| "The Princess and the Queen" | |
|---|---|
| House of the Dragon episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 6 |
| Directed by | Miguel Sapochnik |
| Written by | Sara Hess |
| Featured music | Ramin Djawadi |
| Cinematography by | Fabian Wagner |
| Editing by | Tim Porter |
| Original air date | September 25, 2022 |
| Running time | 68 minutes |
"The Princess and the Queen" is the sixth episode of the first season of the fantasy drama television series House of the Dragon, a prequel to Game of Thrones. Its title is named after George R. R. Martin's eponymous 2013 novella. The episode was written by Sara Hess and directed by showrunner and executive producer Miguel Sapochnik. It first aired on HBO and HBO Max on September 25, 2022.
The episode features a 10-year time jump after the previous episode and depicts the birth of Rhaenyra and Laenor's third son Joffrey; Daemon, Laena, and their daughters Baela and Rhaena's visit to Pentos; and the consequences of allegation surrounding Rhaenyra and Laenor's sons as bastards.
"The Princess and the Queen" introduced several new cast members, including Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cooke as the adult versions of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower, respectively. In the United States, the episode garnered a viewership of 1.8 million during its premiere night on linear television alone. It received mostly positive reviews, with critics praising the opening scene, Laena's death scene, the climactic sequence at Harrenhal, and the performances (especially those of Cooke, D'Arcy, and Nanna Blondell), though some criticized the pacing, particularly for causing emotional scenes to fall short.