Rapunzel Welcomed as 10th Disney Princess, Watched by the World’s Media and Celebrities

Yesterday, Disney officially welcomed Rapunzel as the 10th Disney Princess character at a high profile, star-studded celebration which took place in front of a global audience at Kensington Palace in London. Little princesses from across the globe watched Rapunzel be welcomed into the Disney Princess royal court by Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Mulan, Pocahontas, Snow White and Tiana. British teenager and rising star Shannon Saunders sang Disney Princess’ new signature theme song, The Glow.

Disney officially welcomed Rapunzel as the 10th Disney Princess at a high profile, star-studded celebration at Kensington Palace. The procession through Kensington Gardens was watched by an estimated 10,000 Disney fans waving flags and lining the parade route to welcome Rapunzel and the other Disney Princess characters in their horse-drawn carriages. Photo credit: onEdition

(Editor's note: Event images available at http://bit.ly/RapunzelCelebrationImages, no password required. Event video available at http://onlinepressoffice.tnrcommunications.co.uk/rapunzel-parade/video, password disney. Broadcast and online footage free to use without restriction.)

The procession through Kensington Gardens was watched by an estimated 25,000 Disney fans waving flags and lining the parade route to welcome Rapunzel and the other Disney Princess characters in their horse-drawn carriages. In a world first, Kensington Palace was chosen by Disney as the perfect location for this magical welcoming ceremony of a Disney Princess, as it has been the home of many real life Princesses over the centuries.

"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.”

Over 100 girls from over 25 countries dressed as little princesses joined the festivities and witnessed the crowning of Rapunzel by Fairy God Mother and Flynn Rider. The celebrations continued with a fun filled afternoon from lantern making to storytelling. Celebrities in attendance included from the United States, Nicole Richie with husband Joel Madden and their son and daughter; from the UK, Peter Andre, Helen McCrory, Damian Lewis; from Brazil, Ticiane Pinheiro Justus; from Italy, Laura Chiatti.

"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.”

Each Disney Princess character has a unique story that empowers girls to imagine and live their very own fairy tales. Rapunzel is a modern heroine - she may have lived her entire life locked inside a hidden tower but Rapunzel is no damsel in distress. The girl with 70 feet of glowing, magical hair is an upbeat young lady who fills her days with art, books and imagination. She is full of curiosity about the outside world and can’t help but feel her true destiny lies outside of the lonely tower walls.

To kick off her celebration, Rapunzel arrived in London a week early to do some sightseeing and visited a famous London landmark every day. Fans can view Rapunzel’s royal journey picture gallery at Facebook.com/DisneyLiving and see the newest Disney Princess visiting Salt Tower at the Tower of London, Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge at Thames River and Big Ben.

Additional facts:

• Rapunzel was officially celebrated as the tenth Disney Princess on the 2^nd of October
• Tangled is now one of the top ten grossing Disney movies of all time ahead of Toy Story, Beauty and the Beast, Cars and Toy Story 2
• To mark the event, Disney is highlighting a range of new Disney Princess products, including an Apple iPad app Disney Princess: A Royal Party
• Kensington Palace has been a residence of the British Royal Family since the 17^th century and is famed for its associations with Princesses. Princess Victoria (later Queen Victoria, Britain’s longest reigning monarch) was born at Kensington Palace on 24^th May 1819 and was christened the following month in the Cupola Room. Her love for the palace ensured the renovations of the State Apartments in 1897 which were opened to the public on Queen Victoria’s 80^th birthday. Today, parts of Kensington Palace continue to serve as residences for members of the Royal Family. The best known resident in recent years was Diana, Princess of Wales who occupied apartments in the north-west part of the palace from 1981-1997.

About Disney Consumer Products

Disney Consumer Products (DCP) is the business segment of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) and its affiliates that extends the Disney brand to merchandise ranging from apparel, toys, home décor and books and magazines to foods and beverages, stationery, electronics and fine art. This is accomplished through DCP's various lines of business which include: Disney Toys, Disney Fashion & Home and Disney Food, Health & Beauty. Other businesses involved in Disney's consumer products sales are Disney Publishing Worldwide, the world's largest publisher of children's books and magazines, and www.DisneyStore.com and www.DisneyStore.co.uk, the company's official shopping portals. The Disney Stores retail chain, which debuted in 1987, is owned and operated by Disney in North America, Europe, and Japan. For more information, please visit Disney Consumer Products or follow us at www.YouTube.com/DisneyLiving, www.Facebook.com/DisneyLiving and www.Twitter.com/DisneyLiving.

About Historic Royal Palaces

Historic Royal Palaces is the independent charity that looks after the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace the Banqueting House and Kew Palace. We help everyone explore the story of how monarchs and people have shaped society, in some of the greatest palaces ever built.

We receive no funding from the Government or the Crown, so we depend on the support of our visitors, members, donors, volunteers and sponsors. These palaces are owned by The Queen on behalf of the nation, and we manage them for the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

We believe in four principles. Guardianship: giving these palaces a future as long and valuable as their past. Discovery: encouraging people to make links with their own lives and today’s world. Showmanship: doing everything with panache. Independence: having our own point of view and finding new ways to do our work. www.hrp.org.uk Registered charity number 1068852

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