeping Beauty and Prince Phillip. They are often portrayed as young, vibrant, and full of life, embarking on their journey of love and adventure. This portrayal aligns with the idea of them being in their late teens or very early twenties, capturing the essence of youthful romance and the magic of fairy tales.
The physical appearances and characteristics of the characters also play a role in shaping the perception of their ages. Sleeping Beauty is often described as a beautiful young woman, emphasizing her youth and innocence. Prince Phillip, likewise, is typically portrayed as handsome and youthful, with a sense of vigor and energy befitting someone in their late teen years or very early twenties.
Furthermore, the story's themes and messages are often interpreted as reflecting coming-of-age narratives. Sleeping Beauty's journey involves a transition from youth to adulthood, marked by her magical slumber and eventual awakening. Prince Phillip's role as the brave and valiant prince who rescues her can be seen as a traditional fairy-tale depiction of a young man proving his worth and embracing adulthood.
Ultimately, while the exact ages of Sleeping Beauty and Prince Phillip may vary across different interpretations and adaptations, placing Prince Phillip's age at 19 or 20 captures the spirit of the story. It aligns with the societal norms of the setting, reflects the youthful themes and narrative arc, and emphasizes the innocence and vigor associated with these beloved fairy-tale characters.
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The original fairytale is much darker, especially considering her age
The tale of Sleeping Beauty, or Princess Aurora, is a classic Disney story based on the original Grimm's fairytale. While the Disney version portrays Aurora as a sheltered 16-year-old princess, the original fairytale is much darker, especially considering her age.
In the Grimm's version, Aurora is sent to live with fairies in the woods to protect her from the prophecy of Maleficent's curse. Despite these efforts, the curse comes to pass, and Aurora falls into a deep sleep on her 16th birthday. This age is significant, as it highlights the vulnerability and innocence of Aurora, who has spent most of her life sheltered from the outside world.
The original fairytale, with its focus on a young teenage girl, takes on a darker tone. Aurora's age is a crucial element that adds to the sense of peril and vulnerability in the story. Being under a sleeping curse for years is far more ominous when considering the young age at which it occurred.
Additionally, the age difference between Aurora and her prince is worth noting. In the Disney version, Prince Phillip is only a few years older than Aurora, which is still considered problematic by modern standards. However, in the original fairytale, the age gap between princesses and their princes was often more significant. This aspect adds a layer of complexity to the story, as it raises questions about power dynamics and consent, especially when considering the age and life experience of the characters.
The Grimm's version of Sleeping Beauty, with its emphasis on Aurora's youth, underscores the darker themes of vulnerability, isolation, and the potential dangers that come with being sheltered from the world. While the Disney adaptation lightens these aspects, the original fairytale serves as a reminder that sometimes, the original stories are much more unsettling than their modern interpretations.
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Disney princesses are often much younger than expected
The age gap between Disney princesses and their love interests has also been a topic of discussion. While some princesses, like Ariel and Belle, have smaller age gaps with their princes, others have larger gaps. For example, in Tangled, Rapunzel is about to turn 18, while Flynn Rider is 26 years old, creating an eight-year difference that has been criticised as problematic. Similarly, in Mulan, the estimated age difference between Mulan and Li Shang is between seven and ten years, which has also been called out as uncomfortable.
Disney has been controversial for featuring princes who are often significantly older than the princesses. However, in one case, the unofficial Disney Princess Kida from Atlantis: The Lost Empire is over 8,000 years older than her love interest, Milo. While this large age gap is an outlier, it highlights the flexibility of character ages in Disney movies.
In recent years, Disney has been moving away from traditional fairytale romance storylines and towards more modern and unofficial Disney princesses who do not have love interests. For example, Elsa and Moana's stories focus more on sisterhood and self-discovery. Additionally, live-action Disney movies have addressed the harsh realities of princess ages by casting older actresses, even if the original characters were younger.
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The age gaps between Disney princesses and princes are controversial
The age gaps between Disney princesses and princes have been a topic of controversy, with many viewers expressing discomfort at the large age differences between certain couples. In the original fairy tales that inspired Disney, young teenage girls getting married was common, which is reflected in the ages of some princesses, such as Snow White, who was only 14. However, modern audiences often find these age gaps problematic, especially when coupled with the sheltered backgrounds of some princesses, like Rapunzel.
In Sleeping Beauty, Princess Aurora is 16 years old, and her love interest, Prince Phillip, is estimated to be between 19 and 20. While this age gap of around three to four years is not as pronounced as in some other Disney couples, it has still been criticised as problematic, given Aurora's status as a minor. Additionally, Aurora's innocence and the fact that she was sheltered from the outside world by her family have been highlighted as factors that make her young age and subsequent curse to sleep forever particularly dark and troubling.
The age gap between Rapunzel and Eugene (also known as Flynn Rider) in Tangled is one of the most controversial, with an eight-year difference between the characters. In the movie, Rapunzel is 18, while Eugene is 26, and viewers have noted that this age gap is made more uncomfortable by Rapunzel's sheltered upbringing and lack of male role models in her life. Similarly, the estimated seven to ten-year age gap between Mulan (16) and Li Shang (23-26) has been criticised as "the worst by modern standards".
While some Disney couples have relatively small age differences, such as Cinderella and Prince Charming (a difference of up to two years) or Pocahontas and John Smith (one year), the trend of older princes is prevalent. This has led to discussions about Disney's reluctance to confirm the ages of some characters and their efforts to address these issues in more recent live-action adaptations by casting older actresses and reducing the focus on traditional romance storylines.
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Frequently asked questions
Princess Aurora is 16 years old in Disney's Sleeping Beauty.
Prince Phillip is 19 or 20 years old, only a few years older than Aurora.
Yes, several Disney princesses have significant age gaps with their princes. For example, Rapunzel is about to turn 18 in Tangled, while Flynn Rider is 26. Similarly, in Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Milo is about 32, and Kida is estimated to be between 8500 and 8800 years old, resulting in an age gap of over 8000 years.
Many Disney movies are based on fairytales written at a time when young teenage girls often got married. As a result, the characters that the original Disney Princesses were based on were much younger than modern audiences would expect. Additionally, Disney movies tend to focus on the princesses, making the prince's age flexible or unclear, and often they appear older based on their roles in their kingdoms.
