My Lion King Forum

We all know Simba and Nala were betrothed as mentioned by Zazu when they were cubs. However, when Simba returned to Pride Rock after being thought to be "dead", was he still betrothed to Nala? It wasn't mentioned in the film that he was.

I'd say so, matie.

I also say no. Being that Simba was thought to be dead that would break the betrothal. that and I really think that once Simba returned he would have wanted to ask Nala to be his Queen rather than trying to enforce a tradition that he had said that he wanted to get rid of when he came to power. Although it is possible that Nala brought up their betrothal (in a teasing manner) when Simba proposed.

I'll have to agree with SimbasGuard. As Simba is technically "dead", a new mate would have to be found for Nala. But as Scar doesn't really care about that, the entire system becomes null and void. So it's a good excuse that Simba and Nala were betrothed in the first place once Simba was found in the jungle and they fell in love, but as far as technicalities go, Simba and Nala's betrothal ended when Simba "died".

I doubt it. How could Nala marry someone who is "dead"?

It's hard to say for sure since we don't really know how betrothals in TLK work. We only know that they exist at all because of Zazu's brief comments, but we really have no idea how/when/by whom the matches are arranged, the age at which the actual marriage occurs, etc. since the concept is never even mentioned again. I would guess no since Simba was presumed dead.