Once upon a time, there was a king who had one daughter. She was exceedingly beautiful and famed for that quality, so that suitors came from far and wide to win her hand in marriage. But the princess was stubborn and conceited and felt that none was good enough for her. The suitors assembled by her father, the king, included the highest calibre of men, wealthy and powerful princes, but the princess was very insulting, found fault with all of them, laughed at them and called them names.
The king lost patience with her, and was determined that she should marry. He was happy to find a young prince who fitted the bill to perfection, but his daughter ridiculed him, insulted him and mockingly called him “King Thrushbeard” because of the style and appearance of his beard. The suitor withdrew in hurt and humiliation, but the king was most angry and saw this as the last straw. He declared that she would marry the next man who came along regardless of who he was.
