"The Princess and the Queen" is the sixth episode of the first season of the fantasy drama television series House of the Dragon, a prequel to Game of Thrones.
"The Princess and the Queen" introduced several new cast members, including Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cooke as the adult versions of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower, respectively.
Alicent's eldest son Aegon, aided by Jace and Luke, pranks his younger brother, Aemond, the only Targaryen heir to have no dragon of his own.
The rumours cause Lord Strong to offer his resignation, which Viserys rejects, instead permitting the Hand to escort his disgraced son back to the family estate of Harrenhal.
Reading the political winds, Rhaenyra moves her household to the safety of Dragonstone and permits her husband's lover, Ser Qarl Correy, to accompany them.
The pregnant Laena suffers prolonged labor and is unable to deliver; she commands her dragon Vhagar to incinerate her so she may die a dragonrider's death.
"The Princess and the Queen" was written by executive producer Sara Hess, marking her first time in the Game of Thrones franchise.
Additionally, the episode also marks the first appearance of Nanna Blondell as Adult Laena Velaryon, succeeding Savannah Steyn who portrayed the teenage Laena in the previous episode; and the final appearances of Gavin Spokes as Lord Lyonel Strong and Ryan Corr as Ser Harwin Strong.
The site's critical consensus said, "While the longest time-skip yet diminishes some of this installment's most shocking moments, the commanding introductions of Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cooke make clear that 'The Princess and the Queen' will remain compulsively watchable combatants.
"[5] Writing for Den of Geek, Alec Bojalad gave it a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars and deemed it "by far the most entertaining and enriching dispatch from House of the Dragon yet."
[6] Reviewing for IGN, Helen O'Hara gave it a "great" score of 8 out of 10 and wrote in her verdict: "Plotting, mutilation, murder, and dragons: it doesn't get much more Game Of Thrones than this.