A Real Princess

A Real Princess is a delightful play script based on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale, The Princess and the Pea. On a stormy night, a mysterious young woman arrives at the palace claiming to be a princess. The Queen, cautious and wise, decides to put her to the ultimate test — a single pea hidden beneath twenty mattresses. With humor, suspense, and a clever twist, this version of A Real Princess explores honesty, authenticity, and the search for true love. Perfect for classroom or school performances, it offers children a fun and engaging way to learn the timeless value of being genuine.

CHARACTERS:

PRINCESS
QUEEN
PRINCE
MAIDEN

Script:

Setting: At the Palace

ACT 1 – IN LIVING ROOM

(The Prince is staring out the window, looking dejected. The Queen enters and puts a hand on his shoulder.)

QUEEN: Still lost in thought, my dear son?

PRINCE: (Sighs, not looking at her) I’ve traveled the world, Mother. I’ve met a hundred charming, beautiful women, all claiming to be princesses, but none of them… felt right. I want to get married, but I can’t find her.

QUEEN: I know, dear. The world is full of posers. They all look the part, but they lack that certain something — that authentic delicacy.

PRINCE: (Turns slowly toward her, with frustration) That’s exactly what troubles me, Mother. Everywhere I go, people wear masks. They show smiles that don’t reach their eyes, and sweet words that turn false. I don’t want a crown without truth. I want someone real — someone whose heart is honest, not just their title.

QUEEN: (Softly) Then your search is noble. Meanwhile, you must stay here. It’s going to be a harsh winter, and tonight the weather is absolutely terrible.

PRINCE: I hope the storm doesn’t do a lot of damage. I’m praying my people stay safe at home. The wind is howling, the thunder is rumbling overhead, and lightning is tearing the sky apart.

(A loud, frantic knock at the door.)

QUEEN: Who on earth could it be at this hour?

PRINCE: Whoever it is must be completely soaked. (He opens the door. The Princess stands there, shivering, her clothes and hair dripping wet.) Who are you? What are you doing out in this storm?

PRINCESS: I am a princess. Please, you must help me. I am so wet and so cold!

QUEEN: (Rushing to her side) Oh, you poor, poor girl! Come inside immediately!

PRINCE: Please, come in.

PRINCESS: You have to believe me. I am a princess!

QUEEN: We believe you, dear. Now come near the fire.

PRINCE: I didn’t see your carriage. How did you get here?

PRINCESS: It’s a long story, but I’d rather not talk about it right now.

PRINCE: Of course. You’re right.

QUEEN: You need to rest and change your clothes. Get near the chimney to warm up. A maiden will be with you in a few minutes.

PRINCESS: Thank you. I really appreciate your kindness.

(The Princess moves to the chimney, shivering. The Queen approaches the Prince, whispering conspiratorially.)

QUEEN: She says she’s a princess. There is only one way to find out if she’s telling us the truth.

PRINCE: How? She’s so beautiful… Mother, I think I’m in love with her!

QUEEN: You’ll see. (She rings a small bell. A Maiden enters and bows.) I want you to go to our guest room and place a single pea on the bed. Then, find twenty mattresses and stack them on top of it.

PRINCE: Why are you doing this?

QUEEN: Real princesses are very sensitive, my love. If she’s a true princess, she’ll feel the pea right through all twenty mattresses. (To the Maiden, her voice firm.) Don’t just stand there, do what I told you.

MAIDEN: Yes, your majesty. (She exits.)

(The Princess approaches them.)

PRINCESS: I’m so tired, I could fall asleep right now.

QUEEN: Your bed is ready, and I’m sure you’ll have a good night’s sleep. My maiden will take you to your room. (She rings the bell again. The Maiden enters.)

MAIDEN: Yes, your majesty.

QUEEN: Take the princess to her room.

MAIDEN: (To the Princess) Please, follow me.

QUEEN: (To the Princess) Rest well, my dear. We’ll see you in the morning.

PRINCESS: Thank you. Good night.

PRINCE: Have pleasant dreams.

(The Maiden and the Princess leave. The Queen and Prince exit the stage.)

ACT 2 – IN THE PRINCESS’S BEDROOM

(The Princess and the Maiden are standing near a ridiculously tall bed made of mattresses. The Princess stares at it, dumbfounded.)

PRINCESS: What in the world is this? A pile of mattresses?

MAIDEN: I don’t know. I was just following orders.

PRINCESS: Orders from whom?

MAIDEN: I can’t say! I’m sorry! (Glances around quickly, lowering her voice) If anyone asks, I never said a word.

PRINCESS: This is the strangest thing I’ve ever seen. How many mattresses are there?

MAIDEN: Twenty.

PRINCESS: Twenty?! This is ridiculous! And how am I supposed to climb onto it?

