Story

The Frog Prince: A Royal Promise and a Magical Kiss

14 minAges 5-7

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The story

Introduction

Hello there, my lovely listeners! Are you ready for a truly enchanting tale today? We're going on an adventure to a land far, far away, where castles touch the clouds and the sun always shines. In this wonderful place lives a princess, with hair like spun gold and a favourite ball made of pure sunshine. She loves to play near the ancient well in the palace gardens. But sometimes, even princesses have little mishaps, don't they? And that's exactly where our story begins, with a royal promise, a cheeky little frog, and a very big surprise!

The Princess's Lost Toy and the Frog's Offer

The princess, whose name was Lily, was having a truly wonderful afternoon. The sun was shining brightly, painting golden patterns through the leaves of the ancient oak trees in the palace gardens. Lily loved these gardens more than anything, especially the quiet, mossy corners where the oldest flowers grew. Her favourite thing to do was play with her precious golden ball. It wasn't just any ball; it sparkled and shone, catching the light like a tiny, happy sun itself. She would throw it high into the air, watching it arc against the clear blue sky, then catch it with a little giggle. Whoosh! Up it went, then down into her waiting hands. It was the most perfect game.Today, Lily was playing very close to the old stone well. This well was very, very deep, filled with cool, dark water that reflected the sky like a secret mirror. "Just one more throw!" she thought, her heart thumping with excitement. She tossed the golden ball higher than ever before, a huge, magnificent throw! It soared, shimmering, up, up, up... but then, oh dear! It didn't come down quite right. Instead of landing safely in her hands, it bounced, just once, right on the edge of the well. With a tiny plink, it tumbled over, vanishing into the gloomy depths below.Oh, how Lily’s smile faded! Her beautiful golden ball, gone! Tears welled up in her big blue eyes, and soon, she was sobbing. She knelt by the well, peering into its dark opening, but all she could see was her own reflection, looking very sad indeed. She loved that ball so much. It was her dearest plaything, a gift from her father, the King, on her fifth birthday. How could she possibly get it back? The well was just too deep. She felt a huge lump in her throat, and her little shoulders shook with sorrow.Suddenly, a voice, croaky and a little bit cheeky, bubbled up from the water. "What's the matter, Princess? Why are you weeping so bitterly?" Lily gasped. She looked around, but there was no one there. Who could it be? Then, a little green head, with big, golden eyes, popped out of the well. It was a rather large frog, looking quite pleased with himself, sitting on a lily pad as if it were his own comfy armchair. He blinked at her slowly."Oh!" exclaimed Lily, startled. "It's… it's only you, a frog!""Indeed it is," replied the frog, giving a little jump that made the lily pad wobble. "And I've heard your sniffles all the way down here. Are you crying about your lovely golden ball that just went for a swim?"Lily nodded, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "Yes," she whispered. "It's my favourite, and it's gone. It's too deep for me to reach."The frog cleared his throat with a little ribbit sound. "Well, perhaps I could help you, Princess."Lily looked at him, her eyes wide. "You? A frog? How could you possibly help?""Oh, I'm a very resourceful frog, you see," he croaked, puffing out his throat a little. "I can dive right down to the bottom of this well. It's my home, after all. I know all its secret nooks and crannies. But," he added, his big eyes twinkling, "I can't do it for nothing, can I? A favour for a favour, that's fair play, isn't it?"Lily's heart fluttered with a tiny spark of hope. "What do you want, little frog?" she asked, a little cautiously. She really wanted her ball back, but what could a frog want from a princess?The frog thought for a moment, tilting his head. "Well," he began, "I don't want your jewels, or your pretty dresses, or even a slice of your birthday cake, though I am rather partial to a nice bit of Victoria sponge! What I want is this: if I bring your ball back, you must promise to let me be your companion. You must let me sit with you at your dinner table, eat from your golden plate, and sleep in your own soft bed."Lily stared at him, aghast. "Eat from my plate? Sleep in my bed?" She imagined a slimy green frog sitting opposite her at the grand dining table, perhaps even hopping onto her pillow! It sounded quite revolting, to be honest. But then, she looked back at the dark well, and thought of her sparkling golden ball, all alone at the bottom. She missed it terribly. And a frog's promise, surely that wasn't a real promise, was it? He was just a silly frog! He'd probably just hop away once he'd given her the ball."Oh, come on, Princess," the frog coaxed, seeing her hesitation. "A royal promise is a royal promise, isn't it? If you promise, I'll dive straight down and fetch your ball. If you don't, well, your lovely golden friend will stay right where it is, at the bottom of the well."Lily really, really wanted her ball back. She knew her father, the King, always kept his promises, and taught her to do the same. But this was a frog! Still, her favourite toy was at stake. She took a deep breath. "Alright," she said, her voice a little shaky. "I promise. If you bring me back my golden ball, I promise you can be my companion. You can sit at my table and sleep in my bed." She crossed her fingers behind her back, just in case, though she wasn't entirely sure it would work against a magical frog's promise.The frog's golden eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Excellent!" he croaked. And with a splash, he dove beneath the dark water, vanishing from sight. Lily waited, holding her breath, her heart doing a little thump-thump-thump. Had she done the right thing? Would he really come back? The surface of the well rippled, and for a long moment, there was just silence. She peered anxiously.Then, a moment later, the frog bobbed back up to the surface. And there, held carefully in his mouth, was her beautiful, sparkling golden ball! It was a little damp, but still shining brightly. Lily let out a gasp of delight! She reached out her hand, and the frog gently dropped the ball into her palm. "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" she cried, completely forgetting all about her promise in her joy. She clutched her precious toy to her chest, her tears of sadness now turning into tears of pure happiness. She had her ball back!And with her golden ball safely in her hands once more, the princess, feeling very pleased, skipped away towards the palace. She quite forgot all about the little green frog she had made a promise to. After all, he was just a frog, wasn't he? And what could a little frog really do? She didn't realise that a royal promise, even one made to a frog, was a very important thing indeed. And sometimes, little frogs have very big surprises hidden inside them.

