Host Anita Anand joins author Damian Barr and podcaster Meff to hear about how the 80s icon She Ra - sister of He Ra - has become a main character. We hear about how, in her newest iteration, the Princess of Power isn’t just openly gay but saved the world with a queer kiss. Producer: Rufaro Faith Mazarura Editor: Ailsa Rochester Sound Design: Craig Edmondson An Audio Always production for BBC Radio 4

Host Anita Anand joins author Simon Sebag Montefiore and journalist Sian Williams to explore the story of the first documented female author, the Mesopatamian princess Enheduanna. The priestess, poet and author became the first person in history to recount her own sexual assault, and in this fascinating look at her life they explore the history of women writing about their trauma to find healing. Producer: Rufaro Faith Mazarura Editor: Ailsa Rochester Sound Design: Craig Edmondson An Audio Always production for BBC Radio 4

Host Anita Anand joins presenter William Hanson and satirist Craig Brown to discuss Princess Margaret. From her relationship with the late Queen Elizabeth to what it was like to be the original ‘spare’, her grandest stories to her most cutting remarks, they explore the glamorous, complicated life of The Countess of Snowdon. Producer: Rufaro Faith Mazarura Editor: Ailsa Rochester Sound Design: Craig Edmondson An Audio Always production for BBC Radio 4

Presenter Anita Anand joins Journalist Charlene White and Ravynn Stringfield to discuss Afrofuturism, why Marvel's fictional country of Wakanda matters and how T’Challa’s smart talking, genius little sister Shuri became Black Panther’s most exciting princess. Producer: Rufaro Faith Mazarura Editor: Ailsa Rochester Sound Design: Craig Edmondson An Audio Always production for BBC Radio 4

Anita Anand is joined by the actor Carrie Hope Fletcher and Brenda Chapman, the animator, screenwriter and director of the Pixar movie Brave. They discuss why Merida was such a monumental animated Princess and what makes the film’s portrayal of a mother-daughter relationship so revolutionary. Producer: Rufaro Faith Mazarura Editor: Ailsa Rochester Sound Design: Craig Edmondson An Audio Always production for BBC Radio 4

Presenter Anita Anand joins Author Louise O’Neil and Professor Sarah Peverley to explore the dark, doomed tale of The Little Mermaid. From Hans Christian Anderson’s original tale to all the modern adaptations, they discuss how the girl under the sea forged her own path, and took control of her destiny to find her voice. Producer: Rufaro Faith Mazarura Editor: Ailsa Rochester Sound Design: Craig Edmondson An Audio Always production for BBC Radio 4

Presenter Anita Anand joins Actor Ayesha Dharker and author Amish Tripathi to discuss the Hindu Goddess Devi Sita, the female protagonist at the heart of the Diwali story. They explore different retellings and interpretations of her story to discuss whether she personifies the role of the obedient wife, or was really a warrior princess. Producer: Rufaro Faith Mazarura Editor: Ailsa Rochester Sound Design: Craig Edmondson An Audio Always production for BBC Radio 4

Presenter Anita Anand joins artist Edmund de Waal and author Livia Manera to uncover the mysterious story of an Indian princess who went from living a luxurious Parisian life as the daughter of a Maharajah, to being captured by the Nazi’s and perhaps even plotting against them. We trace the twists of her incredible story to find out what really happened. Producer: Rufaro Faith Mazarura Editor: Ailsa Rochester Sound Design: Craig Edmondson An Audio Always production for BBC Radio 4

Anita Anand joins WoW founder Jude Kelly and author Vilborg Davíðsdóttir to explore the tale of the Icelandic Matriarch Aud the Deep Minded. They trace the story of how she successfully built a ship, sailed from Scotland to Iceland, freed her slaves and ruled peacefully over her people. Producer: Rufaro Faith Mazarura Editor: Ailsa Rochester Sound Design: Craig Edmondson An Audio Always production for BBC Radio 4

Presenter Anita Anand joins comedian Shaparak Khorsandi and author Andrew Scott Cooper to explore the tragic life, death and legacy of Princess Leila Pahlavi, the last Princess of Imperial Iran. Leila was the daughter of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and the last in a long line of Iranian Royalty. But when the 1979 revolution began, Leila and her family were forced to escape. Leila spent the rest of her life in exile and while she had a brief career as a model and 90s It Girl, she tragically died alone in a London hotel. In this episode, we trace her story and the monumental impact it’s left on the Iranian community. Producer: Rufaro Faith Mazarura Editor: Ailsa Rochester Sound Design: Craig Edmondson An Audio Always production for BBC Radio 4

Anita Anand and her guests explore princesses - delving into their favourite fictional, or historical, princess. From She Ra to Mesopatamian high priestess Enheduanna we get into what it means to be a princess.