MAIDEN: I could bring you a ladder … unless you’d rather grow wings.

PRINCESS: Yes, please. I am not sleeping on the floor.

MAIDEN: I’ll be back in a minute. (She exits muttering under her breath.) What a night…

PRINCESS: (To herself) So, this is a test. They don’t believe me.

(The Maiden enters, struggling to carry a ladder, and places it next to the bed.)

MAIDEN: Here it is. I can help you climb if you’d like. (Whispers) Though I wouldn’t want to sleep up there myself.

PRINCESS: That would be wonderful. But first… (She takes off a sparkling diamond necklace and shows it to the Maiden.) Do you like this?

MAIDEN: (Eyes wide, voice trembling) Oh, yes! It’s the most beautiful necklace I’ve ever seen! My family and I… we could live for a year on something like this.

PRINCESS: It can be yours on one condition.

MAIDEN: (Leans in, curious but cautious) What do you need?

PRINCESS: I want to know why there are so many mattresses on this bed. If you tell me the truth, you can keep the necklace, and no one will ever know.

MAIDEN: (Looks both ways nervously) Do you promise?

PRINCESS: I promise.

MAIDEN: (Hesitates, then blurts out) Well… all right. The queen told me to place a single pea on the bed, and then lay twenty mattresses on top of it.

PRINCESS: A pea? For what?

MAIDEN: (Shrugs, smirking nervously) The queen said that a real princess would feel it right through all the mattresses. She also said real princesses are very sensitive and delicate.

PRINCESS: So they didn’t believe me!

MAIDEN: (Crosses her arms, nervously glancing at the necklace) No. The queen has seen many women come here and lie. She just wanted to be sure.

PRINCESS: And the prince? Did he agree to this?

MAIDEN: (Quickly, almost whispering) He did. He’s desperate to find a real princess. He’s getting old, you know.

PRINCESS: How old is he?

MAIDEN: He’s nearly forty! Some say that’s old, but I say it’s wise.

PRINCESS: Well, it doesn’t matter if he’s ten years older than me. I will be his princess… and it’s all thanks to you! (She places the necklace in the Maiden’s hand.) Take it and sell it before they think you stole it from me.

MAIDEN: You’re right. I’ll do it first thing in the morning.

PRINCESS: Help me climb on this thing. I’m truly exhausted. (The Maiden helps the Princess climb the ladder and get into bed.) Tomorrow, I’ll give them the performance of a lifetime.

MAIDEN: Good night.

(The Maiden exits.)

ACT 3 – IN THE DINING ROOM

(The Queen and the Prince are having breakfast. The Princess enters, moving slowly and holding her back, as if in pain.)

PRINCESS: Good morning. (She looks at the food.) Everything looks delicious, and I’m so hungry!

PRINCE: (He stands quickly.) Good morning. Please, join us.

(The Princess and Prince sit.)

QUEEN: How did you sleep, dear?

PRINCESS: (Leaning forward, looking utterly exhausted.) Oh, very badly. I couldn’t close my eyes all night. It felt as if I was sleeping on a tiny, hard lump… a single stone.

QUEEN: Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.

PRINCESS: Heaven knows what was under all those mattresses, but my back is in knots and my whole body aches. I feel bruised all over. It was a terrible night.

PRINCE: (He stands, a look of pure joy on his face.) Then you are a real princess! Nobody but a real princess could be so sensitive and delicate!

QUEEN: That’s right. Only an authentic princess would feel a pea through twenty mattresses.

PRINCESS: So you didn’t trust me?

QUEEN: (A small smile.) We just had to be sure. You have no idea how many women have come here pretending to be princesses. It is a mother’s duty to be certain.

PRINCE: Now I know you are the woman I’ve been looking for. Only a woman so exquisitely sensitive and genuine could be my true princess. (He takes her hand.) Will you marry me? (The Princess stands.)

PRINCESS: (Smiling brightly.) Yes, I will. (They embrace. The Queen smiles proudly.)

QUEEN: Then my son has found both love and truth — what more could a mother wish for?

In the end, the test revealed what words could not. The princess’s honesty and delicate sensitivity proved her true identity, and the prince finally found the love he had been searching for. The Queen, assured of her son’s choice, welcomed the young woman as a true princess. A Real Princess reminds us that no disguise can hide who we truly are, because truth and authenticity always shine through.

The End

Author: K I D S I N C O

Moral: True nobility lies in honesty and authenticity, not in appearances or titles.

Moral Values:

Honesty – Being truthful about who you are.

Wisdom – Using cleverness to uncover the truth.

Patience – Waiting for the right person instead of rushing.

Authenticity – Valuing inner qualities above outward appearances.

Trust – Building relationships on truth and faith.

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