A question about the episode "Princess Spike".

[Azureth 687]

I realize in Equestria being a Princess is pretty much the end all be all in status but we do know Princes exist so why does Spike like to call himself a Princess when being a male he should be a Prince.

[PiratePony 8,489]

It's probably because all the highest ranking officials are the princesses, and his BFF is a princess, so, it's probably only natural for him to think "princess," due to his surroundings.

[Apple-Jack 312]

Perhaps it was done for amusement ... +He was keeping the place of Twilight -> her attributes (princess atributes)->princess  spike (spike with princess atributes) <- if I didn't type it right I'm really sorry I haven't slept in over 24 hrs... last exam is in 5 hrs...

[Castle Bleck 19,440]

Perhaps it was done for amusement ... +He was keeping the place of Twilight -> her attributes (princess atributes)->princess  spike (spike with princess atributes) <- if I didn't type it right I'm really sorry I haven't slept in over 24 hrs... last exam is in 5 hrs...

 

The show has a knack for titles with multiple meanings, after all.

[Wind Chaser 4,768]

For all the princes we've seen in this show, they haven't been the most sterling and there isn't much indication that they're equal with the princesses. Blueblood was a jerk that seems to have been born into his title and Shining Armor, despite being far more virtuous in personality, still married into his title. Princesses, however, seem to have earned their titles (at least until Flurry Heart confused this whole idea) and wield more power and responsibility.

 

Additionally, no male alicorns are known to exist, which means it's unknown if this title would be bestowed on one. Thus, all anyone knows to be the title of the position Twilight holds is "princess". As far as Equestria is concerned, "princess" could be a gender-neutral term for the highest office they have. It doesn't mean the same to them as it does to any other world, real or fictional. On a related note, see "Princess Big Mac" in "Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?"

Edited June 14, 2016 by Wind Chaser

[cmarston1 5,962]

Because this show is targeted at a female demographic and any and all important political figures in Equestria are all princesses.

[gamecubeguy214 2,513]

Spike must be the kind of person I am. I think Donkey Kong is a waifu and not a husbando. With Spike, that's the same concept.

[snowflame 189]

Because Spike is taking over duties from princess Twilight.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 42,202]

Transgender Spike confirmed, print it.

 

In all seriousness, Spike just kept the title that Twilight had. He was filling in her role after all. I also wouldn't be surprised if he barely knew what a prince was. Shining Armor is the only one we know of right? Well, there is Blueblood but...you know. So he barely knows about princes I think.

[Batbrony 16,075]

I realize in Equestria being a Princess is pretty much the end all be all in status but we do know Princes exist so why does Spike like to call himself a Princess when being a male he should be a Prince.

 

It's kinda like the phrase "It's good to be the king."  Yeah, we know there are queens out there, but the title that most people immediately think of when they think of a monarch is king because the role has traditionally been dominated by males, at least when the title meant something.  Same thing in Equestria.  Kings or princes clearly exist as evidenced by King Sombra, King Grover the griffon king, and also I believe technically Shining Armor is prince of the Crystal Empire right now, but in Equestria, the ponies that everypony there immediately associates with monarchy are the princesses.

[LHfunk 422]

He was just filling in for Twilight, so he became a princess. Simple.