Here in the United States, our experience with royalty is far different than our European counterparts. In the contemporary United States, we often refer to our iconic celebrities as royalty—The Kennedys, Beyonce, Elvis— but there was a time when the designated rulers of a kingdom held the imaginations of the common people in magical, mythical ways. Today, we’re going to explore the ways the infamous Brothers Grimm examined the ruling classes through three fairy tales. Stories included in this episode:

The Queen Bee

Did you know that a queen bee may lay anwhere between 600 to 1,500 eggs each during her three- or four-year lifetime? This Grimm's fairy tale is Aarne-Thompson type 554, regarding grateful animals. The Storycrafters give this tale a jazz-like feel. Find more of The Storycrafters at www.storycrafters.com

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

The Brothers Grimm learned this tale from their friends, the Haxthausens, who heard the tale in Munster. Megan Hicks shares this version of the classic tale. Visit her website at www.meganhicks.com

The Frog Prince

Other titles for The Frog Prince: Der Froschkönig oder der eiserne Heinrich, The Frog King, or The Iron Heinreich. This tale falls under the category Aarne-Thompson type 440, “about slimy suitors.” Tim Ereneta is a storyteller based in Berkeley, California and you can visit his website here: www.timereneta.com