Once Upon a Prince

Name: Once Upon a Prince
Genre: Small Town, Royalty, Proposal Ending, Complete Strangers
Released: 2018-01-01
Duration: 2 h
Rating: 6.4
Cast: Megan Park, Jonathan Keltz, Kayla Wallace, Charles Jarman, Colleen Winton

6.4/10 · 2,063 ratings20182hWeirdness 5/10Bingo card

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The premise

A prince visiting the U.S. falls for a commoner when he helps her. But his mother isn't pleased with the match and tries to prove that the American gal isn't suitable to be a royal bride.

Themes:Tradition vs. Modernity Following professional dreams The burden of duty Authenticity over status

How unusual is it?

Middle of the road, with a twist — royalty keeps it from being totally by-the-book.

Who’s in it

Our Girl

Megan Park

as Susanna

Our Guy

Jonathan Keltz

as Nate

Alongside them

Show all 10 cast

Behind the camera

Show

Directed by

Alex Wright

Written by

Wait, what?

The quirks and curveballs that make this one a little weirder than your average Hallmark. No spoilers, promise.

A European Prince spends his vacation hauling heavy bags of mulch and soil in a small Georgia town
The protagonist's former title is 'Peach Princess'
The fictional country of Cambria is described as being roughly the same size as St. Simons Island
The Prince carries a formal handkerchief which the protagonist suspects makes him a 'time traveler'

Every trope, all in one place

Here’s everything this one has going on, from the setting to the way it wraps up. Tap any of the 28 to find more movies that do the same thing.

How it all plays out

Already seen it, or just can’t wait? Open this up for the whole story, ending included.

Full story (spoilers)

The film opens on St. Simons Island, Georgia, where Susanna Truitt is expecting a proposal from her boyfriend Adam under the legendary 'Lover's Oak.' Instead, Adam breaks up with her, claiming they have grown apart. Shortly after, Susanna gets a flat tire and is assisted by Nate Kenneth, a polite man with a British accent. Nate is actually Prince Nathaniel of Cambria, seeking a brief escape from his royal duties following the death of his father. When Susanna's father, Gib, has a health scare, Nate volunteers to work at the family's garden supply store, performing manual labor like hauling mulch and moving pallets. Susanna and Nate grow close, but their bubble is burst when a photographer exposes Nate's royal identity. Nate is forced to return to Cambria for his coronation. To keep them connected, the Queen's advisor, John, arranges for Susanna to receive a prestigious landscaping apprenticeship with Sir Edward Tilbury in Cambria. Susanna and her sister Avery travel to the palace, where Susanna is treated as an employee while Avery enjoys the guest wing. The Queen and Nate's childhood friend, Lady Ginny, repeatedly emphasize that Cambrian tradition requires the King to marry a woman of Cambrian descent. The Queen attempts to discourage Susanna by showing her the cold reality of royal duty and the lack of personal freedom. Despite these obstacles, Nate is crowned King and realizes he cannot rule effectively without the woman he loves. He defies his mother and centuries of tradition, returning to Georgia to propose to Susanna under the Lover's Oak. He declares that as King, he has the right to rewrite tradition, and Susanna accepts his proposal to become the Queen of Cambria and the new designer of the royal gardens.

Beat by beat

Opening
Susanna is dumped by her long-term boyfriend under the Lover's Oak and subsequently meets Nate when her car breaks down.
Inciting Incident
Nate goes undercover as a laborer at the Truitt family garden store to help Susanna's father recover from a health scare.
Midpoint
Nate's identity as the Prince of Cambria is revealed by the press, forcing him to return home for his coronation.
Rising Action
Susanna travels to Cambria for a landscaping apprenticeship and struggles with the Queen's disapproval and royal protocol.
Climax
Nathaniel is crowned King and must choose between the 'Cambrian-only' marriage tradition and his love for Susanna.
Resolution
Nate travels back to Georgia to propose to Susanna, officially breaking tradition to make her his Queen.

Did you know?

A few things that make this one stand out once you stack it up against every other Hallmark movie.

At 2 hours it's a genuine epic by Hallmark standards — only about 58 of their movies run two hours or longer.

28 tropes in one movie

We counted 28 distinct Hallmark tropes packed into this one — a genuine greatest-hits reel.

How it stacks up

Where this one’s rating lands against every other rated Hallmark movie.

Higher-rated than 45% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.

Where this one fits

The corners of the catalog Once Upon a Prince belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.

BINGOA change of heart by the final actA slow-burn romanceSomeone’s guard finally comes downA cup of cocoa, coffee or ciderA handwritten note or letterA tiny fictional European country gets name-droppedA quiet moment under string lightsA queen insists on a Cambrian-descent brideA meaningful look held a beat too longA disapproving parentHeavy bags of mulch get hauled aroundA first impression that turns out completely wrong★A class or family reunionA prince does manual labour at a garden storeA widow or widowerA shared meal around a crowded tableA scenic spot becomes their meeting placeA big public romantic gestureThe press exposes a hidden royal identityOld flames reuniteSomeone gets flustered during small talkA dance or a ballA wise elder dispenses adviceA relative plays matchmaker

Hallmark Bingo

Your Once Upon a Prince card is dealt.

Twenty-four squares pulled from this movie’s own quirks — the cosy classics, a few only-in-this-one curveballs, and a couple of decoys. Mark them as you watch.

Open your card

Lines worth quoting

The lines that stuck with us — the ones you’ll be repeating after the credits roll.

“Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans.”
— NateQuoting John Lennon to Susanna while discussing their changed life paths.
“I'm a Prince and it slipped my mind?”
— SusannaHer sarcastic reaction when Nate finally reveals his true identity.
“I will absolutely be your queen.”
— SusannaAccepting Nate's proposal under the Lover's Oak.

Meet the characters

Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.

Susanna Truitt
Lead
Landscape Architect
HardworkingTalentedHumbleResilient
Prince Nathaniel (Nate)
Love interest
Prince/King of Cambria
Love interest and former 'hired help'
ChivalrousDuty-boundDown-to-earthKind
The Queen
Antagonist
Queen Mother of Cambria
Potential mother-in-law and primary obstacle
TraditionalIntimidatingProtectiveCalculating
Avery Truitt
Supporting
Store Assistant
Sister
EnergeticSupportiveHumorous
Lady Genevieve (Ginny)
Supporting
Aristocrat
Nate's childhood friend and 'suitable' match
SophisticatedPragmaticCompetitive

Questions people ask about Once Upon a Prince

Where can I watch Once Upon a Prince?

Once Upon a Prince is available via fuboTV, Philo, and Hallmark+ Amazon Channel. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.

How long is Once Upon a Prince?

Once Upon a Prince runs about 2 hours, and was released in 2018.

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