she is the princess of the Kingdom of Hyrule and the daughter of its king, making her its second most powerful leaderThe mortal incarnation of the Goddess Hylia, Zelda was chosen by destiny to be the keeper of the Triforce of Wisdom, which is the main reason she plays such an integral role in the legends of Hyrule,Zelda is often depicted as beautiful and regal,The royal dresses that she normally wears are long with determinate colors, such as different tones of pink, white, blue, and violet. Most of such dresses are shown with the Hylian Crest,Princess Zelda is depicted as a kind and benevolent ruler with wisdom beyond her years and a deep love towards the people she watches over. she is a caring, gracious, and self-sacrificing person.Zelda's wisdom is her most valuable attribute. As a matriarch, it is imperative that she makes the wisest decision concerning the fate of HyruleShe upholds her responsibilities no matter the cost and is always willing to help her friends,Above all, Zelda is known to be a forgiving person even towards those who have harmed her before,The princess of Hyrule often tends to be brave in combat or dangerous situationswhile she is normally a happy person, there are some cases where Zelda is depicted as stoic

Princess Zelda is not only the princess of Hyrule, she is also an aspiring scholar who is very curious. She is also the leader of the Champions of Hyrule.[155] Zelda herself is the mysterious voice that guides Link throughout his journey while she contains Calamity Ganon inside of Hyrule Castle.

Princess Zelda has been training to unlock her sealing powers passed down the royal family since she was 7 years old, one year after her mother unexpectedly passed away. With her mother gone there was nobody else around with the sacred power who could teach her how to use it, leaving Zelda to figure it out on her own. 100 years prior to the events of the game, Zelda met with the Champions. After meeting with them, she left the Castle to research ancient technology, but she did not come across anything of note. During this time, she felt the presence of Ganon and devoted herself to learning all she could about ancient relics in order to stop him.] She then met with a fortune teller who told her a prophecy, to which Zelda felt that there was not much time left. The following day, Link was appointed as the princess' knight, much to her chagrin. During the ceremony, Urbosa explains that Link is a living reminder of Zelda's own failures. Link and Princess Zelda then set out to Goron City to make adjustments to the Divine Beast Vah Rudania to make it easier for Daruk to control. During their journey to Eldin, Zelda comes to a stop and asks him how proficient he is wielding his Sword and asks him if he can hear the voice within the blade.

During her time with Link, Zelda wonders why he never speaks. Link's initial silence causes Princess Zelda to believe that Link despised her due to her inability to use sealing power despite being a daughter of Hyrule's royal family. Later on, Zelda discovers an Ancient Shrine and fails to open it.] Link arrives at the scene, which angers Zelda and causes her to lash out. She tells Link to return to the castle and testily demands he stop following her, regardless of the King's orders. Later on, Princess Zelda travels to the Gerudo Desert and is ambushed by the Yiga Clan. Link rescues her right before a Yiga assassin is about to kill her, striking him down and causing the other two Yiga to flee. This causes Zelda to change her attitude towards Link, valuing his devotion to protect her. Over the course of their journey, both start to open up to each other and realize how similar they are in their hardships of fulfilling their respective tasks. Her growing care and relationship towards the Hero of the Wild plays a crucial role in awakening her legendary abilities, as Link sacrifices himself to save the princess' life during the second Great Calamity and Zelda's powers awaken when she tries to rescue the wounded Link from a Guardian. She hears a voice inside the Master Sword saying that Link can be saved and orders the Sheikah to transport the hero to the Shrine of Resurrection. Then, she goes to the Korok Forest and places the Master Sword in its pedestal to recover. Zelda then spends the next 100 years inside Hyrule Castle with Calamity Ganon, keeping the demon in place within the Castle to prevent the destruction of the entirety of Hyrule. After Link awakens, she then telepathically guides him throughout his journey. Unfortunately, she was not able to hold off Calamity Ganon for much longer before he developed a rudimentary body. After Link managed to disable Calamity Ganon's most powerful form, Dark Beast Ganon, she was freed, and proceeded to destroy Calamity Ganon's essence with a powerful magic of light resembling the Triforce. She then reconvened with Link for the first time in a hundred years, and asked him if he still remembered her (as Link was initially left with amnesia thanks to his near-death experience). Some time later, she alongside Link left for Lake Hylia in order to investigate what caused the Divine Beast Vah Ruta to stop working, and that they ultimately need to restore Hyrule back to its former glory.

It is implied in one of the songs written by Kass’ teacher that Princess Zelda held romantic feelings for Link, similarly to some previous games. This song can be found after completing the end of the game, and speaking to Kass on the platform by the Ahk Va’quot Shrine in Rito Village.

