King Harold (Shrek)

Shrek character
name=King Harold


caption=King Harold from "Shrek 2"
gender=Male
form=Human/Frog Prince
spouse= Queen Lillian
family= Queen Lillian (wife), Arthur Pendragon (nephew), Princess Fiona (daughter), Shrek (son in-law), Ogre triplets (grandchildren)
voiced by=John Cleese
died in= Shrek The Third as a Frog Prince
appearance=Shrek 2
Shrek the Third|

King Harold was a character from the Shrek films, produced by Dreamworks. He is the husband of Queen Lillian, [ [http://www.movieweb.com/movies/film/24/1024/gal1610/20.php Queen Lillian (JULIE ANDREWS) and King Harold (JOHN CLEESE) learn that they may rule the kingdom, but they don't rule their daughter's heart] ] [ [http://film.guardian.co.uk/pictures/image/0,8545,-10304954831,00.html Queen Lillian (Julie Andrews) and King Harold (John Cleese)] ] and father to Princess Fiona.

King Harold in the Shrek films

"Shrek 2"

King Harold makes his debut in the film "Shrek 2". When his daughter Fiona arrives at the castle with her new husband, he is surprised that they are both ogres. King Harold had secretly made a promise to the Fairy Godmother that her son Prince Charming would marry Fiona. King Harold hires Puss in Boots to assassinate Shrek. King Harold then succumbs to guilt when Fiona finds out that Shrek is not around. Harold at first refuses when the Fairy Godmother asks him to give the love potion to Fiona that will cause her to fall in love with Prince Charming, because he recoils from this invasion of her free will, but he is forced to acquiesce by some dark threat of disclosure; in the event Harold swaps the cup in which the philtre is laced for his own and takes the potion himself. At the ball toward the end of the film, Harold protects Fiona and Shrek from a blast of magic from Fairy Godmother's wand. He is finally transformed into his original form of the Frog Prince when he is hit by the Fairy Godmother's magic wand. The wife seems not at all unhappy about this turn of events. After this, he apologizes to Shrek and accepts him into the family.

"Shrek the Third"

King Harold briefly appears in the film "Shrek the Third" as the Frog King, where he dies of an unknown sickness (possibly old age). Before dying, he gives Shrek the choice of either becoming the king of Far Far Away or finding Artie Pendragon to take the throne. He leaves the decision to Shrek, feeling that his son-in-law will make the right choice. After he dies, his body is put in a shoebox and sent drifting out across a pond.

Clues to His Identity

There are several clues in "Shrek 2" to Harold's true identity. When he and Lillian talk about their courtship, Lillian mentions they would walk by the lily pond. When Harold goes to the Poison Apple to recruit an assasain, a female frog asks him "Don't I know you?"

Like the frog prince of the fairy tale, Harold has the ability to talk as a frog. However, Harold appears to be one of a race of talking frogs. This is evidenced by the talking female frog at The Poison Apple and the frog choir who sing Live and Let Die.

References