The Unwilling Promise and the Royal Dinner Guest

So, the princess, feeling very pleased that her shiny golden ball was within her grasp once more, nodded quickly to the frog. "Yes, yes, of course, little froggy," she said, with a little giggle. "Whatever you wish! I'll be your friend, share my dinner, and let you sleep on my lovely silk pillow. Just please, please get my ball for me!" She didn't really think he'd actually come and join her, of course. He was a frog! Frogs live in ponds, not in grand castles with princesses. She just wanted her favourite toy back.The little frog, whose name was Frederick, but we'll stick to 'the frog' for now, gave a nod of his head. He looked very serious. Then, with a mighty plop, he dived into the cool, dark water of the well. The princess peered over the edge, holding her breath. It seemed like ages, but then, a little green head popped up! And what do you think he had in his mouth? That's right! Her beautiful, shiny, golden ball!"Hooray!" cheered the princess, clapping her hands. She reached down quickly, snatched her ball from the frog's mouth, and held it tight. "Oh, thank you, thank you, little frog!" she cried, twirling around with delight. Her golden ball was safe and sound! She squeezed it, she polished it on her dress, and she gave it a little kiss.Now, what about the frog? Well, the princess, so overjoyed to have her toy back, completely forgot all about him! She turned on her heel and, holding her precious ball, skipped all the way back to the castle, her silk slippers barely touching the green grass. She was so happy she hummed a little tune, completely forgetting her promise, and the little green creature who had helped her.The frog, left all alone at the edge of the well, blinked slowly with his big, round eyes. He watched the princess disappear into the grand castle. A little sigh escaped his froggy lips. He knew she hadn't meant her promise. He knew she thought he was just a silly old frog. But a promise, especially a royal one, was a promise. And Frederick the frog was a very determined little fellow indeed. He was not one to be forgotten so easily.He sat there for a while, feeling the warm sunshine on his green skin, and thinking. Then, with a determined wiggle of his little froggy bottom, he hopped, hop, hop, all the way to the castle gates. Now, these weren't just any gates. They were massive, made of dark, heavy oak, with sparkly gold decorations. How was a little frog going to get through those?He hopped to the bottom of the wall, looking up, up, up! It was so tall! He saw a little gap, just big enough for a very determined frog. He squeezed and wriggled and pushed, and squelch! He was in the castle courtyard! He looked around. Everything was so big! The cobblestone path felt rough under his little webbed feet. He saw enormous flowerbeds, taller than he was, bursting with colourful roses and fragrant lilies. He saw enormous windows, shining in the afternoon sun.He followed his nose, which led him past the stables where the royal horses snorted gently, past the busy kitchens where delicious smells of roasted chicken and freshly baked bread wafted out. He hopped over a stray biscuit dropped by a scullery maid, and around a busy page boy carrying a tray of sparkling drinks. He was heading straight for the big, fancy doors of the castle itself.Meanwhile, inside the castle, Princess Lily was sitting down to her dinner. The long dining table was absolutely magnificent. It was made of polished dark wood, so shiny you could almost see your reflection in it. It was covered with a crisp white tablecloth, and there were silver plates, sparkling crystal glasses, and proper heavy cutlery laid out for everyone. There were candles flickering softly, making the silver gleam.Her father, the kind and wise King, sat at the head of the table. Her mother, the elegant Queen, sat beside him. Princess Lily sat opposite. Tonight, they were having her absolute favourite meal: roast chicken with crispy potatoes, green peas, and lovely gravy. It