Her favorite food is Fruitcake, as revealed by a recipe in a book in the Library in Hyrule Castle.

picking up where the true ending of Breath of the Wild left off. On their quest to restore the land of Hyrule after the Calamity's damage, Zelda and the Hero of the Wild leave the Master Sword in the Great Deku Tree's care. Some time later, they return to retrieve it, where the Great Deku Tree elaborates on Master Sword's self-regenerative properties and its growth from exposure to sacred energy. At some point in the following years, Princess Zelda and Link discover a strange, dubious substance seeping out from underneath Hyrule Castle, and begin to traverse the castle's underground chambers to investigate. They eventually discover a large mural detailing the Imprisoning War, though the latter portions of the mural are covered by rubble. Proceeding deeper into the chamber, the pair come across a mysterious scene - a gaunt husk of a mummified Gerudo man, seeping with some sort of Malice and sealed away by an ethereal hand pinned to its chest. Unbeknownst to the pair, the sealed corpse is Ganondorf, the Demon King of eons past, having been thwarted by Rauru, a Zonai and the founding King of Hyrule, whose arm is all that remains. Rauru's arm eventually falls off of Ganondorf's body, the secret stone embedded within tumbling out of the socket, where it is picked up by Zelda. Unfortunately, with the seal broken, Ganondorf returns to life and immediately attacks the pair with a frenzied burst of Malice, potent enough to decay Link's arm and cause the Master Sword to shatter upon impact, sending a shard flying into Ganondorf's cheek, slightly wounding him. Ganondorf is amused that the pair could not accomplish anything despite Rauru's faith in them both, and uses his dark magic to send a blast of Malice upward, raising Hyrule Castle from the ground as he falls into the Depths below. Princess Zelda also stumbles, and despite Link attempting to catch her, appears to fall into the Depths while Link is saved by Rauru's arm, which attaches to his right shoulder in place of his corrupted arm. However, Rauru's secret stone amplifies Zelda's dormant power over time, transporting her back in time, directly to Rauru's era.

King Rauru and Queen Sonia eventually stumble across the unconscious Zelda in a field. Upon her awakening and an exchange of introductions with the two, a surprised Princess Zelda quickly realizes how far she had been flung into the past. Rauru also believes her, noticing the similarities between her and Sonia (that being her time-based power and her secret stone), and Sonia elaborates further that she had already sensed Zelda was a descendant of the pair, as well as detecting Rauru's power of light within Zelda as well. Though she is anxious to return to her original era, Sonia comforts her, telling her to come to the castle, as it may take time for an answer to come to her. Additionally, Rauru suggest that his older sister Mineru may be able to help Zelda further.

Traveling with the royal pair, Princess Zelda receives new Zonai clothing and eventually meets Mineru, giving her the Purah Pad to examine. Mineru quickly determines the device is not of the current era, but believes she can get the travel functionality to work again. Zelda allows her to borrow it, and is pleased to hear that Mineru believes her story. Mineru then explains the nature of the secret stones - powerful artifacts that, while unable to help a holder refine their power, greatly amplify it instead. For Zelda, she reveals, the secret stone directly amplifies her power over time rather than light, which would explain how she was suddenly transported to the past. Since Princess Zelda isn't sure how to use her power to return home, the secret stone is of little use to her. However, Mineru also explains a forbidden act known as "draconification" in which an individual ingests a secret stone to transform themselves, shedding their former self to become an "immortal dragon, one blessed with eternal life". Mineru is personally against the idea, since Zelda would be compromising her person completely, and apologizes for being unable to help further. While Zelda is dejected, Rauru still suggests there is reason for her to have hope, as if she can study and learn to control her time power with Sonia's help, she might be able to return home on her own.

The kingdom is eventually alerted to an approaching swarm of Molduga, commanded by Ganondorf. To defeat them, Rauru channels energy with the help of his secret stone, and Sonia uses hers to help increase Rauru's power, enveloped in a golden aura. Prompted by Sonia, Princess Zelda attempts to do the same, and to the surprise of both herself and Sonia, generates an even larger aura than Sonia's. With their powers combined, Rauru's subsequent blast of light easily disposes of the Molduga swarm. Following these events, Ganondorf arrives in the kingdom, swearing fealty to King Rauru before leaving. Zelda speaks her misgivings about the Gerudo leader's intentions to Rauru, especially concerned regarding his name's similarity to that of Calamity Ganon's. Rauru reveals he is aware of Ganondorf's evil nature, but is confident in keeping him close by to observe him more easily. Zelda relents, but her face remains worried.

Some time later, Zelda meets with Sonia and Rauru for tea, but accidentally knocks over one of the cups. Sonia returns it to the table with Recalland notes Zelda's anxiety, revealing she understands how the princess is torn between helping them and returning to her own era. However, she encourages Zelda to focus on her return through time, especially in order to put Link's mind at ease. At the mentioning of Link, Rauru interjects, not knowing the name, so Princess Zelda explains her history with Link, revealing his heroic actions and determined personality to the two.

