Princess Rhaenyra is Daenerys' distant ancestor in the
Rhaenyra Targaryen: In episode 2, Viserys mentions his daughter, Rhaenyra, is 15 years old. Then, following a time jump in episode 3, he mentions she is now 17 (and “of age” to marry).
Just like young Alicent, Rhaenyra is 14 at the start of the show and ages up to almost 18 years old over the course of the first four episodes. Milly Alcock was 21 years old when "House of the Dragon" season one was filming.
So, let's agree that he is (give or take) 16 years older than Rhaenyra. This places him in his early 30s when we first see him meet his niece. Yes, his niece. His teenage niece who we immediately realise he has a bit of a thing for.
"House of the Dragon" stars Milly Alcock and Emily Carey (who play young Rhaenyra and Alicent, respectively) told Insider that both of their characters are 14 years old in the opening episode of the series, which tracks with them each being born in the late first-century A.C.
The story of the princess and her valiant knight did not end as a fairy tale, though. A sordid and controversial story began to spread that Rhaenyra lost her virginity to her uncle Daemon at age 16. No one knows if that is true. But Targaryens had long married within the family to keep their bloodlines pure.
"This is essentially a grooming scenario," Emma D'Arcy told The Independent. By House of the Dragon's fourth episode, Rhaenyra is around 18 years old and Daemon is 34. "The idea that a teenage girl is in any way able to consent to that sexual interaction is a mess.
Rhaenyra Targaryen, Played by Milly Alcock and Emma D'Arcy
Rhaenyra is 14 years old at the beginning of House of the Dragon and grows up to 18 during the first four episodes. Milly Alcock, the young Rhaenyra's actress, was 21 when HOTD season one began production.
Alicent Hightower is 14 years old at the start of "House of the Dragon," and Milly Alcock was 21 during filming. Just like young Alicent, Rhaenyra is 14 at the start of the show and ages up to almost 18 years old over the course of the first four episodes.
Rhaenyra and Daemon's Marriage
In the year 120 AC (the calendar in Westeros is measured by years following Aegon I's conquest), both Velaryon siblings die. Soon after being widowed, Daemon and Rhaenyra marry each other in secret when he is 39 years old, and she is 23.
The Targaryen family tree gets a bit complicated due to the incestuous practice of marrying sister and brother, but Rhaenyra is something like Daenerys' great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandmother. Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) is the Mad King's daughter with his sister-wife Rhaella.
The time jump in episode 6 is supposed to be 10 years, so Rhaneryra should be around 29. Emily Carey, Alicent, is 19 in real life. She's being replaced by Olivia Cooke who is 28, and presumably, Alicent is also supposed to be around 29.
Daemon shows his genuine care and attention to Rhaenyra several times before the two marry. This doesn't take away from the many destructive and inappropriate parts of their relationship, but the books imply that Daemon does love Rhaenyra.
“House of the Dragon” Episode 6 Trailer Introduces Older Princess Rhaenyra & Queen Alicent. The upcoming 6th episode of House of the Dragon will propel us a few years into the future after the grim wedding between Princess Rhaenrya Targaryen (Milly Alcock) and Ser Laenor Velaryon (Theo Nate) that anchored episode 5.
Everyone who was a teenager in House of the Dragon Episode 5 has now been recast in Episode 6. Rhaenyra, Alicent, Laenor, and Laena are all being played by older actors to show they're all grown up now and ready for their own Game of Thrones.
Jacaerys 'Jace' Velaryon
Jacaerys, Rhaenyra's eldest son, and his two younger brothers have spent their short lives surrounded by whispers that their real father was Ser Harwin Strong. It's an open secret that these “strong” boys aren't the sons of Laenor Velaryon.
Princess Rhaenyra is Daenerys' distant ancestor in the Targaryen family tree. Princess Rhaenyra and Daenerys are distant relatives, living 200 years and about eight generations apart, as this thorough Targaryen family tree demonstrates.
Then, following a time jump in episode 3, he mentions she is now 17 (and “of age” to marry). Then the one year time jump to episode 4, in which Rhaenyra is 18. Then after the 10 year time skip for episode 6, it means Rhaenyra is 28. Alicent is the same age as Rhaenyra in episode 2, which means she is also 28.
According to Archmaester Gyldayn, Princess Rhaenyra herself objected to the match as well, but agreed when King Viserys I threatened to appoint her half-brother Aegon as his heir over her if she would not wed Laenor. Laenor and Rhaenyra were married in 114 AC.
Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) finally had sex on House of the Dragon. After teasing their deep connection for weeks, making out in a brothel, and flirting their way through King's Landing, uncle and niece at long last did the dirty.
King Aerys II Targaryen ("The Mad King")
The final undisputed monarch of the Seven Kingdoms from House Targaryen, King Aerys II Targaryen is widely known as the "Mad King" who was usurped by King Robert I Baratheon. Aerys II is a direct descendant of King Viserys I Targaryen through his daughter Rhaenyra.
The same goes for Rhaenyra, who begins the series at 14 and was most recently seen as an 18-year-old, not too far off from Alcock's real age (the actress is currently 22). Guess that means she was “of age” during her sex scene with Ser Criston Cole.
Rhaenyra Targaryen had a stillbirth in a gruesome scene from HOTD season one finale. Martin's book describes a worse child born to Rhaenyra. We all remember Rhaenyra's ghastly miscarriage scene from the season finale of House of the Dragon.
39-year-old Smith (and Fabien Frankel too) have admitted they had no idea how old their characters were supposed to be in their scenes, and in an LA Times interview last Friday, Smith was pressed on Daemon's secret to eternal youth. It turns out his answer is: "He's always eating his greens. Gets lots of sleep.
According to the accounts of Septon Eustace, prior to her turning sixteen, Rhaenyra lost her virginity to her uncle, Prince Daemon, after he seduced her.