What you don't know about Disney princesses





Disney's "Cinderella" is riding high at the box office, and Belle is primed for a 2017 resurgence, but not every Disney heroine with a crown gets to be an official princess.In fact, the rules for that 15-year-old club are as exclusive as they are confusing. Here's everything you need to know about the young women who occupy one of Disney's most lucrative franchises. Jonathan Olley/Disney/AP 1/17 Wearing the Disney crown Disney's "Cinderella" is riding high at the box office, and Belle is primed for a 2017 resurgence, but not every Disney heroine with a crown gets to be an official princess. In fact, the rules for that 15-year-old club are as exclusive as they are confusing. Here's everything you need to know about the young women who occupy one of Disney's most lucrative franchises. Credit: Jonathan Olley/Disney/AP

Since 2000, Disney princesses are now, technically, their own franchises, marketed separately from the films that spawned them. Not every princess from a Disney film or TV show is an official member of the princess franchise. And at least one official Disney princess isn’t even royal. Disney/AP 2/17 Exclusive list Since 2000, Disney princesses are now, technically, their own franchises, marketed separately from the films that spawned them. Not every princess from a Disney film or TV show is an official member of the princess franchise. And at least one official Disney princess isn’t even royal. Credit: Disney/AP

The original characters to be officially crowned Disney princesses were Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, and Peter Pan fairy, Tinker Bell. Gene Duncan/Disney/Getty Images 3/17 Nine originals The original characters to be officially crowned Disney princesses were Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, and Peter Pan fairy, Tinker Bell. Credit: Gene Duncan/Disney/Getty Images

Each princess has her own official number in the Disney franchise lineup. Snow White is the first and original Disney princess, followed by Cinderella and Aurora, in that order. Buena Vista Home Entertainment/PRNewsFoto 4/17 Roll call Each princess has her own official number in the Disney franchise lineup. Snow White is the first and original Disney princess, followed by Cinderella and Aurora, in that order. Credit: Buena Vista Home Entertainment/PRNewsFoto

Tinker Bell enjoyed only a brief reign as an official princess before abdicating. She’s now part of a separate Disney Fairies franchise started in 2005. (Another consolation prize: A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010.) Damian Dovargane/AP 5/17 Demoted princess Tinker Bell enjoyed only a brief reign as an official princess before abdicating. She’s now part of a separate Disney Fairies franchise started in 2005. (Another consolation prize: A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010.) Credit: Damian Dovargane/AP

After Tinker Bell left her throne, she was replaced by Tiana, heroine of 2009’s "The Princess and the Frog." Disney/AP 6/17 Apt replacement After Tinker Bell left her throne, she was replaced by Tiana, heroine of 2009’s "The Princess and the Frog." Credit: Disney/AP

Tiana’s ascension was celebrated in lavish coronation at the New York Palace Hotel in 2010. Jemal Countess/Getty Images 7/17 Pomp and circumstance Tiana’s ascension was celebrated in lavish coronation at the New York Palace Hotel in 2010. Credit: Jemal Countess/Getty Images

All of the original Disney princesses are royal by blood, or have married into royalty, except for one: Mulan. Walt Dinsey Pictures/AP 8/17 One commoner All of the original Disney princesses are royal by blood, or have married into royalty, except for one: Mulan. Credit: Walt Dinsey Pictures/AP

In 2011, Rapunzel joined the official Disney princess lineup. Though her 2010 film "Tangled" had CGI effects, she looks more like a traditional cartoon in official princess merchandising. Disney Enterprises, Inc./AP 9/17 CGI princess In 2011, Rapunzel joined the official Disney princess lineup. Though her 2010 film "Tangled" had CGI effects, she looks more like a traditional cartoon in official princess merchandising. Credit: Disney Enterprises, Inc./AP

Though she’s based on a German fairy tale, Rapunzel enjoyed her official Disney coronation in high British style at Kensington Palace, now the official home of Prince William and Kate of Cambridge. Martyn Hayhow/AFP/Getty Images 10/17 Royal connections Though she’s based on a German fairy tale, Rapunzel enjoyed her official Disney coronation in high British style at Kensington Palace, now the official home of Prince William and Kate of Cambridge. Credit: Martyn Hayhow/AFP/Getty Images

Disney’s first official princess from the Pixar film lineup is Merida. The heroine from "Brave" made the list in 2013, a year after her film debuted. Disney/Pixar/AP 11/17 Pixar princess Disney’s first official princess from the Pixar film lineup is Merida. The heroine from "Brave" made the list in 2013, a year after her film debuted. Credit: Disney/Pixar/AP

The main character from the Disney TV series "Sofia the First" is definitely royal … but Disney does not list her as an official princess. Disney Junior/AP 12/17 No Sofia? The main character from the Disney TV series "Sofia the First" is definitely royal … but Disney does not list her as an official princess. Credit: Disney Junior/AP

In any official Disney image showing more than one princess, none of royal women ever make eye contact with each other, in an attempt to keep their individual mythologies separate. Jemal Countess/Getty Images 13/17 No eye contact In any official Disney image showing more than one princess, none of royal women ever make eye contact with each other, in an attempt to keep their individual mythologies separate. Credit: Jemal Countess/Getty Images

Neither Elsa nor Anna, from the mega-smash 2013 film "Frozen," is an official part of the Disney princess franchise. Disney/AP 14/17 Notable exceptions Neither Elsa nor Anna, from the mega-smash 2013 film "Frozen," is an official part of the Disney princess franchise. Credit: Disney/AP

A report in the Orlando Sentinel predicted that Elsa and Anna would be coronated in 2014, but the ceremony never happened. Could 2015 be their year? Toru Yamanaka/AFP/Getty 15/17 Overdue? A report in the Orlando Sentinel predicted that Elsa and Anna would be coronated in 2014, but the ceremony never happened. Could 2015 be their year? Credit: Toru Yamanaka/AFP/Getty

If Elsa is officially crowned as a Disney princess, she’ll be the first inspired by what is arguably an evil character. The original "Snow Queen" was supposed to be a villain in "Frozen" before her character was softened. Disney/AP 16/17 An "evil" edition? If Elsa is officially crowned as a Disney princess, she’ll be the first inspired by what is arguably an evil character. The original "Snow Queen" was supposed to be a villain in "Frozen" before her character was softened. Credit: Disney/AP