The Ordinary Princess

Absolutely not one for promoting princess books, 'The Ordinary Princess' literally jumped off the shelf at me and sounded exactly like the type of title I would favour.
Written by M. M Kaye in 1980 and read in two days flat, I will now be on a mad search for everything and anything else written by this author.
Highly recommended for fellow-anti-princess parents.

"...but the gifts that the fairies gave them took up no room at all, for the sort of presents they give do not need to be packed in boxes."

"...but the fairy gifts had been very useful, for though she was ordinary, she possessed health, wit, courage, charm and cheerfulness. But because she was not beautiful, no one ever seemed to notice these other qualities, which is so often the way of the world."

"Doing things you aren't supposed to do always seems more fun than doing things you are."