# The King — The Princess and the Goblin character guide > The King in The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** the king, King Papa **First appearance:** 0009-x-the-princess-s-king-papa ## Snapshot 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. ## Who they are 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. ## Relationships ### [Princess Irene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/characters/princess_irene) _family_ The King is Irene's loving father, who cares deeply for her safety and well-being despite his frequent absences. ### [Curdie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/characters/curdie) _professional_ Curdie serves the King as a loyal subject and miner, eventually earning his trust and respect through brave deeds. ### [Lootie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/characters/lootie) _professional_ Lootie is a servant to the King, responsible for reporting on Irene's welfare and following his orders. ### [Glump](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/characters/glump) _rivalry_ Glump is a goblin king who plots against the human king, leading his goblin subjects in hostile schemes. ### [Princess Irene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/characters/princess_irene) _family_ The King is Irene's loving father, who cares deeply for her safety and well-being despite his frequent absences. ### [Curdie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/characters/curdie) _professional_ Curdie serves the King as a loyal subject and miner, eventually earning his trust and respect through brave deeds. ### [Princess Irene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/characters/princess_irene) _family_ The King is Irene's loving father, who cares deeply for her safety and well-being despite his frequent absences. ### [Curdie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/characters/curdie) _professional_ Curdie serves the King as a loyal subject and miner, eventually earning his trust and respect through brave deeds. ### [Glump](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/characters/glump) _rivalry_ Glump is a goblin king who plots against the human king, leading his goblin subjects in hostile schemes. ### [Lootie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/characters/lootie) _professional_ Lootie is a servant to the King, responsible for reporting on Irene's welfare and following his orders. ## In the story ### [Why the Princess Has a Story About Her](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/i-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xiii-the-cobs-creatures) The king has left the country house, having appointed gentlemen to watch over the princess. ### [Springtime](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xvii-springtime) Visits Irene, explains the ring's origin, is disturbed by goblin reports, and leaves extra guards. ### [XX: Irene’s Clue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xx-irene-s-clue) Mentioned as 'king-papa' whose troop Irene often watched from the road. ### [The Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xxi-the-escape) Mentioned as Irene's father; she recalls sitting with him in the garden. ### [Curdie Comes to Grief](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xxv-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xxvii-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xxx-the-king-and-the-kiss) Grief-stricken at Irene's disappearance, overjoyed at her return, and grants permission for the kiss. ### [The Subterranean Waters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xxxi-the-subterranean-waters) Trusts Curdie's judgment, leads the evacuation, and offers Curdie a place in his bodyguard, which Curdie declines. ### [The Last Chapter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xxxii-the-last-chapter) His house is flooded and later drained; dead goblins are found inside. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/characters/the_king - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/characters