King Stefan and Queen Leah
In the classic Sleeping Beauty (1959), King Stefan and Queen Leah star in one of the saddest stories in fairy tale history. Parents of Princess Aurora, they are overcome with joy when celebrating the birth of their daughter, but their happiness is short-lived. During the royal christening, the feared Maleficent appears unexpectedly and casts a terrible curse on the newborn, condemning her to fall into a deep sleep when she turns 16.
Desperate to save their daughter, the king and queen entrust Aurora to the care of the fairy godmothers, who take her to live in hiding in the forest. For years, Stefan and Leah rule the kingdom without hearing from the princess, consumed by longing and the fear of never seeing her again. When the curse is finally fulfilled, the castle is plunged into sadness, and the royal couple falls asleep along with the rest of the kingdom.
Although they appear little in the plot, Stefan and Leah's pain and concern are essential to convey the emotion and gravity of the curse, making them fundamental figures in the unfolding of this timeless Disney classic.
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