One night, Sonia and Zelda are alerted to the presence of a fake Princess Zelda, created by Ganondorf, and prepare a trap for the imposter. When the fake Zelda attempts to dispatch Sonia with a blade, Sonia reveals her awareness of the imposter's true nature, and Zelda - having further trained her time powers - catches the blade with Recall before it can reach the Hylian queen. Despite the exposed scheme, the false Zelda laughs before dissolving into darkness, and Sonia is subsequently executed with a surprise strike to the back by Ganondorf, who had infiltrated the castle. Distraught, Zelda rushes to the unconscious queen's side, but to no avail, as Ganondorf had already snatched Sonia's secret stone for himself. Laughing, he begins to emanate malice and gloom as he places the secret stone on his forehead, transforming into the Demon King in a crimson cyclone. The princess can only watch as the transformation completes and the moon turns a blood-red color. With an outstretched hand, Demon King Ganondorf summons a massive army of monsters to terrorize Hyrule. Rauru enters the room, infuriated by Ganondorf's actions, but Zelda convinces him to try and protect Sonia instead. As Ganondorf blasts Malice at the trio, Rauru defends the women with a shield of light, but is clearly outmatched. Just before the Malice consumes them all, Zelda pulls out the Purah Pad and uses the Mineru-repaired travel function to transport the three out of the room.

Ganondorf's new power allows him to quickly begin devastating the land of Hyrule. Within the confines of a location presently known as the Forgotten Temple, Zelda meets with Rauru, Mineru, and their masked aides - a Goron, a Gerudo, a Zora, and a Rito. After declaring their union, Rauru reveals the presence of four more secret stones to the group, granting them to the aides. Later, Zelda meets Rauru by the grave of the now-deceased Sonia, who did not survive her injury. Zelda reveals the rest of her circumstances to Rauru, recalling how she and Link discovered a mummified corpse underground she can now clearly identify as Ganondorf, and is terrified at the prospect of being unable to defeat the Demon King in the current past. Seeing Rauru's right arm worries her even more, as she realizes what the king's fate will be. Rauru, however, is accepting of his path, prepared to make up for his hubris and live up to his duty as ruler. Zelda is then surprised to hear Rauru say that Link, with the Master Sword in tow, will be Hyrule's last line of defense. Additionally, Rauru reminds Zelda that the future she lives in is one where she never appeared in the past, and her presence in the past era must have some significance - that is, she was sent to the past for a reason. Rauru then departs, leaving Zelda wondering what her purpose in the past truly is.

The ancient war between good and evil reaches its climax during the king and his Sages' confrontation with Ganondorf. With the Demon King's power proving too much for even their combined powers, Rauru prepares to make the ultimate sacrifice to seal Ganondorf away. As Mineru collapses, the remaining four Sages use the last of their strength to launch their weapons at Ganondorf, who evades them easily. Zelda attempts to use Recall to send the weapons back at the Demon King, but Ganondorf anticipates the technique and smacks them aside. However, this provides Rauru with the perfect opportunity to surprise-attack Ganondorf with a punch to his abdomen, binding his heart and stealing his magic to hold him in place for as long as he possibly can. With the Demon King sealed, the "Imprisoning War" is brought to an end, but the victory is at best bittersweet - and dangerously temporary.

Later, in the Temple of Time, Zelda reflects on the botched success of the group's efforts to defeat Ganondorf, recalling how easily the Master Sword shattered against a weakened Ganondorf's powers despite a flying shard cutting the Gerudo's cheek, and remains unsure if Link can live up to Rauru's expectations. Just then, her secret stone begins to glow. She walks outside to the temple's altar, where a golden light seems to resonate with her secret stone. Approaching the light, Zelda watches with amazement as the damaged Master Sword appears from it, landing in her hands. She is astonished at the Master Sword's presence, but then the sword (presumably the spirit of Fi) speaks to her with a bluish glow, informing her that Link is safe and that it had traveled back to the past on purpose to recover and build up enough strength to destroy Ganondorf. Finally, Zelda realizes her purpose in the past - to safeguard the Master Sword as it rejuvenates, and return it to Link when the time comes.

Thinking back on Mineru's explanation of draconification, Zelda becomes determined to undergo the process in order to fulfill her purpose, as her sacred powers of light would greatly energize the Master Sword over time. Though Mineru initially remains against the idea, she eventually relents after Princess Zelda reaffirms her decision, agreeing to help both Zelda and Link in spirit even if her body perishes. Afterwards, the two devise their strategy: Mineru would use her powers as the Sage of Spirit to transfer her soul to the Purah Pad before the gloom took its full toll on her physical body, while Zelda would go through with draconification to protect the Master Sword, which Link would hopefully retrieve in the present day.

