Story

The Princess and the Pea: A Royal Test

12 minAges 5-7

Listen to the beginning

This is the start of the story. The whole story plays in the Sonacast app.

Listen to the whole story in the app

The story

Introduction: The Quest for a True Princess

Hello there, my lovely listeners! Gather 'round because today we're going on a grand adventure into a faraway land, all about a prince and his search for a very special person. You see, this kind prince wanted to marry a real princess, a truly genuine one. He travelled far and wide, through green fields and bustling towns, looking for just the right lady. He met many princesses, with beautiful gowns and sparkling tiaras, but something was always a little bit off. They didn't quite feel like the true princess he dreamed of. How on earth would he ever know for sure?

The Prince's Search and the Stormy Visitor

The Prince felt a little bit sad as he returned home to his magnificent castle. He had journeyed to lands far beyond the rolling green hills of his own kingdom, visited bustling cities with towering buildings, and even sailed across choppy seas to distant islands. He’d met princesses from every corner of the world – one who could juggle seven sparkly balls, another who could sing like a nightingale, and even one who had a pet dragon! But, despite all their wonderful talents and beautiful smiles, none of them felt quite right. Each time, he’d shake his head and think, “She’s lovely, but is she a true princess?” He just couldn't tell.His dear mum, the Queen, noticed his droopy face. “Still no luck, my darling boy?” she asked softly, patting his arm.The Prince sighed a sigh so big, a little cloud of sadness seemed to float right out of his mouth. “No, Mum. It's impossible! How will I ever find my true princess? How can I be absolutely certain?”The Queen, who was very wise and knew a thing or two about princesses, just gave him a knowing smile. “Don't you worry, my son. A true princess will always reveal herself, one way or another.” The Prince, however, still looked unconvinced. He went to his room, feeling glum. He really wanted to find his special princess, the one he could share his kingdom and his favourite peanut butter sandwiches with.That very evening, as dark clouds began to gather in the sky, a tremendous storm started to brew. The wind whistled and howled around the castle towers, making the flags flap like crazy. Rain hammered down on the roof and splashed against the windows. It wasn't just a little shower; it was a proper British downpour, the kind that makes you want to curl up with a hot chocolate and a good book. The sky flashed with bright lightning, and rumbles of thunder made the castle walls shiver slightly. It was a perfectly dreadful night outside.Suddenly, in the middle of this wild weather, there was a loud BANG, BANG, BANG at the castle gate! Everyone in the great hall jumped, including the Royal corgis who barked excitedly. Who on earth could be calling at such a late hour, in such a terrible storm? The King himself, a kind and jolly man, looked puzzled. “Goodness me!” he exclaimed. “Who could that be?”A brave footman, wrapped in a thick, waterproof cloak, ventured out into the rain and wind to see. After a moment, he hurried back, his hair dripping, his uniform splattered with mud. “Your Majesty!” he announced, bowing deeply. “There's a young lady outside, claiming to be a real princess, come seeking shelter!”The King and Queen exchanged a look. A princess? On a night like this? It seemed most peculiar. But, being good hosts, they couldn't possibly leave anyone out in such ghastly weather. “Well, bring her in at once, man!” the King ordered. “She must be absolutely drenched!”And drenched she was! A moment later, a young woman stepped into the warm, brightly lit hall. Oh, dear me, what a sight! Water streamed from her hair and clothes, making puddles on the shiny stone floor. Her beautiful, sparkly gown was now sopping wet and clinging to her, covered in mud from head to toe. Her fancy shoes were squelching, and her lovely long hair was messy, with raindrops still sparkling in it like tiny diamonds. She shivered from the cold.“Goodness gracious!” gasped one of the ladies-in-waiting, fanning herself with a dainty hand. “She looks as if she's been swimming in a muddy puddle!”But the young woman stood tall, despite her bedraggled appearance. She curtsied politely, a little wobbly from the cold. “Good evening, Your Majesties,” she said, her voice clear and sweet, even though she was chattering a little bit. “I truly am a princess, and I have travelled a very long way. I was caught in this dreadful storm, and I humbly ask for a place to rest for the night.”The Prince, who had come to see what all the fuss was about, peeked around the corner. He saw her, all wet and muddy, but there was something about her eyes, a kind sparkle, even through the rain and mess. Could she really be a princess? His mum, the Queen, stepped forward, a thoughtful expression on her face. She looked at the poor, soggy girl, and then at her son, the Prince, and a little idea began to tickle her brain. She smiled. A very, very clever smile indeed. She thought, “Hmm, a true princess, you say? Well, we shall soon see about that!”She offered the girl a warm towel and a cup of hot tea, inviting her to dry off by the roaring fireplace. “Welcome, dear,” the Queen said kindly. “Of course, you may stay. We wouldn't dream of letting anyone brave this weather.” The young woman beamed, grateful for the warmth. She didn't realise that the Queen had already started to cook up a plan, a special test, to discover if she was indeed the real princess the Prince had been searching for. The Queen loved a good puzzle, and this was going to be a fascinating one!

