ATU 704 is a story first published by Hand Christian Anderson in 1835, and has numerous retellings. The story, also known as "How to Tell a True Princess," tells of a girl being tested by a queen to see if she is a true princess worthy of marrying her son. The queen places a pea under a large number of mattresses in the girl's room, and when she wakes up she is bruised, revealing that she must be a true princess because she is so sensitive and is married to the prince.

The Real Princess

鈥淭he Real Princess.鈥� Fairy tales from Hans Christian Andersen, Hans Christian Andersen, London: Dent, New York: Dutton, 1904, pp. 84-86.

Tale Summary There was once a prince who wanted a princess, and only a real princess would please him. He traveled the world to find one, but was unable to, and came back home discouraged. One evening there was a terrible storm, and a knocking was heard at the gate,...

How to Tell a True Princess

鈥淗ow to Tell a True Princess.鈥� The Yellow Fairy Book, edited by Andrew Lang, London, New York, Bombay: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1906, pp. 254-255.

Tale Summary Once upon a time there was a prince who wanted to marry a princess, but only a true princess. He traveled the world looking for one but could never find one that was true, so he came back home in low spirits. One night there was a terrible...

The Princess and the Pea

鈥淭he Princess and the Pea.鈥� The Arthur Rackham fairy book : a book of old favourites with new illustrations, Arthur Rackham, Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott., 1933, pp. 140-142.

Tale Summary Once upon a time there was a young prince who wished he had a princess, but not just any princess; she would have to be a real princess. He traveled everywhere, but could not find one, and returned home dejected. There was a terrible storm one night, and...

The Real Princess

鈥淭he Real Princess鈥�. Stories from Hans Andersen with Illustrations by Edmund Dulac, Hans Christian Anderson, New York: George H. Doran Company [1923], pp. 112-113.

Tale Summary There was once a prince who wanted to have his very own real princess. He searches all around the world, meeting many princesses, but with each feels like there is something not quite right about them. He can not figure out if they are real princesses or not...