smelled absolutely divine! She picked up her fork, ready to take her first bite.Knock, knock, knock!A loud knocking came from the giant oak doors of the dining hall. The King looked up, a little surprised. "Who could that be?" he wondered aloud. He hadn't organised any guests for dinner tonight.The royal footman, a very tall man in a smart red uniform with gold buttons, went to answer the door. He opened it just a tiny crack, peeked out, and then his eyes went wide! He looked back at the King, a rather confused expression on his face."Your Majesty," he announced, his voice a little wobbly. "There is... there is a frog at the door. He says he has come to share dinner with the princess."Princess Lily nearly dropped her fork! A frog? Share dinner? Oh no! It was that frog! She felt a blush creep up her neck and onto her cheeks. She quickly tried to pretend she hadn't heard. She took a big gulp of water from her crystal glass.The King, who always believed in keeping promises, especially royal ones, looked at his daughter with a stern but kind expression. "Lily, my dear, did you make a promise to a frog today?" he asked, his voice calm and steady.Princess Lily squirmed in her grand chair. "Well, Father," she stammered, "I... I sort of did. But it was only to get my golden ball back! It had fallen into the well, and he fetched it for me. I didn't think he'd actually come!" She made a face, imagining a slimy frog sitting next to her beautiful plate of roast chicken. Ugh!The King shook his head gently. "A promise is a promise, Lily, no matter who you make it to. And a royal promise is the most important promise of all. If you promise something, you must always keep your word. Now, go and let your guest in."Princess Lily sighed a very big, dramatic sigh. She knew there was no arguing with her father when he used that voice. Slowly, reluctantly, she got up from the table. She walked to the enormous doors, feeling very sorry for herself. She opened them wider, and there, sitting patiently on the polished marble floor, was the little green frog. He looked up at her with his big, golden eyes."Welcome, little frog," she said, trying to sound polite, but her voice was a bit squeaky. "Please, come in."The frog hopped, hop, hop, right into the dining hall. He hopped past the tall footman, past the flickering candles, and all the way to the long, grand table. The Queen gave a little gasp, but the King just smiled."Come along, little fellow," said the King, with a chuckle. "There's plenty of room at our table."Now, imagine the princess's face! Her eyes went wide. The frog hopped right up to her chair, and then, with a surprising little spring, he jumped onto the table! He hopped past the silver plates and crystal glasses, past the bowl of delicious green peas, and settled himself right in front of Princess Lily's plate!Princess Lily gasped. "Father!" she exclaimed, nearly falling off her chair. "He's on the table! He's going to touch my dinner!" She looked horrified.The King, however, just chuckled. "He's your guest, Lily, and you promised to share your dinner. Now, be a good princess and make him feel welcome. What would you like to share with our little green friend, eh?"The frog just sat there, looking very patient, his big eyes fixed on the princess. He seemed to be waiting. Princess Lily knew she had to obey her father. She really didn't want to, but a royal promise was a royal promise. She picked up a little pea with her fork, very carefully, and offered it to the frog.The frog opened his mouth. Plip! The pea disappeared. He then looked up at her, as if to say, "More, please!"This was going to be the most unusual dinner party the castle had ever seen. And the princess, well, she was about to learn a very important lesson about promises, and about judging others, especially little green frogs with big, golden eyes. She still didn't realise what a truly special guest she had sitting at her royal dinner table, right there amongst the silver and crystal. What do you think will happen next?

