Princess of Thieves 2001

Years after the known events of the Robin Hood legend, Gwyn Keira Knightley has grown into a strong-willed young woman with a remarkable talent for archery, echoing the legacy her father once carried. With Maid Marian Hannah Cresswell dead and Robin Hood Stuart Wilson frequently away fighting in the Crusades, Gwyn has spent years navigating life largely on her own, supported only by the loyal Froderick Del Synnott, who quietly harbors affection for her. When King Richard dies, Robin returns to England to see the rightful order restored, but he is quickly foiled and imprisoned by the forces that oppose him—the Sheriff of Nottingham Malcolm McDowell and Prince John Jonathan Hyde.

The burden of the mission falls squarely on Gwyn. She must complete Robin’s unfinished task by locating and protecting the young Prince Philip Stephen Moyer, who has just returned from exile in France to lay claim to the throne—traveling in disguise under the name of his valet, who died while protecting him. Gwyn’s path brings her into contact with the prince, though she does not yet know his true identity, and a spark of romance begins to bloom between them as they navigate a landscape of danger and intrigue.

To keep England from spiraling into chaos, Gwyn and Philip must seek out the celebrated band of outlaws known as the Merry Men and unite their forces to free her father from the tortures of the Tower of London before Prince John can crown himself king. The rescue becomes a turning point, forcing Gwyn to confront the limits of loyalty, duty, and love. After Robin is freed, Gwyn, her father, and Prince Philip confront the looming coronation, and a heart-wracking choice comes into sharper focus: Gwyn tells Philip that she can only serve him and cannot be with him, a truth that Robin confirms with a hard–won practicality born of years spent in peril. He explains that his distance was meant to shield her, but it hasn’t prevented her from growing into a figure who can stand beside him.

In the aftermath, a new alliance forms. Robin proposes a partnership in which Gwyn would follow his lead, but only as an equal, with the clause that she accepts his authority as her guiding compass. Gwyn agrees, and the two of them are seen leading Robin’s men, side by side, ready to defend Philip’s claim and restore balance to a realm on the edge of ruin. The film pays close attention to the emotional costs of heroism, the stubborn courage of a young woman who steps into a legacy of violence without losing her own voice, and the fragile, enduring bond that can emerge when duty and desire collide.