Cinderella is one of the most beloved fairy tale characters of all time. Her story of going from rags to riches after meeting her prince charming at the ball has captured the imaginations of children and adults for centuries. But what happened after Cinderella married the prince and moved into the castle? Did she have any children? Specifically, did Cinderella have a daughter?
Does Cinderella Have Children in the Original Fairy Tale?
In the most well-known version of the Cinderella fairy tale, as recorded by Charles Perrault in 1697, there is no mention of Cinderella having any children after marrying the prince. The story ends with Cinderella forgiving her stepsisters for their cruelty, and the stepsisters marrying gentlemen of the royal court.
The focus of the fairy tale is on Cinderella’s transition from mistreated stepdaughter to princess through her marriage to the prince. Whether she went on to have children is simply not addressed.
So in the original Cinderella fairy tale, we cannot definitively say if she had a daughter or any children at all. The story concludes with her wedding and does not explore what came afterwards.
Later Versions That Mention Cinderella’s Daughter
Although the original Cinderella story does not mention any children, some later retellings of the fairy tale do include Cinderella having a daughter. Here are a few notable versions:
Rodgers and Hammerstein Musical
The popular Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Cinderella from 1957 features Cinderella marrying the prince and giving birth to a daughter. In the song “There’s Music in You,” the Fairy Godmother sings to Cinderella’s daughter about how she will grow up to be a princess just like her mother.
Disney Sequels
While the original 1950 Disney animated film does not indicate if Cinderella had children, Disney released several direct-to-video sequels that show Cinderella having a daughter with the prince.
In Cinderella II: Dreams Come True (2002) and Cinderella III: A Twist in Time (2007), Cinderella has a blonde daughter named Anastasia. She plays a prominent role in the sequels’ storylines about Cinderella reconnecting with the Fairy Godmother and preventing Lady Tremaine from altering time.
Into the Woods Movie (2014)
The film adaptation of the musical Into the Woods features Cinderella marrying her prince and giving birth to a baby girl. While not seen on screen, the film’s dialogue confirms the couple has a newborn daughter.
A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits (2016)
This modern reboot of the Cinderella story includes several references to Cinderella going on to have two daughters of her own after marrying the prince. The daughters are not shown, but are mentioned briefly.
Cinderella’s Legacy by Sarah Mlynowski (2022)
This young adult novel offers a contemporary retelling of Cinderella where she has fraternal twin daughters with Prince Carmine. The story focuses on one of the twins who does not fit into the royal world as seamlessly as her sister.
Does Cinderella Have a Daughter in Fan Fiction?
Beyond published retellings of Cinderella, the character is also frequently explored in fan fiction stories online. Fan fiction allows amateur writers to create their own stories featuring existing fictional characters.
Many fan fiction tales about Cinderella’s life after her fairy tale ends include her having one or more children. Often she is depicted as having a daughter because it creates opportunities to write about the daughter following in Cinderella’s footsteps or struggling with the expectations of being a princess.
While fan fiction is not officially canon, the prevalence of stories about Cinderella having a daughter underscores the popularity of this idea among audiences. It allows readers to imagine what happened next after Cinderella found her happily ever after.
Evidence For and Against Cinderella Having a Daughter
Since the original fairy tale is silent on Cinderella’s future family, authors and audiences have been free to envision different outcomes. Here is an overview of some key evidence for and against Cinderella having a daughter:
Evidence She Had a Daughter
- Having a daughter allows for easy storytelling about a ‘next generation’ of princesses
- It was expected that royal couples would produce heirs, usually sons and daughters
- Many retellings introduce a daughter character for Cinderella
- Fan fiction commonly includes Cinderella having a daughter
Evidence She Did Not Have a Daughter
- The original fairy tale does not mention any children
- Not all marriages result in children, for various reasons
- Cinderella may have focused on her duties as Princess rather than childbearing
- The sequels and retellings with daughters are not consistent with each other
There are reasonable points to support both possibilities. Ultimately, it remains ambiguous and open to individual interpretation whether Cinderella went on to raise a daughter after her fairy tale happy ending.
Popularity of the Idea of Cinderella Having a Daughter
While there is no definitive answer on whether Cinderella actually had a daughter, it is clear that the idea of Cinderella having a daughter remains hugely popular. There are several reasons audiences connect with this idea:
- It allows the Cinderella story to continue for another generation
- A daughter can be portrayed as Cinderella’s ‘mini me’
- New storylines can be driven by the conflicts a princess daughter might face
- It ties into the appeal of parent-child relationships
- A shared mother-daughter princess legacy is appealing
The appeal of Cinderella having a daughter seems to resonate with storytellers and audiences alike. While not canon, it has become a widely accepted narrative device for extending and exploring Cinderella’s happily ever after in our imaginations.
Conclusion
While the original Cinderella fairy tale ends with her marriage to the prince and does not confirm any children, many modern retellings have introduced the idea that Cinderella went on to have a daughter with the prince. This narrative device allows fresh storylines showing a second generation of the Cinderella legacy. The popularity of the premise reflects audiences’ desire to imagine Cinderella’s happily ever after extending into motherhood. Though not definitive canon, the symbolism of a Cinderella daughter character endures as a compelling way to continue the timeless rags-to-riches fairy tale. Cinderella may or may not have a daughter in official lore, but the magical appeal of this idea persists.