The Princess's Anguish and the Magical Kiss

The princess, whose name was Lily, sat at the enormous, polished oak dinner table, her nose a little bit crinkled. The frog, with his big, golden eyes, was sitting right opposite her, on a specially placed velvet cushion so he could reach the table. He looked rather comfortable, actually, but Princess Lily certainly did not. She tried to ignore him, pretending to be very interested in the shimmering crystal glasses and the fancy silver cutlery. But every time she glanced up, there he was, looking at her expectantly. Her Royal Father, the King, cleared his throat. “Lily, my dear,” he said, his voice kind but firm, “You made a promise, remember? A promise to your new friend. And a royal promise is a very important thing, isn't it?” Princess Lily sighed, a very dramatic sigh that made her golden hair bounce a little. “Yes, Papa,” she mumbled, pushing a pea around her plate with her fork. The frog, perhaps sensing his moment, hopped a tiny bit closer to her plate. “Princess,” he croaked, his voice a little bubbly, “I’m awfully hungry. And I do believe you promised I could eat from your golden plate.” Lily's eyes widened. Eat from her golden plate? The one with the lovely royal crest? She looked at her father, hoping for a reprieve. But the King merely nodded. “He’s right, Lily. A promise is a promise. Now, be a good hostess and share your supper.” With a heavy heart and a rather cross face, Princess Lily pushed her plate a little closer to the edge of the table. The frog, without another word, hopped right up onto the rim of the plate and began to nibble at a small, roasted potato. Lily watched him, utterly disgusted. She really didn't think this was fair at all. How could a king make his daughter share her dinner with a slimy, green frog? It felt very unjust. She tried to eat her own food, but every mouthful felt a bit less delicious knowing the frog was right there, munching away. Once supper was finished, and the royal footmen were clearing away the magnificent feast, the frog looked at Princess Lily with those big, earnest golden eyes again. “Princess,” he said, his voice gentle, “I'm feeling quite sleepy now. You also promised I could sleep in your beautiful bed, didn't you?” Princess Lily gasped. Sleep in her bed? Her lovely, soft bed with the silk sheets and the fluffy pillows? The bed where her favourite teddy bear, Barnaby, usually slept? This was completely unacceptable! She imagined him hopping all over her clean linen, perhaps leaving little wet footprints. Oh, no, no, no! “Papa!” she cried, tears welling up in her eyes. “He can’t! He simply can’t sleep in my bed! It’s… it’s a frog! He belongs in the pond, not in my lovely room!” The King, though, remained firm. He looked at his daughter with a serious expression. “Lily, a promise made by a princess is sacred. You made a solemn vow by the wishing well. You must honour it, no matter how much you wish you hadn't. Take your guest to your room.” Princess Lily felt her chin wobble. Big, fat tears started to roll down her cheeks. She really didn't want to. But she knew her father meant business. Slowly, miserably, she scooped up the little green frog. He felt surprisingly light, but still a bit… froggy. She carried him very carefully, keeping him at arm's length, up the winding, carpeted stairs and down the long corridor to her own royal chambers. Her room was usually her favourite place in the whole castle. It had a big window that looked out over the gardens, shelves filled with colourful storybooks, and a little rocking horse named Chestnut. But tonight, it felt like the most dreadful place on earth. She walked over to her four-poster bed, where Barnaby the bear was sitting patiently. “Alright, you,” she mumbled to the frog, a sniffle escaping her. “Here’s my bed. But you are absolutely not going on my pillow.” She placed him, rather unceremoniously, onto the crisp white sheet at the very bottom of the bed, as far away from her as possible. She then quickly climbed into bed herself, pulling the covers right up to her chin, trying to make herself as small as possible. Barnaby looked on, his button eyes seeming to express his sympathy. But the frog had one more request. He hopped a tiny bit closer, his golden eyes fixed on her. “Princess,” he croaked softly, “You said if you rescued my golden ball, you would give me a kiss. A royal kiss, on my green little nose, before I go to sleep.” Lily couldn't believe it. A kiss? On his slimy, froggy nose? This was truly the worst day ever. She squeezed her eyes shut, a fresh wave of tears threatening. She just wanted this whole horrible day to be over. She thought about her golden ball, gleaming at the bottom of the well. She thought about her father’s stern face. She thought about her promise. With a huge, shuddering breath, and a little 'urgh!' noise, Princess Lily leaned forward. She closed her eyes even tighter, puckered her lips, and gave the tiniest, quickest peck she could manage right on the frog’s little green nose. It was over in a flash, barely even a real kiss, more like a brush of air. But the moment her lips touched his skin, something absolutely incredible happened. There was a whoosh, a shimmer, and a tiny burst of sparkling, golden light! Princess Lily quickly opened her eyes, startled. The little green frog was gone! In his place, sitting on her bed, was the most handsome young man she had ever seen! He had bright, kind eyes, and a smile that lit up the whole room. He wasn't green or slimy at all. He had lovely brown hair and was wearing fine clothes, not royal rags, but princely attire, as if he'd just stepped out of a royal portrait. Princess Lily stared. Her mouth dropped open, and her eyes were as wide as saucers. She rubbed them, just in case she was dreaming. But no, he was still there, smiling gently at her. Barnaby the bear looked quite surprised too, if bears could look surprised. “Princess Lily,” the young man said, his voice no longer bubbly, but clear and kind, “Thank you. You have broken the wicked spell.” Lily was utterly speechless. She couldn’t believe her eyes! The little frog, the one she had been so cross with all day, was actually a real prince! A very, very handsome prince, too! This was certainly not what she had expected when she kissed that little green nose. Not at all! The magic of the wishing well, and the power of a royal promise, had truly come to life right there in her very own bedroom.

Outro

What a marvellous adventure that was! We hope you enjoyed hearing all about the Princess and her frog friend. Thank you so much for joining us today. Perhaps you could even imagine your own magical stories now? What royal promises might you keep? Let Sonacasts know if you have any feedback on our tale. We always love hearing from you. Until our next wonderful story, keep dreaming big and exploring all the magic around you. Goodbye for now!