Meet Daeron Targaryen, the Secret Hightower Prince in ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3

For two full seasons, ‘House of the Dragon‘ fans have been intrigued by whispers of a fourth Hightower child lurking in the shadows of the Dance of the Dragons. That character has finally emerged, and his introduction was so subtle that many viewers might have missed it entirely.

His name is Daeron Targaryen, and he could be the most significant piece on the board that no one was paying attention to.

Daeron is portrayed by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, making his debut in the ‘House of the Dragon’ season 3 premiere without any formal introduction. The character was quietly revealed as Ormund Hightower’s force of 15,000 advanced toward King’s Landing, only to be interrupted by a letter from Alicent Hightower instructing them to camp and await Aemond and his dragon Vhagar.

Standing behind Ormund Hightower was a young man with brown hair, who most casual viewers might not immediately recognize as a Targaryen. Unlike his siblings, Daeron does not have their signature blonde hair and instead resembles his mother more closely. Although Ormund never actually names the squire on screen, the identity of the actor playing Daeron reportedly leaked online about a year before his on-screen debut, so dedicated fans were already aware of who they were seeing.

Daeron is the youngest son of Alicent Hightower and the late King Viserys Targaryen, placing him firmly within one of the most dysfunctional royal families in Westeros. As a prince of the Targaryen dynasty and the fourth child of King Viserys I and Queen Alicent Hightower, he is the younger half-brother of Rhaenyra Targaryen and the younger full brother of Aegon, Helaena, and Aemond.

Daeron serves as a ward of House Hightower in Oldtown, having initially been fostered by Lord Hobert Hightower before being passed to Hobert’s son, Lord Ormund. This upbringing away from King’s Landing explains why this particular prince has remained a mystery even to long-time viewers of the show.

Daeron the Daring is Alicent’s third son and fourth child, mentioned a few times throughout the series without ever being seen until now.

Newcomer Ormund is the nephew of Otto Hightower and the head of House Hightower, and he has taken Alicent’s son Daeron Targaryen as his ward, marching from Oldtown to support her forces. This detail highlights that even amid a brutal civil war, family loyalty and political maneuvering dictate who stands alongside whom on the battlefield.

Every notable Targaryen comes with a dragon, and Daeron is no exception. When viewers are introduced to Ormund and his army, they also catch a glimpse of Tessarion, the blue dragon that Daeron rides. This sapphire blue dragon is seen accompanying the Hightower army in the same episode where Daeron finally appears.

Tessarion has been referenced before without a full explanation for casual audiences. Rhaenyra’s uncle and husband Daemon indirectly counted four dragons on the Greens’ side, with Tessarion being one of them, even though her rider had not yet been shown.

This subtle setup is indicative of the long game ‘House of the Dragon’ has been playing with Daeron’s storyline.

Fans who follow the political chess match of the Dance of the Dragons understand that dragon count is crucial in this war. Each rider who appears on screen shifts the balance of power, and Tessarion’s reveal alongside Daeron indicates that this quiet prince is poised to become much more significant than his limited screen time would suggest.

Daeron is technically third in line for the Iron Throne, yet he has often been treated as an afterthought in his family’s power struggle. There are rumors and potential spoilers about a narrative reason for his prolonged absence, though only a select few know if these rumors will materialize on screen.

It’s striking that Alicent has an entire additional son, and that Aegon, Aemond, and Helaena have another sibling who has not been shown on screen for over two seasons. However, the general expectation among those covering the show is that Daeron will play a significant role moving forward, and viewers have been advised to be prepared for it.

It’s noteworthy how unusual his absence has been, given the involvement of the rest of his family, as his brother Aemond rides the largest dragon in Westeros, Vhagar, and his brother Aegon became king after marrying their sister Helaena following their father’s death. While the other Hightower siblings have been thrust into the center of the conflict, Daeron’s arrival suggests that the show has been saving him for a purpose all along.

With ‘House of the Dragon’ finally unveiling its most enigmatic Targaryen, the pressing question is what role this young prince and his dragon Tessarion will play as the Dance of the Dragons intensifies, and fans are already eager to speculate on where his loyalties and story might lead next.