After Disney's Kenobi, interest in one of the Star Wars universe's most famous characters has picked back up. We're talking, of course, about Princess Leia Organa, who was most famously played by Carrie Fisher in the original trilogy and then again in Rey's saga. Her appearance as a child in Kenobi was a breath of fresh air, depicting a strong young female character who had all of the makings of her adult self.
Whether you found young Leia awesome or annoying, there's no denying that her portrayal by Vivien Lyra Blair was excellent. The actress is only 10 years old! This author was only capable of playing Gameboy and sketching awful doodles at that age.
Seeing Leia on screen seems to have sent the internet into question-asking overdrive. We've once again headed to Google's search analytics to answer some of the most common questions about Leia and her abilities. Let's take a look...
Is Princess Leia a Jedi?
No, but she would have been an excellent one.
While Leia is never shown to wield a lightsaber or be trained in the ways of the Jedi, there's clear evidence that the daughter of Padme Amidala and Anakin Skywalker is strong in the Force. From early hints in the OT to an overt example in the Rey trilogy (though it was a truly cringe-worthy CGI sequence), Leia is strong in the Force for an untrained person. If she had been trained as a Jedi, who knows where she'd have gone?
Why is Princess Leia a princess?
If you've yet to watch Kenobi, you might still be wondering why the leader of the Rebel Alliance was a princess. After all, leading a band of rebels doesn't make you royalty...right?
In the background lore (and shown in Kenobi), Leia is adopted by the Organa family, who rule the planet of Alderaan. This makes her a princess and ruler-in-waiting. However, the rise of the empire and the growth of the Rebel Alliance takes precedence for Leia. Before she becomes queen, her planet is destroyed by the Death Star.
Who Adopted Princess Leia?
While her brother Luke went off to sand-blasted Tatooine, Leia found a better home when she was adopted by the Organa family. Her adoptive parents were Queen Breha Organa and Senator Bail Organa. It is Senator Bail Organa who takes the larger role in the Star Wars franchise, appearing on screen in the prequel trilogy and again in Kenobi.
Played by Jimmy Smits in all his screen appearances, Bail was a good friend to Padme Amidala and adopts her daughter without hesitation. It's also Bail who begins the forging of the Rebel Alliance, working in secret with allies like Mon Mothma.
How Did Princess Leia Die?
Okay internet - if you're reading this and for some reason you haven't watched all of the Star Wars films, it's time to look away. But also, seriously, you're on a Star Wars saber site all about fandom. Why haven't you watched them all?
SPOILER
Princess Leia died in The Rise of Skywalker, reliquishing her life in order to cast out with the Force to message her son, Kylo Ren, and remind him of his origins as Ben. This act helped Kylo redeem himself and find his way back to being Ben Solo, but it cost the aged Leia dearly.
Sadly, this death was probably not the way the writers had intended the franchise to go. Leia's passing was a neccessity as in a tragic turn of events, actress Carrie Fisher died after filming The Last Jedi, but before she could return to finish her character's journey in The Rise of Skywalker.
Carrie passed in 2016 at the age of 60, suffering a heart attack during a flight from London to L.A. This was an enormous loss to the entire Star Wars community and a huge blow to the franchise.
Did Princess Leia Have A Lightsaber?
We can't really end this article without taking a look at the saber side of things. While it might surprise you, Princess Leia did indeed have a lightsaber! After the battle of Endor, Leia trained with Luke and became a Jedi Padawan.
Leia's saber was an interesting design - crafted to reflect the ornamentation and regal nature of Leia's planet, Alderaan. However, upon sensing an omen that her son would die if she continued her training, Leia gave up the saber and her skills. Luke stored it when he went into hiding and eventually passed it on to Rey.
It is this saber, alongside Luke's, that Rey buries in the sands of Tatooine at the end of Episode 9. This symbolic gesture puts Luke and Leia's spirits and destiny to rest.
Grab a saber inspired by the Princess!
If you'd like to pay homage to the royal highness herself, our legendary saber is a tribute to the Art Deco design of Leia's saber. Grab it today and enjoy unparalleled quality with durable duel-ready design.