E. Cobham Brewer 18101897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Lion and the True Prince (The).
The lion will not touch the true prince (1 Henry IV., ii. 4). This is a religious superstition; the true prince, strictly speaking, being the Messiah, who is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Loosely it is applied to any prince of
blood royal, supposed at one time to be hedged around with a sort of divinity.