True love's kiss

In fairy tales, a true love's kiss is a motif and commonly used trope whereby a kiss from a "true love" possesses magical powers and holds significant importance.

[1][2][3][4] The phrase "true love's kiss" in storytelling is recorded as early as the 16th century.

[5] In William Shakespeare's Richard III, the title character uses the phrase "Bear her my true love's kiss" in act 4, scene 4.

[6] In 1812, Children's and Household Tales, written by the Brothers Grimm, included the concept of a magical true love's kiss from the prince to awaken the princess from her 100-year slumber in their adaptation of "Sleeping Beauty", "Dornröschen" ("Little Briar Rose").

[29][30] Some critics have associated the trope of "true love's kiss" with heteronormativity and traditional gender stereotypes.