List of Disney's Sleeping Beauty characters facts for kids

This page introduces you to the amazing characters from Disney's classic 1959 film, Sleeping Beauty. Get ready to learn about the brave princess, the charming prince, and their magical friends and foes!

Princess Aurora: The Sleeping Beauty

Princess Aurora is the main character of the Sleeping Beauty story. When she was just a baby, an evil fairy named Maleficent put a terrible curse on her. To keep her safe, three good fairies—Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather—took Aurora to live in the woods. They changed her name to Briar Rose so Maleficent couldn't find her. Aurora is also one of the official Disney Princesses.

When Aurora was almost 16, the fairies planned a surprise birthday party for her. They wanted to tell her she was a princess and would return to the castle. But Aurora came back with exciting news: she had met a handsome man in the forest! The fairies had to tell her she could never see him again, not knowing he was actually Prince Phillip.

That night, the fairies took Aurora back to the castle. She was very sad about not seeing the man from the forest. While alone, Aurora saw a glowing spark of light, which was Maleficent's magic. In a trance, she followed the light up a staircase to a tower room. The spark turned into a spinning wheel. The good fairies tried to stop her, but it was too late. Aurora pricked her finger on the spindle and fell into a deep sleep, just as Maleficent's curse foretold. The fairies gently placed her in a bed in the highest tower.

Later, Prince Phillip found Aurora and kissed her. This true love's kiss finally broke the curse! Not only did Aurora wake up, but the entire kingdom, including her parents and King Hubert, also woke from their long slumber. Aurora was thrilled to discover that the man she loved from the forest was also her betrothed prince. In the end, Aurora and Phillip danced happily, reunited with their families.

Flora, Fauna and Merryweather: The Good Fairies

Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather are the kind fairy godmothers who protect Princess Aurora. They are inspired by the good fairies in the original French fairy tale. These three fairies appeared at baby Aurora's christening to give her special gifts. They have small wings and use their magic to help Aurora, Prince Phillip, and the whole kingdom.

Prince Phillip: The Heroic Prince

Prince Phillip is Princess Aurora's true love. He was voiced by Bill Shirley in the original film. Phillip is based on the prince from the original French fairy tale who wakes the princess with a kiss. Unlike earlier Disney princes, Phillip has a very active role in the story and is given a proper name.

At Aurora's birth, it was decided that Phillip would marry her to unite their kingdoms. A young Phillip gave a gift to baby Aurora at her christening. The event was interrupted by Maleficent, who cursed Aurora. Because of this, the three good fairies took Aurora into the forest to raise her safely.

Years later, Phillip was riding in the forest and heard Aurora, now called Briar Rose, singing. He followed her voice and sang with her. They quickly fell in love. Aurora realized she was breaking her "aunts'" rules and left, but told Phillip she would be at her cottage for her birthday.

After being captured by Maleficent and thrown into her dungeon, Phillip was rescued by the three good fairies. They helped him escape Maleficent's castle so he could save Aurora and the entire kingdom. Maleficent, furious, threw lightning bolts and created a forest of thorns to stop him. At the castle gates, Phillip bravely battled Maleficent, who had turned into a giant dragon. He was victorious and defeated Maleficent with his magical Sword of Truth. Phillip then went to the kingdom and kissed Aurora, waking her and everyone else from their enchanted sleep. Phillip and Aurora then danced together, reunited with their parents.

Phillip also appears in other Disney stories, like Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams and the Kingdom Hearts video games. In the live-action film Maleficent, Phillip is played by Brenton Thwaites and later by Harris Dickinson in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.

King Stefan: Aurora's Father

King Stefan is Princess Aurora's father. He was voiced by Taylor Holmes. Stefan is a dignified ruler, but he can sometimes be stubborn or get angry, especially with his friend King Hubert. Despite this, he is a loving husband to Queen Leah and a very protective father to Aurora. He wanted to make sure Aurora was safe from Maleficent's curse.

He was overjoyed when his daughter Aurora was born. A big celebration was held to introduce Aurora to the kingdom. King Hubert, Stefan's best friend, attended, and Aurora was promised in marriage to Hubert's young son, Prince Phillip. This was hoped to unite their kingdoms. The evil fairy Maleficent then appeared, angry because she wasn't invited. She cursed baby Aurora to die on her sixteenth birthday by pricking her finger on a spinning wheel. Stefan, enraged, ordered his guards to arrest her, but Maleficent disappeared.

One of Aurora's fairy godmothers, Merryweather, was able to change the curse so Aurora would only fall into a deep sleep instead of dying. Still worried, Stefan ordered all spinning wheels in the kingdom to be burned. However, the fairies knew this wouldn't stop Maleficent. Later, the fairies offered to hide Aurora until after her sixteenth birthday. Stefan, Queen Leah, and the kingdom were very sad about Aurora leaving.

Sixteen years passed, and the King and Queen prepared for Aurora's return. Stefan and Hubert discussed their kingdoms' futures and their children's upcoming marriage. Stefan wanted the couple to spend time together first, while Hubert had already prepared a new castle for them. This led to a funny argument between them. Later, Stefan and the entire kingdom waited for Aurora, unaware she had already pricked her finger and fallen asleep. To protect everyone from heartbreak, the fairies put a sleeping spell over the whole kingdom, including Stefan, his wife, and Hubert. Thanks to Prince Phillip's true love's kiss, everyone woke up. Stefan and his wife were happily reunited with Aurora. He watched his daughter dance with Prince Phillip.

