“Long Live the King”

There can be great dignity in frailty, and the aging [King Arthur] stands before his people and announces that the time has come to relinquish the powers of the crown.

“When she reaches her maturity, my granddaughter Ingrid, child of Maeve and Arn, shall rule in Camelot as queen. Ingrid unites the blood of two great houses – the House of Thule and my own House of Pendragon. Until then, Prince Valiant and Queen Aleta of the Misty Isles shall act as a regency council. And I? I shall spend the time that is left tending my gardens and reading my books.”

Tears roll down a thousand faces, and a thousand voices cry as one: “Long live the King!”


Art: Gary Gianni (from page 3513, June 6, 2004).
Text: Mark Schultz.

See also the previous posts:
• Arthur Pendragon, High King of Britain
• An Audience with King Arthur and Queen Guinevere
• Arthur and Launcelot
• “The King Is But a Man”
• Mistress of the Hounds
• “I Dare You to Learn My Secret”
• The Ring
• Maeve, Woman of Mystery
• Prince Arn, Regent of Camelot

Prince Arn, Regent of Camelot

Last week’s page saw the welcome return of Arn and his family to the Prince Valiant saga.

Prince Arn is the first-born of Prince Valiant of Thule and Queen Aleta of the Misty Isles. In his youth, Arn was smitten by Maeve, a woman of great mystery. In time it was revealed that Maeve was King Arthur’s niece, the daughter of his evil half-brother Mordred.

After many trials and tribulations, Arn and Maeve eventually married. They have a young daughter named Ingrid, whom Arthur decreed the heir to his throne.

When Arthur retired to a life of solitude and seclusion, he made Prince Valiant and Queen Aleta co-regents of his realm until Ingrid came of age. In time, however, Arthur realized that Prince Valiant was ill-suited for such a task. He therefore relieved Val and Aleta of their duties and made his niece and her spouse the co-regents of Camelot.

Page #4363 (September 20, 2020) of Prince Valiant shows Arn for the first time in a long time. It's been just as long since Maeve has made an appearance, and even longer for little Ingrid.

Of the five children of Val and Aleta, the three who have figured most prominently in the strip over the past decade are the youngest, Nathan, and the twins, Karen and Valeta. The one who has been seen the least is Galan, who for years has been studying medicine in far-off Jerusalem.

At long last [back in Britain], Val, Aleta and Nathan report their travels in the southern and eastern worlds to Camelot's regents, Arn and Maeve, and to Ingrid – the heir to Arthur's throne. As they are all family, separated for years, there is much exchange, and gossip well outside the bounds of official court business.


Art: Thomas Yeates (from page 4363, September 20, 2020).
Text: Mark Schultz.
Source: Comics Kingdom.

See also the previous posts:
• Reunion
• A Sweet Reunion
• “We Are the Daughters of the Queen of the Misty Isles and the Prince of Thule”
• The Return of Karen and Valeta
• Marital Woes
• A Valiant First Effort, Wouldn't You Say?