# Princess Irene — The Princess and Curdie character guide > Princess Irene in The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald. **Role:** major **Also known as:** the Princess Irene, Irene **First appearance:** 0001-ii-the-white-pigeon ## Snapshot The king's daughter, who sleeps by day and watches her father by night, whispering courage into his poisoned dreams. ## Who they are Irene has become her father's only nurse, sitting under the lamp to mark every change in his sleeping face and refusing to leave him even to greet the friend her grandmother sent. She is brave but young, and the news that Dr. Kelman is a snake shakes her badly. Her tenderness is the one honest thing left in the palace, and Curdie's task depends on her holding to it. ## Relationships ### [Curdie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/curdie) _friendship_ Curdie and Princess Irene are close allies, with Irene guiding and trusting Curdie on his quest. ### [Lina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/lina) _friendship_ Lina is devoted to Princess Irene, often accompanying and protecting her alongside Curdie. ### [The Doctor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/the_doctor) _professional_ Princess Irene interacts with the Doctor as part of the court, but she distrusts his motives. ### [Dr. Kelman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/dr_kelman) _rivalry_ Dr. Kelman is part of the corrupt faction that seeks to control or harm Princess Irene. ### [Curdie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/curdie) _friendship_ Curdie and Princess Irene are close allies, with Irene guiding and trusting Curdie on his quest. ### [Curdie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/curdie) _friendship_ Curdie and Princess Irene are close allies, with Irene guiding and trusting Curdie on his quest. ### [Lina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/lina) _friendship_ Lina is devoted to Princess Irene, often accompanying and protecting her alongside Curdie. ### [Dr. Kelman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/dr_kelman) _rivalry_ Dr. Kelman is part of the corrupt faction that seeks to control or harm Princess Irene. ### [The Doctor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/the_doctor) _professional_ Princess Irene interacts with the Doctor as part of the court, but she distrusts his motives. ## In the story ### [The Mountain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/i-the-mountain) The king's daughter, who was saved by Curdie and taken away by the king. ### [II: The White Pigeon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/ii-the-white-pigeon) Mentioned in memory; her stories about her great-great-grandmother and the white pigeon are recalled by Curdie, linking her to the current event. ### [VII: What Is in a Name?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/vii-what-is-in-a-name) Referenced as the one who told Curdie that the Lady is her great-great-grandmother. ### [VIII: Curdie's Mission](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/viii-curdie-s-mission) Appears as the lady with the spinning wheel, sings a prophetic song, and gives Curdie his mission and instructions. ### [XI: Lina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xi-lina) Mentioned as the one who promised Curdie a companion, and whose creature Lina is. ### [XIX: The King’s Chamber](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xix-the-king-s-chamber) Now grown, she watches over her father and confides in Curdie about the king's condition. ### [XX: Counterplotting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xx-counterplotting) Shows deep love and care for her father, agrees to help Curdie, and bravely accepts the danger. ### [XXI: The Loaf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxi-the-loaf) Receives the loaf, feeds the king, and tells him about Curdie's arrival. ### [XXII: The Lord Chamberlain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxii-the-lord-chamberlain) Reads to the king, delighted by his improved state. ### [XXIII: Dr. Kelman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxiii-dr-kelman) Sleeps peacefully, trusting Curdie's watch over her father. ### [The Prophecy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxiv-the-prophecy) Tends to the king, listens to Curdie's account, and shares her own story. ### [The Avengers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxv-the-avengers) Stays with the king, expressing fear at the unusual stillness and darkness. ### [Barbara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxix-barbara) Nurses the king and takes turns watching over him. ### [The King's Army](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxxii-the-king-s-army) Rides her white pony among the Uglies, ready to accompany the army into battle. ### [The Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-battle) Watches the battle from her pony, noting the strange behavior of the pigeons. ### [Judgment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxxiv-judgment) Disguised as the housemaid, she reveals her true identity at supper and serves the company in royal purple. ### [The End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxxv-the-end) Now known as Queen Irene, she spends time in the palace and visits the Uglies in the wood. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/princess_irene - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters