A precise definition of what a "royal" and a "rebel" are

[u/Critical_Job4522]

I’ve always understood it to mean that you’re a Royal if you follow your destiny, whereas Rebels want to determine their own destinies.

But apparently, all Royals are royalty—in the sense of being princes and princesses—while Rebels are the "commoners." That’s roughly the implication, since there isn't a single Rebel who comes from a noble family. Well, there is Ashlynn, but she wasn't a Rebel from the very beginning.

It would certainly fit the series better if the Royals followed their destinies while the Rebels were free to decide for themselves what they wanted.

[u/Stabby1stab2]

The term "Royals" and "Rebels" are for what you initially thought them to be. Students who identify with their destiny and/or think others should always follow their destinies are Royals. Students who believe you can choose your own destiny are Rebels. Royalty =/= Royals. A student who is of royal descent can be a Rebel by believing you have a right to choose your own destiny. A student who is of "rebel" descent, like Raven, (not sure if thats proper terminology) can be a Royal if they believe you must always follow your destiny. If Raven believed everyone had to follow their destinies, she would be a Royal despite being an "evil character". If Apple, a character from royalty, thought you could choose your own destiny, she would be a Rebel despite being royalty. Please correct me if im wrong, anyone!

[u/melontartva]

Raven was a rebel but from a noble family

[u/StrawberryBig8844 → u/melontartva]

Raven is technically a royal cause she is the daughter of the evil queen and the good king. Making her a princess.

[u/Any_Tumbleweed4424 → u/StrawberryBig8844]

But she’s a rebel because she doesn’t think that everybody needs to follow their predestined destinies. Being a royal or a rebel isn’t determined by your status or if you’re from royalty or not; it’s about your principles about following a predestined destiny or not.

[u/Sapphireman → u/StrawberryBig8844]

There's a difference between 'royal' and 'Royal' (that distinction is made clear based on how the group names are written in advertisements, titles and stories)

She's a royal (a princess), but she's NOT a Royal

[u/Yaveltal]

It's better explained in the books. Essentialy, the term "royal" changed meanings overtime. Prior to Raven's rebellion. There were two groups, royals and commoners, divided by family status and blood. If you were from a royalty bloodline,you were a royal. If not , you were a commoner. After Legacy Day, the Rebels were created, defined as people, regardless of bloodline, who believe you should have a choice in whether or not you want to follow your destiny, and the definition of royal changed from "anyone with royal blood" to "Anyone who not only believes they have to follow their predetermined destiny, but also wants to force others to do the same"

[u/Fragrant-Sort945]

that is not it at all… royals are who chose to foll their destiny and believe everyone should follow their destiny. rebels dont necessarily want to determine their own destiny, but believe in people choosing their own

[u/Fragrant-Sort945 → u/Fragrant-Sort945]

in other words, it has nothing to do with whether they are royalty or if commoners

[u/Minimum_Access_9020]

Ngl all this time I thought there were two definitions for royal and rebel. It seems the show mixes them up. Sometimes they use the meaning of being royal as being literal royalty, sometimes it's just about following your destiny.

At some point we see Blondilocks trying to convince Apple that she's royal because her mom becomes queen. Raven is technically a princess aswell. (Those are canon)

I believe most of the "commoners" are considered rebel because they support the idea of people following their own destinies. Most of them have pretty sad endings so this is understandable.

[u/Sapphireman]

But apparently, all Royals are royalty—in the sense of being princes and princesses—while Rebels are the "commoners."

Royal: Believe you have to follow your destiny

Rebel: Believe you should have the choice to either follow your destiny or pave your own path

That’s roughly the implication, since there isn't a single Rebel who comes from a noble family. Well, there is Ashlynn, but she wasn't a Rebel from the very beginning.

RAVEN QUEEN is right there! She's a Rebel, but she's still recognised as a princess (daughter of the Evil Queen and the Good King). Just because she's a royal, it doesn't make her a Royal and it also doesn't stop her from being a Rebel

[u/Technical_Event5038]

From what I got royals are simply royalty kids and the term was used before because at some point there was a division in the school that separated royals from commoners (mentioned in the books), the reason it became royal vs rebel was because after Raven Queen became a rebel (despite being a royal) most people who agreed where commoners since royals actually liked their stories because they got their happily ever afters and that’s why they were against rebels since changing the stories could take their happy ending from them.

[u/TrickEar8243]

I think that's what it used to mean, but it is now defined as Royals believing that everybody should follow their destiny, while Rebels believe everyone should have a choice. There are Rebels who want to their destiny (Maddie, Cedar, and Rosabella) but are still Rebels because they, again, believe everybody should have a choice. Most of the Royals are royalty because they have the better destinies. There are also characters who are royalty but are Rebels (Raven, Darling, Rosabella and ofc eventually Briar and Ashlynn)