Grand Duke

Unreleased

The Grand Duke is a character from Disney's classic film, Cinderella. He made his debut appearance in the Kingdom Hearts series in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. A loyal servant of the King and Prince Charming, he desperately searches for the maiden that left behind a glass slipper at the Prince's royal ball.

Story
While dealing with the King's temper one night, the Grand Duke held suggestion for a royal ball to be held in order to find Prince Charming a bride. He later watched the ball as it took place, gladly seeing that the Prince had found a maiden he seemed rather fond of. Yet one thing went wrong : on the stroke of midnight, the beautiful girl fled the castle, leaving behind a single glass slipper. It was then that the King gave the order to hold a search party, saying that any maiden who fit the slipper would be charming's bride. The Grand Duke then left without hesitation to carry out his command.

Eventually coming before the young Aqua, a Keybearer from outside the world of Castle of Dreams, the Grand Duke had the girl try the slipper, also bringing her before the Prince. Yet this was to no avail, the true maiden who fit the slipper, Cinderella, discovered and marrying Prince Charming to live on happily ever after.

Origin
The Grand Duke first appeared in Walt Disney's classic 1950 film. Sharing a similar role as in Birth by Sleep, he serves the King as his right-hand man. This unfortunately leads to death threats and other forms of pain being mentioned when the King loses his temper. Despite this, there is no love lost between the duo, the clutzy Duke always given a second chance. When the glass slipper belonging to Cinderella was left behind, he was sent on a desperate search to discover the girl for Prince Charming to marry after the royal ball.

In the second Cinderella film, the Grand Duke appeared once more, aiding Cinderella in the adjustment to life as a Princess. He also found a lover, the King's advisor, a strict woman named Prudence.

In the third in final film, the Duke appeared once more, preparing false wedding arrangements when Lady Tremaine used the Fairy Godmother's wand to trick Prince Charming into marrying Anastasia.