King Stefan also appears in Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams and is portrayed by Sharlto Copley in the live-action 2014 film Maleficent. In Maleficent, his character is quite different, becoming a ruthless ruler due to his obsession with Maleficent.

Queen Leah: Aurora's Mother

Queen Leah is Princess Aurora's mother and King Stefan's wife. She was likely voiced by Verna Felton. She and Stefan rule an unnamed European kingdom. Although she doesn't have a huge role, she is important as the first mother in a Disney Princess film to remain alive throughout the story.

After many years of marriage, she gave birth to her beautiful daughter, Aurora. Their happiness was cut short when Maleficent cursed the child. Devastated, Leah watched as the fairies took her daughter away for her own safety. Sixteen years later, Leah eagerly awaited her daughter's return. But when Aurora touched the spindle, Queen Leah and the entire kingdom were put into an enchanted sleep by the good fairies. When Maleficent was defeated and Phillip broke the curse on Aurora, Leah, King Stefan, King Hubert, and everyone else woke up. She finally met her daughter again and tearfully embraced her.

Queen Leah also appears in the live-action 2014 film Maleficent, where she is renamed Queen Leila. She also briefly appears in the Disney Channel movie Descendants.

King Hubert: Phillip's Father

King Hubert is Prince Phillip's father. He was voiced by Bill Thompson. He is best friends with King Stefan and is a jolly ruler. Like Stefan, Hubert can sometimes be a bit grumpy or argumentative, especially when he thought Stefan was insulting his son. However, Hubert deeply cares for Phillip, even if they disagree sometimes about marriage plans. He didn't know that the girl Phillip met in the forest was actually Aurora, his betrothed, until later.

At the start of the film, King Hubert and Prince Phillip were invited to Aurora's christening. There, Hubert and Stefan promised their children would marry when they grew up, to keep their kingdoms united. He witnessed Maleficent cursing Aurora. Even though baby Aurora was taken away by the fairies, the marriage promise remained.

Sixteen years later, Hubert was seen as Stefan prepared for Aurora's return. Hubert and Stefan talked about their children and kingdoms, almost getting into a fight before realizing it was silly. Their talk was interrupted by Phillip, who told his father he had met a young woman in the forest and would marry her, against his father's wishes. Hubert didn't know this woman was Aurora, disguised as "Briar Rose." Hubert was angry that his son wanted to marry a peasant girl. Phillip humorously told his father that royalty should consider new ideas.

Hubert was upset about his son's choice and went to tell Stefan the "bad news." During these events, Maleficent's curse had come true, and Aurora had fallen asleep. So, the fairies decided to put everyone else in the kingdom to sleep too. Just as he was falling asleep, Hubert was telling a sleeping Stefan that Phillip was in love with a peasant girl. This made Flora realize that Phillip was the one Aurora met, and he might be the one to save everyone. Thanks to Phillip breaking the curse, Hubert woke up and continued his conversation with Stefan. He was about to tell Stefan about the "peasant girl" when he saw Phillip coming down the staircase with Aurora. Hubert was confused but happy.

King Hubert also appears in Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams and is portrayed by Robert Lindsay in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. In the Maleficent films, he is renamed King John of Ulstead.

Diablo: Maleficent's Raven

Diablo is Maleficent's loyal pet raven. His name isn't actually said in the film, but that's what he's called. Diablo was present at Aurora's christening when Maleficent cursed the baby. When Maleficent's helpers told her they had spent 16 years looking for a baby, she sent Diablo to find Aurora.

Diablo flew over the forest, searching for any sign of the princess. He found the cottage where Aurora lived with the fairies, thanks to some magic caused by Flora and Merryweather. After telling Maleficent, Diablo joined her as she and her helpers captured Prince Phillip at the cottage. He also noticed the fairies hiding in the Forbidden Mountain, even though Maleficent didn't. Diablo later discovered that Phillip had escaped with the fairies' help. He tried to stop them from leaving the mountain. Merryweather chased Diablo around Maleficent's tower and eventually turned him into a stone raven. However, Diablo's actions still alerted Maleficent to Phillip's escape.

Diablo also appears in the Kingdom Hearts video game series, where he is simply called "Maleficent's Raven." In the live-action 2014 film Maleficent, he is portrayed by Sam Riley and renamed Diaval. In this version, Maleficent saves him and gives him the power to change into different animals, like a man, horse, wolf, bear, and even a dragon. He becomes her closest friend and helper.

Samson: Phillip's Horse

Samson is Prince Phillip's loyal horse. He appears in the original film and in Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams, where he was voiced by Frank Welker. Samson is very fond of Aurora, but he can sometimes get a little jealous when Phillip shows her affection.

Maleficent's Goons: Her Loyal Helpers

Maleficent's goons are goblin-like creatures. They look like a mix of different animals, such as boars, hawks, alligators, goats, bats, and vultures. They are very loyal to Maleficent, but they aren't very smart. Because Maleficent's orders weren't clear, they spent 16 years looking for a baby Aurora instead of a teenage girl!

The goons later captured Prince Phillip at the cottage where the three fairies were hiding Aurora. They also tried to stop his escape by pushing boulders (which Flora turned into bubbles), shooting arrows (which Flora turned into flowers), and pouring boiling oil (which Flora turned into a rainbow).

The goons have also made small appearances in other Disney productions, like the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit and the TV series House of Mouse.