As the play begins, Prince Louis is feeling ignored and lonely, but doesn't know what to do; he would really like a princess as a companion. The Queen tells him she has already sent for a real princess and her name is Jerseylee. The Prince does not think he will like someone he doesn't know. The Queen tells him to trust her because she's his mother and knows what's best for him. Princess Jerseylee arrives at the palace. When the Prince and her talk, Louis discovers they have nothing in common. She likes birdies in the trees, sewing tapestries and collecting pebbles. He likes adventures and excitement. He expresses his displeasure to the king and the Queen. The Queen reassures Jerseylee that she has a plan to make the Prince want to marry her. Meanwhile, the Prince confides in his father that he could never marry Jerseylee and he doesn't know how to tell her. As the King tries to explain about the birds and the bees to the Prince, there is a knock at the castle door. A bedraggled waif enters the throne room. She claims she was thrown from her horse and walked a long distance to find a place to stay the night. She assures them that despite her muddy appearance, she is a real princess by the name of Georgiana. The Prince is taken by the new arrival and asks his father to send a messenger to find out if she is a real princess as the first Act ends.

                                

As the second Act begins it is the next morning. The Prince is obviously pleased with Georgiana's arrival. When the Queen meets Georgiana she is noticeably upset because she is not the type of princess she wanted for the Prince. The Queen then reveals a plan to Jerseylee to make sure the Prince marries her and not Georgiana. She will apply the true test of a princess by placing a small pea under her mattress to see if Georgiana will be able to sleep. In fact, she will use twenty mattresses and give her a sleeping potion to make sure she doesn't pass the test. The Queen tells the Prince about a test she will give Georgiana and agrees to let him marry her if she passes. But if she fails, he must marry the other princess, Jerseylee. The Prince tells Georgiana that she is to be tested to see if she is a real princess, but doesn't know what the test is. Later that night, the Queen and Georgiana are in the bed chamber. The Queen carries out her plan and hides a small pea under the bottommost mattress. She then gives Georgiana a sleeping potion in her milk. As Georgiana tries to settle in for the night, she finds the bed very uncomfortable and though sleepy cannot seem to rest. The next morning, Jerseylee realizes the Prince does not love her and tells him of the Queen's test. He thanks her and assures her that someday her prince will come. The Prince confronts the Queen about the test and she is sure that Georgiana has failed. Just then Georgiana enters and tells of the terrible lump in her bed that kept her awake all night long. Georgiana has past the test to prove she is a real, live princess. The Prince immediately proposes marriage to her and they live happily ever after. The End.