“The Little Mermaid”‘s Prince Eric, Jonah Hauer-King, Has a Link to Prince Harry

Though playing Prince Eric will have been new ground for Hauer-King, he does share some real-life experiences with British princes, William and Harry. Like the royals, Jonah was a student at Eton College, where he was active in the theatre society. He recently returned to his old school to speak to a new generation of students about his experiences in theatre and television.

“My mum was a director and a producer, so I owe a lot of my love of theatre to her – she’d always take me to shows, and she gave me quite a diverse exposure to the theatre world,” Hauer-King told Broadway World in 2016. However, it took him a while to realize his own future was to be centre stage, rather than behind the scenes. “I never really admitted to myself that I wanted to act until my mid teens. My parents gave me a very realistic outlook on being in this industry – the uncertainty and instability. They didn’t actively encourage me until I said, ‘This is what I want to do,’ and they’ve been hugely supportive ever since.”

Despite having an American passport, the actor plays Prince Eric with his own British accent. Hauer-King was born and raised in London, but he has dual citizenship because his mum, Debra Hauer, is from California. “Being American is definitely part of my identity,” he told TV Show Patrol. “I feel in some ways very English, but I’ve also spent a lot of time in America and feel like that’s part of myself.” Jonah’s dad is famed restauranteur Jeremy King, who, alongside his business partner Chris Corbin, is the brains behind legendary London establishments like The Ivy and The Wolseley.

Though he always knew he wanted to be an actor, he says that “cold feet” caused him to apply to university, where he landed a place studying theology and philosophy at the esteemed institution of Cambridge University. With a slew of famous alumni, including Stephen Hawking, King Charles, and Emma Thompson, Hauer-King’s career might not have been linear, but it got off to a great start. “People always ask if I’m going to be a priest!” he joked to Broadway World.

As often happens with young British actors, Hauer-King has starred in his fair share of period dramas. As well as the WWII drama “World on Fire,” he also starred alongside Hayley Atwell in “Howards End,” and played Laurie in the 2017 BBC adaptation of “Little Women.” He spoke to The List about his love of the genre, saying, “It’s amazing, when you have people who are such artists and such craftsmen, so brilliant at bringing those periods in to life. It makes our life so much easier because you really do enter the world. The people making these costumes and building the sets are extraordinary. When you step on set for the first time wearing a three-piece handmade suit it’s a very special moment.”

As of 2023, it doesn’t appear that actor is in a relationship. Despite having a stellar career so far, Hauer-King has not made his relationship history public. So, whether he’s currently romantically linked to anyone, or is single and ready to mingle, we might not ever know.