Princess

Anita Anand and her guests explore princesses - delving into their favourite fictional, or historical, princess. From She Ra to Mesopatamian high priestess Enheduanna we get into what it means to be a princess.

Actor Paterson Jospeh and Egyptologist and author Dr Colleen Darnell in conversation with Anita Anand. Paterson brings Egyptian princess Hatshepsut to the table and Dr Colleen Darnell explains her incredible, and mysterious, legacy. Hatshepsut rose from princess, to rule as regent to finally rule as Pharaoh alongside Thutmose III for two decades. But twenty years after her death there were efforts to forcibly remove her name from history...

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Anita Anand in conversation with actor Meera Syal and Professor Keira Vaclavik, Professor of Children’s Literature and Childhood Culture, Queen Mary University of London. Meera brings Babette Cole's literary creation, Princess Smartypants as her favourite princess. The subversive lead character who puts prospective princes through their paces before inadvertently turning her future husband into a toad. Meera discusses the princesses of her childhood and how Princess Smartypants was the perfect role model for her daughter.

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Anita Anand in conversation with MP Stella Creasy and folklorist Dr Juliette Wood. It's back to Disney to get into the origins of Elsa from Frozen. We hear which elements Disney borrowed from Hans Christian Andersen's Snow Queen, and how Disney is changing how it does princesses.

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Anita Anand in conversation with comedian Rachel Fairburn and historian and biographer Flora Fraser, on Caroline of Brunswick. The princess roped into a bigamous marriage with Prince George, a relationship that quickly dissolved into a very public feud. Scandal and affairs from all parties ensue, and Caroline is left hammering on the door of Westminster Abbey as her husband is crowned King.

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Anita Anand hears about a mysterious Mongolian princess with author Kate Mosse and Professor David Sneath. Khutulun was the granddaughter of Genghis Khan, a warrior who her ruling father chose to have by his side. She is also rumoured to have refused any suitors who couldn't best her in a wrestling match.

Producer: Ailsa Rochester

Anita Anand explores the life and career of Grace Kelly with TV presenter and author Georgia Toffolo and financial expert Gemma Godfrey. We hear how Grace Kelly had to raise her own, enormous, dowry to become princess of Monaco, how becoming royalty forced her to abandon acting, and the mystery of where her money after she died.

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Anita Anand in conversation with comedian Russell Kane and UCLA animation lecturer and critic Charles Solomon, on Disney princess Moana. The Polynesian daughter of a village chief who tussles with ancient gods, and demigods to restore the health of her island. We hear about Disney's new direction for its iconic princesses and Russell explains why Moana is his daughter's idol.

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Anita Anand explores the story of Sophia Duleep Singh; the daughter of a deposed Maharaja, goddaughter of Queen Victoria and a suffragette on the frontline of some of the most violent battles for women's rights. Anita Anand discusses her remarkable life with Actor Anjli Mohindra and Dr Priya Atwal.

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TV presenter Maddie Moate and author and lecturer Dr Rebecca Harrison explore the princess that changed sci fi - Princess Leia. The princess who was also a general and a member of the Rebel Alliance. We hear about the origin of her iconic hair style, how she persuaded studios that women would watch science fiction movies and the battles Carrie fisher had with the studio.

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