After giving a Zonai attendant the Purah Pad, with Mineru inhabiting it, Princess Zelda steels herself, then swallows Rauru's secret stone. As the sky darkens, Zelda becomes bathed in a brilliant light, but is overcome with pain. Staggering towards the Master Sword, she is eventually able to grasp it, holding it to her chest as the light intensifies and the ground begins to shake. Crying out for Link to protect Hyrule one last time, her eyes suddenly turn draconic as the light explodes into a colossal dome of energy, engulfing her as she transforms into the Light Dragon and soars into the air with a roar. The four remaining Sages look on as the dragon's tears, containing Zelda's last remaining memories, leave her, scattering across the land. With the Master Sword embedded in the Light Dragon's head, it begins the long, arduous process of healing and strengthening, constantly protected by Zelda's heartbreaking sacrifice.

In the present day, Link - with Impa's assistance - discovers that the tears have created large, glowing markings on the earth known as geoglyphs. Upon reaching pools of mystical water in each geoglyph, one of the Light Dragon's tears appears before him, allowing him to experience Zelda's memories in the past and gradually piece them together. The final tear, shed by the Light Dragon in the present, details the memory of Zelda's draconification and vow to the hero. Seeking out the Great Deku Tree for knowledge, Link and the elder tree find out that the presence of the Master Sword is constantly shifting. Taking to the skies, Link eventually lands atop the Light Dragon and - discovering the Master Sword in the dragon's head - attempts to unsheathe it. The Light Dragon does not take kindly to this, and begins writhing and roaring as if trying to throw Link off. However, with at least twice his base stamina, Link is able to hang on for dear life. The Light Dragon then realizes it is Link who attempts to reclaim the sacred blade and stops trying to thwart him, instead flying into the skies above, revealing an endless, golden realm of light.

The hairs of the Light Dragon untwist from the Master Sword, allowing Link to finally pull it out of the dragon's head and raise it skyward. Link then experiences a vision of Zelda before she draconified, where the princess reminds him of the Master Sword's first loss to the Demon King, but promises that with her sacred strength reinforcing them both, they can turn the tides. Calling Link her final hope, she prays that the sword would reach him in the future. Upon exiting the sacred sky, the Light Dragon drops Link off at the Temple of Time before flying off into the distance.

The Light Dragon later returns to confront Ganondorf, having also undergone draconification to become the massive Demon Dragon, in the game's final battle. Upon seeing the Light Dragon, the Demon Dragon roars in anger, releasing Link from its jaws. Before the exhausted Link can plummet to his doom, the Light Dragon catches him in mid-air, and the two fly back up to confront the Demon Dragon in an skyward showdown.

Link finally slays the Demon Dragon with the revitalized sword of legend, and both he and the Light Dragon watch as the embodiment of evil detonates in a crimson geyser of light. Suddenly, both Link and the Light Dragon enter a mysterious realm containing nothing but a swirl of green clouds. Rauru's arm begins to glow and extends towards the Light Dragon, releasing tiny particles of energy towards it. Rauru and Sonia's spirits appear on either side of Link, covering his hand with their own to add even more energy. The light eventually envelops the dragon whole, and after a bright flash, Zelda returns to her natural form. As Rauru and Sonia's spirits depart for the afterlife, Link and the unconscious Zelda are transported back to Hyrule, falling from the sky. With all the remaining strength he can muster, Link dives after the princess, catching her just before they land in a lake.

Princess Zelda awakens, and is surprised to see Link with her, but notices he wears the restored Master Sword in its sheath, and realizes that the Demon King has been vanquished, wondering if she is dreaming. Overjoyed at Link's victory, she suddenly stops, questioning how she made it to the present day, but then understands that she had been "sleeping" throughout the passage of time, but when she felt something akin to a "warm, loving embrace", she woke up. Looking at the raised Hyrule Castle, she then turns to Link, excited to tell him all about ancient Hyrule and the people she met, before happily declaring that she's back home.[175]

Some time later, Princess Zelda, Link, Mineru (who had inhabited a Zonai construct), Purah, the new Sages (Tulin, Riju, Sidon and Yunobo) all arrive atop the Temple of Time to take in the view, per Mineru's request. After revealing how Rauru and Sonia must have channeled their powers into Link to change Zelda back, Mineru's spirit then departs to join her brother and her sister-in-law for the afterlife, but not before the new Sages make a declaration to support Zelda and protect Hyrule, much like Mineru and the ancient Sages did long ago. With a final reflection on the life of the ancient Sages and royal family, Princess Zelda asks her present-day allies to stand with her, overlooking the land of Hyrule.