The Queen's Ingenious Bed

Well, now, thought the clever Queen, tapping her chin with a thoughtful finger. A true princess, you say? A real royal, through and through? Hmm, we shall see, we shall see indeed! She had a brilliant idea, sparkling in her mind like the prettiest diamond on her crown. It was a very old, very secret test, passed down through the royal family for hundreds of years. A special way to find out if someone was genuinely a princess, with the most delicate and sensitive royal feelings. The Queen hurried off to the royal pantry, where all sorts of interesting things were kept. Not just biscuits and yummy jam, but also little boxes and jars of curious items. She rummaged about, her golden slippers making a soft swishing sound on the polished floors. Ah ha! she exclaimed, her eyes gleaming. She found a tiny, round, green pea. It was no bigger than her littlest fingernail, and it felt rather firm and hard when she rolled it between her fingers. Perfect! she whispered with a mischievous smile. This little pea was going to be the centrepiece of her grand plan. Next, the Queen went to the guest bedroom that had been prepared for the soggy young lady. It was a lovely room, with soft blue walls and fluffy white carpets, like walking on clouds. There was a magnificent bed in the middle of the room, looking ever so inviting. But the Queen had other ideas for that bed! She called for her most trusted royal chambermaid, a kindly lady named Mrs. Higgins, who was very good at keeping secrets. Mrs. Higgins, the Queen said with a twinkle in her eye, I need your help with a very important royal experiment. Mrs. Higgins, always ready for an adventure, nodded eagerly. Together, they began to strip the bed. First, they carefully lifted off the beautiful silk quilt, then the soft, warm blankets, and then, one by one, all the comfy mattresses. There was a big feather mattress, as bouncy as a trampoline, and a wool mattress, as cosy as a favourite jumper, and even some smaller, thinner ones. Soon, the bed frame was bare wood. The Queen held up the tiny green pea. Now, Mrs. Higgins, watch very closely! She placed the pea right in the very middle of the wooden bed base. It looked so small and insignificant there, a little green dot on the wide, empty frame. There! she declared, quite pleased with herself. But the test wasn't over yet! Oh no, not by a long shot. The Queen then instructed Mrs. Higgins to start piling the mattresses back onto the bed, but with a difference. We need more, Mrs. Higgins! Many, many more! First, they put back the original mattresses. Then the Queen sent for more! Bring me twenty mattresses! she commanded. And make sure they are the fluffiest, softest, most luxurious mattresses in the entire castle! So, Mrs. Higgins and a few other helpers brought in mattress after mattress. There were mattresses filled with swan feathers, so light they felt like air. There were mattresses stuffed with the finest wool, as soft as a newborn lamb's fleece. There were mattresses with special springs that went boing-boing-boing when you pressed them. And they piled them up, one on top of the other, higher and higher and higher! One mattress. Two mattresses. Five mattresses. Ten mattresses! The pile grew so tall it almost touched the ceiling of the grand bedroom! Goodness me, Your Majesty, chuckled Mrs. Higgins, carefully balancing a particularly enormous mattress. That bed is going to need a ladder to get into! Indeed it will, Mrs. Higgins! the Queen laughed. But we're not finished yet! We need more! After the twenty mattresses were all piled up, making a mountain of softness, the Queen then asked for twenty feather quilts. Not thin, flat quilts, but big, puffy ones, filled with the softest goose down. These too were placed on top of the mattresses, one by one, until the bed was a towering, wobbly, wonderfully soft castle of sleep. It was so tall, you could almost see the neighbouring kingdom from the top! It certainly was the tallest bed anyone in the castle had ever seen. There! sighed the Queen, dusting her hands. Now that is a bed fit for... a very special test subject! She stepped back to admire her ingenious creation. The tiny pea was now hidden deep, deep down, underneath twenty mattresses and twenty feather quilts. It was buried under forty layers of softness! You see, Mrs. Higgins, the Queen explained, a true princess is so wonderfully delicate and sensitive that she can feel the tiniest thing, even through all that softness. If she is truly royal, that little pea will keep her awake all night long! Later that evening, the young woman was led to her room. Her eyes went wide, like saucers, when she saw the magnificent, towering bed. Oh my! she gasped, her voice full of wonder. What an extraordinary bed! It looked like a giant white cloud, waiting for her to float upon it. A small, decorative wooden ladder had been placed beside it, just as Mrs. Higgins had predicted. Carefully, the young woman climbed up, rung by rung, until she reached the very top. She settled herself onto the soft, pillowy surface. It was so high up, she felt like she was sleeping amongst the stars! She pulled the covers up to her chin and closed her eyes, ready for a good night's sleep after her long, wet journey. Downstairs, the clever Queen tried to pretend she wasn't excited. She sipped her chamomile tea and chatted with the King about the weather, but inside, her mind was buzzing. She couldn't wait for morning to arrive, to hear what the young woman would say about her night's sleep. Would her ingenious bed reveal the truth? Only time would tell! The little green pea held the secret.

A Restless Night and a Royal Revelation

And what a secret it was! Tucked deep beneath twenty soft mattresses and twenty fluffy eiderdown quilts, that tiny pea was ready for its royal test. The young woman, tired from her long, stormy journey, was led to her magnificent bed. It was so tall, she needed little steps, like a mini staircase, just to climb up! She smiled, thinking of how cosy she would be, snuggled under all those lovely quilts. She said goodnight to the Queen and the Prince, who both wished her sweet dreams, though the Queen had a little twinkle in her eye. But alas, sweet dreams were not to be had! As soon as the young woman lay down, she felt a strange, hard lump right in the middle of her back. She wriggled a bit, trying to get comfortable, but it was no good.

Outro: The Enduring Legacy of the Pea

Thank you for joining us on this royal adventure! We hope you enjoyed 'The Princess and the Pea: A Royal Test'. Please do let Sonacasts know if you have any feedback or ideas for new stories. Perhaps you can imagine your own magical mattress, or a very sensitive princess! There are so many wonderful tales waiting to be told. Until next time, keep exploring the amazing world of stories. Bye-bye!