There are many similarities between Princess Leia, the character portrayed by Carrie Fisher, and Fisher's own ancestor princess.
Carrie Fisher said that she was Princess Leia, and Princess Leia was her. Those that knew Fisher described her as possessing many of the same qualities as Princess Leia: smart, strong, courageous, defiant, witty, strong-willed, a leader. It’s no wonder we see the two as inextricably linked and that many the world over look to Princess Leia/Carrie Fisher as a beacon of strength.
Because of her iconic status throughout the world, I wanted to look into Carrie Fisher's ancestry and see if there was anything interesting from her heritage that related to her role as Princess Leia in Star Wars. Turns out there's a glaring resemblance in her ancestry.
Carrie Fisher Descended from a Princess with Parallels to Leia
I looked into Carrie Fisher’s family tree and found that her ancestry can be traced back to medieval times, with many of her lines connecting to royal lineages. One ancestor in particular stood out to me: Princess Marjorie of Scotland, the 24th great grandmother of Carrie Fisher.
Both Were Princesses
Leia Organa was a princess, born to Padmé Amidala, the Queen of Naboo, and her consort Anakin Skywalker, a Jedi Knight. She would later be adopted by Queen Breha Organa, ruler of Alderaan.
Carrie Fisher’s ancestor, Marjorie, was also a princess, born to King Robert I “the Bruce” of Scotland, and Isabella of Mar in the year 1296 AD.
Both Belonged to Rebel Factions
Princess Leia was a key leader of the Rebel Alliance in a war to gain independence from the imposed dictatorship of the Galactic Empire.
Princess Marjorie was of the noble House Bruce, which had rebelled against the imposed dictatorship placed over Scotland by England. Her father was crowned King of Scotland in defiance of the English. Marjorie's family led the country in a war for Scottish independence from England.
Both Were Held As Prisoners
Princess Leia and her entourage were intercepted and captured by the Galactic Empire, and she was taken by stormtroopers to Darth Vader, who had the princess imprisoned and tortured on the Death Star.
Princess Marjorie of Scotland’s life became endangered when her father’s forces were defeated by the English at the Battle of Methven in June 1306. Her father sent her to the north for safety, but she and her entourage were intercepted and handed over to the English. The English king had a cage built for Princess Marjorie at the Tower of London, but changed his mind and instead sent the princess to Watton Priory, where she was imprisoned in a convent for over seven years.
Both Fell in Love with Their Rescuers
Princess Leia’s escape from prison was aided by Han Solo and Luke Skywalker, who conduct her safely back to the Rebel Alliance. In the following years, Princess Leia and Han Solo fall in love and eventually have a son, Ben Solo (Kylo Ren), who becomes Supreme Leader of the First Order.
After about seven years, Princess Marjorie was released from her long imprisonment in England as part of a prisoner exchange. Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland, was sent to receive the princess at the border and safely conduct her back to the Scottish court. In the following years, Princess Marjorie and Walter Stewart married and had a son, Robert, who would later ascend the throne as King Robert II of Scotland.
Spoiler Alert: If you have not yet seen The Rise of Skywalker, skip ahead to the section titled "The Galaxy's Beloved Princess."
Farewell to the Princesses
Princess Leia, already weak, used the Force to reach out to her son, Ben, in order to redeem him and save Rey. Princess Leia had used all of her remaining strength, and passed away, becoming one with the Force.
A few years after marrying, Princess Marjorie, now pregnant, was traveling on horseback when the horse was suddenly startled, throwing her to the ground. The princess went into premature labor, and gave birth to her only child and son, Robert. Having used all her strength for her son, Princess Marjorie passed away shortly after giving birth, and joined the company of her ancestors on the other side.
Both princesses used all of their remaining strength to save their sons.
The Galaxy's Beloved Princess
Carrie Fisher portrayed Princess Leia as a strong woman possessing strength, courage, determination, and a confidant leader. Many women have noted how important it was for them as a young girl to see that kind of woman, both on the screen as Leia, and in person as Carrie. Billie Lourd, daughter of Carrie Fisher, attended Comic-Con with her mom and said that many people had stories of how Leia saved their lives.
Said Fisher's daughter, "I realized then that Leia is more than just a character. She’s a feeling. She is strength. She is grace. She is wit. She is femininity at its finest. She knows what she wants, and she gets it. She doesn’t need anyone to defend her, because she defends herself. And no one could have played her like my mother. Princess Leia is Carrie Fisher. Carrie Fisher is Princess Leia. The two go hand in hand."
Carrie Fisher had within her the blood of a rebel princess all along. Coupled with Carrie's own personality and spirit, she became the most beloved princess in the galaxy. May the Force be with her.
About the Author
As a genealogist and family historian, I enjoy researching my own family tree and the trees of others. It gives me a sense of someone’s background and what makes them who they are today. To see their roots and where they come from is inspiring to me. I’m often in awe of the experiences of their ancestors and how they connect to the present. I hope to inspire others to research their own family trees and find out where they come from by sharing interesting insights from the family trees of notable figures.
—Mike Batie
Have a question? Comment? Shoot me a message using the contact form on the About page.
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