In the books, Daemon and Criston are essentially the same age and Rhaenyra is about 15-16 years younger. Rhaenyra is about 10 years younger than Alicent, and is in turn 10 years older than her brother Aegon.
Milly Alcock, who plays young Rhaenyra, is 22. As of the mid-season time jump, Rhaenyra is aged up to 27, then—as of episode 8—to 33. Emma D'Arcy, who plays the older Rhaenyra, is 30.
Rhaenyra Targaryen. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
She and Laenor get married in 114 AC when Rhaenyra is 17 years old after Viserys threatens to take away her status as the rightful heir to the Iron Throne if she does not marry. The marriage also strengthened Corlys and House Velaryon's commitment to the Targaryen family.
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.
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.
The girls are around 15 years old in Episode 1 and portrayed by Milly Alcock and Emily Carey (aged 22 and 19, respectively) until Episode 5, when they would be about 20. Rhaenyra and Alicent are older than Laenor and Laena Velaryon, as seen in Episode 1 when the latter two are literal children.
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.
"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 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.
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.
The short answer is that Dany is directly descended from Rhaenyra and that the two princesses are eight generations apart. The long, detailed answer is more complicated…. Let's work back from Dany. As you may remember from Game of Thrones, Daenerys Targaryen had two brothers, Rhaegar and Viserys.
2. Who plays older Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon? – Emma D'Arcy.
Rhaenyra's children are bastards, and Vaemond finally let everyone know in Episode 8, as loudly as he possibly could.
Daemon struggles with impotence. This may also be why he has fathered no children with his wife. When Rhaenyra was aggressive in their encounter, Daemon's loss of control changed his handle on things.
Laenor also happens to be black, adding further mystery to the children's appearance. House of the Dragon quickly explains the anomaly, revealing the boys were the result of Rhaenyra's affair with Ser Harwin Strong.
In the books, they have three: daughter Visenya, who does not survive infancy; and two sons, Aegon III and Viserys II, who will grow up to be next Kings of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men.
Rhaenyra and Daemon's sons Aegon, Viserys, and Visenya Targaryen. Sorry for the spoiler, but we did watch Daemon and Rhaenyra get married in last week's episode, so you probably knew this was coming! We haven't seen them yet in the show, but Daemon and Rhaenyra have three sons together.
Daemon's relationship with his first wife, Lady Rhea Royce, comes about as an arranged marriage at the behest of his grandmother Queen Alysanne when he is only 16 years old.