Duchess Rowena

Duchess Rowena is the antagonist from Barbie in The 12 Dancing Princesses. She is the cousin of the king Randolph. She has insidious plans for the kingdom, but she can't implement them.

Story
Rowena appears in kingdom by request of her cousin, King Randolph. He wanted Rowena to teach his daughters etiquette after hearing that his daughters were not fit to be "proper princesses". But Rowena forced the princesses to work hard, and in the same time gave poison to the king.

When the princesses went to the magical pavilion, she told the king, that the princesses had left him, but she herself had closed them in the pavilion, and told Desmond to break the magical stones. After, the king made Rowena a queen, and she told him all her plans.

The King almost died, and Rowena became the queen. But, in the castle all princesses appear and expose Rowena. She tried to keep herself safe, and with a magical flower, which she had taken in the golden pavilion, wished that Genevieve would keep dancing for ever. And Genevieve, with help of a fan, sent the golden pollen back to Rowena. Finally Rowena, and her servant Desmond, dance together and leave the kingdom dancing.

It was implied that she wanted (and needed) to take over the kingdom because she was struggling financially. Her carriage was in shambles, the trader told Derek that she never paid her bills and the fact that she had to sell Queen Isabella's silver goblet to pay for the poison she was using on King Randolph.

Personality
Rowena shown as true antagonist: she categorically doesn't like dances and music; she has a cold, cruel and proud character. At the same time, she's ready to do anything, if it is for her win. She stole Queen Isabella's goblet, to pay the trader. Also she doesn't like her servant Desmond, but likes her monkey, Brutus,very much.

Physical Appearance
Rowena has gray hair and light blue eyes. She wears a lot of jewellery, and all of them are made of a cold, blue-green stone. Her dress is also in light-blue color and has a very big skirt. She doesn't like bright colors and forces the princesses to wear gray dresses.

Trivia

 * Her voice actress Catherine O'Hara worked with Tim Curry (who also voiced some antagonists the Mouse King and Philippe) in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
 * Rowena is the first antagonist to be a relative of the main character, followed by Eris, Dame Devin and Caligo.