The Princess and the Goblin · Character

The King

Irene's father, a ruler who moves constantly through his dominions so that all his people may know him, and who rides home to a daughter he rarely sees.

supporting

Also known as the king, King Papa

First appearance: X: The Princess’s King-Papa

As a supporting figure in The Princess and the Goblin, The King is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Irene's father, the king of a great country, whose ancestors caused the goblins' expulsion underground.

In the storyWhy the Princess Has a Story About HerOpen this moment free

See The King in Why the Princess Has a Story About Her Book page

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The king keeps no fixed capital, appointing and removing officials as he finds them just or corrupt, and this care for his people is precisely what keeps him away from the princess. He arrives on a great white horse to the sound of a bugle, and Irene saves up her questions for him, including the one about her ring. His absences and returns frame the story's sense of a world larger than the nursery, and his vigilance is the reason the goblins have not yet overrun the mountain.

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See The King in X: The Princess’s King-Papa

Character Web

11 connections

A slice of how The King sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Family
Professional
Rivalry
Other

Character groups

Human Royal Household
Protagonist
Goblins and Miners

+6 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

In this scene, the emotional and psychological peak occurs when Princess Irene, despite being confronted by an…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Princess Irene
family · positive
The King is Irene's loving father, who cares deeply for her safety and well-being despite… How this plays out →
Curdie
professional · positive
Lootie
professional · positive
Glump
rivalry · negative
Princess Irene
family · positive
The King is Irene's loving father, who cares deeply for her safety and well-being despite… How this plays out →
Curdie
professional · positive
Princess Irene
family · positive
The King is Irene's loving father, who cares deeply for her safety and well-being despite… How this plays out →
Curdie
professional · positive
Glump
rivalry · negative
Lootie
professional · positive

Princess Irene
The King is Irene's loving father, who cares deeply for her safety and well-being despite his frequent absences.
Curdie
Curdie serves the King as a loyal subject and miner, eventually earning his trust and respect through brave deeds.
Lootie
Lootie is a servant to the King, responsible for reporting on Irene's welfare and following his orders.
Glump
Glump is a goblin king who plots against the human king, leading his goblin subjects in hostile schemes.
Princess Irene
The King is Irene's loving father, who cares deeply for her safety and well-being despite his frequent absences.
Curdie
Curdie serves the King as a loyal subject and miner, eventually earning his trust and respect through brave deeds.
Princess Irene
The King is Irene's loving father, who cares deeply for her safety and well-being despite his frequent absences.
Curdie
Curdie serves the King as a loyal subject and miner, eventually earning his trust and respect through brave deeds.
Glump
Glump is a goblin king who plots against the human king, leading his goblin subjects in hostile schemes.
Lootie
Lootie is a servant to the King, responsible for reporting on Irene's welfare and following his orders.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See The King in X: The Princess’s King-Papa

In the story

The King appears across 11 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Why the Princess Has a Story About Her
Irene's father, the king of a great country, whose ancestors caused the goblins' expulsion underground.
X: The Princess’s King-Papa
Visits Irene, listens to her story about the old lady in the tower, and takes precautions by leaving guards after learning of her late evening outing.
XIII: The Cobs’ Creatures
The king has left the country house, having appointed gentlemen to watch over the princess.
Springtime
Visits Irene, explains the ring's origin, is disturbed by goblin reports, and leaves extra guards.
XX: Irene’s Clue
Mentioned as 'king-papa' whose troop Irene often watched from the road.
The Escape
Mentioned as Irene's father; she recalls sitting with him in the garden.
Curdie Comes to Grief
Mentioned as being away in a distant part of his dominions during these events.
The Goblins in the King’s House
Sits on the captain's head during the attack; later flees with the queen.
The King and the Kiss
Grief-stricken at Irene's disappearance, overjoyed at her return, and grants permission for the kiss.
The Subterranean Waters
Trusts Curdie's judgment, leads the evacuation, and offers Curdie a place in his bodyguard, which Curdie declines.
The Last Chapter
His house is flooded and later drained; dead goblins are found inside.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for The King unlock in the free preview.

See The King in X: The Princess’s King-Papa

See The King in Why the Princess Has a Story About Her