Proof The Beast Was Actually 11 When He Was Cursed In "Beauty And The Beast"

This settles it.

For years, one thing in particular has troubled fans of Beauty and the Beast: how old was the Beast when he was cursed?

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It's a hotly debated topic in the Disney fandom.

The prologue of the movie refers to him simply as a "young prince".

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Disney

And explains how the enchanted rose would bloom until his 21st year, the deadline for breaking the curse by finding true love.

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During the movie, we find out all the petals have nearly fallen off the rose, and the curse has been in place for 10 years.

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This makes sense if the Beast is nearly 21 - and was thus cursed when he was 10-11 years old.

But some fans point to the rather adult-looking portrait of the prince as evidence the curse actually suspended his aging.

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Some believe that the "21st year" comment may refer to the length of the curse itself, although this contradicts Lumiere's "10 years" statement.

Then there's the existence of Chip, who seems to be much younger than 10 himself and therefore apparently hasn't aged during the curse.

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Disney

But it seems Disney answered this question themselves back in 1997, in the direct-to-video sequel Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas.

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The movie is about Belle trying to bring Christmas to the castle (prior to breaking the curse), and there's a flashback scene explaining why the Beast hates Christmas - it was the day he was cursed.

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And it clearly shows the prince as a young boy at the time - around the age of 10 or 11.

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Disney

For context, this is what the prince looks like post-curse, as an adult, in both Beauty and the Beast and The Enchanted Christmas.

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Disney

So that settles that! But it also raises so many more questions...

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Disnet

Like, what kind of "good" enchantress curses an 11-year-old for not wanting to let in a random stranger at night?

Especially one who is a prince and could be assassinated or what have you?

What kind of prince answers the door himself anyway?

He can't be THAT selfish or lazy if he does that?

Also like no wonder he is screwed up, his only friends are servants???

Like he doesn't even have any family?

Where are his parents?

If he's the prince then where is the king?!

And how did a whole kingdom not notice that their prince had been turned into a beast?

What is the DEAL with Chip?!

Was he born AS A TEACUP?

And btw what about all those "brother and sister" teacups in the cupboard? Mrs Potts has got some explaining to do.

Sadly we may never have all the answers.

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