On Oct. 2, Disney officially welcomed Rapunzel, of the animated movie “Tangled” as the 10th Disney Princess. The grand celebration took place at Kensington Palace in London and was enjoyed by a global audience.
Rapunzel’s Royal Celebration, as Disney called the event, began with a procession of the Disney Princesses through Kensington Gardens. The Disney Princesses – Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Mulan, Pocahontas, Snow White and Tiana in addition to Rapunzel – arrived in horse-drawn carriages. An estimated more than 10,000 Disney fans watched the processional.
Kensington Palace, in a world first, was the site for the official welcoming ceremony. Rapunzel was officially coronated as a Disney Princess by Fairy Godmother and Flynn Rider, her companion from the film.
View a photo gallery of the Disney Princess event or a watch highlights video for Rapunzel’s Royal Celebration.
Other members of the Disney Princess royal court were there to witness the event and welcome its newest member. Emerging British teen star Shannon Saunders also sang “The Glow,” the new signature them for the Disney Princess royal court, as part of the welcoming ceremony.
“Rapunzel’s royal celebration at Kensington Palace was truly a meaningful and important event in the history of Disney Princess,” said Bob Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. “Since the release of ‘Tangled,’ Princess Rapunzel’s inquisitive and energetic personality has filled the hearts and homes of little girls around the world.”
Kensington Palace was an especially appropriate location, as it has been a residence of the British Royal Family since the 17th century and is famously associated with real-life princesses.
Rapunzel’s Royal Celebration, attended both celebrities and more than 100 little princess from over 25 countries, reflects the wide appeal of the Disney Princesses.
Celebrities who attended Sunday’s event included Nicole Richie with husband Joel Madden and their son and daughter, from the United States; Peter Andre, Helen McCrory and Damian Lewis, from the UK, Ticiane Pinheiro Justus from Brazil; from Italy, Laura Chiatti from Italy.
The little princess participated in the day’s festivities, witnessing Rapunzel’s crowning and dressing as their favorite Disney Princess. The day’s celebration continued into the afternoon with family-friendly activities, from lantern making to storytelling.
“Today’s celebration was vibrant, energetic and fun, just like our newest addition to the Disney Princess family herself,” said Anne Gates, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Disney Consumer Products. “Girls everywhere have admired Princess Rapunzel for her curiosity and imagination and now they can continue to celebrate her strengths and story with her induction into the Disney Princess royal court.”
To mark the event, Disney also featured a range of new Disney Princess products, including an Apple ipad app Disney Princess: A Royal Party.
Update, Oct. 3: And Rapunzel’s adventures in London continue. She will be in the Disney Store today in Oxford Street at 4:30 p.m. for an in-store signing.
The day was the culmination for the weeklong Rapunzel’s Royal Celebration, which was documented by Disney Living. To kick off her celebration, Rapunzel arrived in London a week early to do some sightseeing. Each day, she visited a famous London landmark.
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