A Danish prince finds love at a Wisconsin dairy farm in this romantic comedy
In short: In the 2004 film The Prince & Me, a playboy Danish royal trades his crown for a college degree in Wisconsin to escape his responsibilities. He finds an unlikely partner in an ambitious pre-med student, leading to a clash of cultures, royal intrigue, and a test of personal ambition.
Directed by Martha Coolidge and released in 2004, The Prince & Me stars Julia Stiles as Paige Morgan, a focused pre-medical student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her life is upended when Crown Prince Edvard, played by Luke Mably, arrives on campus seeking anonymity. Motivated by a television commercial depicting Wisconsin students, Edvard convinces his parents, King Haraald and Queen Rosalind, to let him study abroad. Accompanied by his majordomo, Søren, the prince attempts to blend in as a regular student named Eddie.
The relationship between Paige and Eddie begins with friction, notably after Eddie makes an inappropriate request at a bar where Paige works. They are later forced to collaborate as lab partners in an organic chemistry class. As they spend time together, their dynamic shifts; Eddie assists Paige with her literature studies, while she introduces him to the realities of American life, including labor on her family's dairy farm. Their romance faces public scrutiny when the Danish tabloid press exposes their relationship, coinciding with news of the King's illness, which forces Edvard to return to Denmark.
The film explores the tension between personal dreams and royal duty. After following Edvard to Copenhagen, Paige initially accepts his marriage proposal. However, she eventually realizes that becoming a queen would require abandoning her long-held goal of practicing medicine in developing nations. She breaks off the engagement to return to her studies. The story concludes with Edvard, now King following his father's abdication, arriving at Paige's graduation to affirm his support for her professional ambitions, promising to wait for her.
Critical reception of the film was mixed. Rotten Tomatoes reports a 29% aggregate score, with critics labeling it a predictable piece of wish fulfillment. Conversely, audiences polled by CinemaScore awarded it a B+. Despite the criticism, the film sparked a franchise, spawning three direct-to-video sequels released between 2006 and 2010, which featured Kam Heskin taking over the role of Paige Morgan.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Prince & Me
- Also: Wikidata — The Prince and Me · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — The Prince & Me · CC0
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