Actor Paterson Jospeh and Egyptologist and author Dr Colleen Darnell in conversation with Anita Anand. Paterson brings Egyptian princess Hatshepsut to the table and Dr Colleen Darnell explains her incredible, and mysterious, legacy. Hatshepsut rose from princess, to rule as regent to finally rule as Pharaoh alongside Thutmose III for two decades. But twenty years after her death there were efforts to forcibly remove her name from history... Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meeks Sound: Rob Green

Anita Anand in conversation with actor Meera Syal and Professor Keira Vaclavik, Professor of Children’s Literature and Childhood Culture, Queen Mary University of London. Meera brings Babette Cole's literary creation, Princess Smartypants as her favourite princess. The subversive lead character who puts prospective princes through their paces before inadvertently turning her future husband into a toad. Meera discusses the princesses of her childhood and how Princess Smartypants was the perfect role model for her daughter. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meeks Sound: Rob Green

Anita Anand in conversation with MP Stella Creasy and folklorist Dr Juliette Wood. It's back to Disney to get into the origins of Elsa from Frozen. We hear which elements Disney borrowed from Hans Christian Andersen's Snow Queen, and how Disney is changing how it does princesses. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meeks Sound: Rob Green

Anita Anand in conversation with comedian Rachel Fairburn and historian and biographer Flora Fraser, on Caroline of Brunswick. The princess roped into a bigamous marriage with Prince George, a relationship that quickly dissolved into a very public feud. Scandal and affairs from all parties ensue, and Caroline is left hammering on the door of Westminster Abbey as her husband is crowned King. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meeks Sound: Tom Rowbotham

Anita Anand hears about a mysterious Mongolian princess with author Kate Mosse and Professor David Sneath. Khutulun was the granddaughter of Genghis Khan, a warrior who her ruling father chose to have by his side. She is also rumoured to have refused any suitors who couldn't best her in a wrestling match. Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meeks Sound: Tom Rowbotham

Anita Anand explores the life and career of Grace Kelly with TV presenter and author Georgia Toffolo and financial expert Gemma Godfrey. We hear how Grace Kelly had to raise her own, enormous, dowry to become princess of Monaco, how becoming royalty forced her to abandon acting, and the mystery of where her money after she died. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Tom Rowbotham

Anita Anand in conversation with comedian Russell Kane and UCLA animation lecturer and critic Charles Solomon, on Disney princess Moana. The Polynesian daughter of a village chief who tussles with ancient gods, and demigods to restore the health of her island. We hear about Disney's new direction for its iconic princesses and Russell explains why Moana is his daughter's idol. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meeks Sound: Tom Rowbotham

Anita Anand explores the story of Sophia Duleep Singh; the daughter of a deposed Maharaja, goddaughter of Queen Victoria and a suffragette on the frontline of some of the most violent battles for women's rights. Anita Anand discusses her remarkable life with Actor Anjli Mohindra and Dr Priya Atwal. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meeks Sound: Tom Rowbotham

TV presenter Maddie Moate and author and lecturer Dr Rebecca Harrison explore the princess that changed sci fi - Princess Leia. The princess who was also a general and a member of the Rebel Alliance. We hear about the origin of her iconic hair style, how she persuaded studios that women would watch science fiction movies and the battles Carrie fisher had with the studio. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meeks Sound: Tom Rowbotham

Author Kit De Waal and TV presenter and journalist Zeinab Badawi explore the extraordinary story of Sarah Forbes Bonetta. The 6 year old West African girl, orphaned by King Dahomey and taken to his court, where a British Naval Captain bargained to take her back to England. There she was presented as a gift to Queen Victoria and entered high society, where she was called "the African princess". Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Tom Rowbotham

Who’s your favourite princess? That’s the question Anita is asking her guests as we dig into what it means to be a princess.