Who is Prince Aemond Targaryen in House of the Dragon and who plays him?

A fierce warrior and an entitled spare, Aemond is the younger brother of King Aegon Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) – but he became ever more important to the story in the season 1 finale, when he killed Rhaenyra Targaryen's (Emma D'Arcy) son Lucerys Velaryon.

It may have been an accident, and more an act of his dragon Vhagar, it left us with the idea that war is inevitable and that the Dance of Dragons will begin, perhaps heralding the beginning of the end of the Targaryen dynasty.

Speaking to RadioTimes.com about Aemond's precarious position at the beginning of season 2, Mitchell said: "He’s feeling many things. He’s left the realm in a very sticky situation.

"He's tasked with a choice, you can either return home to King's Landing and tell his mother that he made a mistake, that he let his emotions get the better of him, and in doing so would be at the hands of Rhaenyra’s mercy. Or he can go back to King's Landing and claim the kill, so to speak, save his face.

"And in doing so he will become the most wanted man in the realm. There’s no going back from what he did in the skies above Storm’s End."

So, just who is Prince Aemond and who portrays him in House of the Dragon season 2?

Who is Prince Aemond Targaryen in House of the Dragon?

Prince Aemond Targaryen is the second son of King Viserys I Targaryen and Queen Alicent Hightower.

He is also the younger brother of Prince Aegon Targaryen and Princess Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban) and the younger half-brother of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy).

He's a skilled warrior, having trained with Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) and the Maesters and, despite viewing his older brother as inferior, he's fiercely loyal. In season 2, it's expected that he'll be an advisor to his brother as the Greens prepare for the inevitable war.

Mitchell added to RadioTimes.com: "Aemond is the second son, he’s the spare, and it’s the duty of the spare to fight the war. So he's very much at his brother's command. That's one of the redeeming qualities about Aemond is that he is fiercely loyal. He will have his mother's back, he will have his brother’s back. I think Aemond knows that war is inevitable, and he will make sure that he’ll emerge the war hero."

Aemond is impulsive and emotional – something that could work against him. However, we as the audience know that the killing of Lucerys was an accident.

As for how this will impact Aemond in season 2, Mitchell added: "It is nice to find the shadow side of Aemond in season 2. What I also like about the last episode of season 1 was that moment, that face of regret, it was a moment that only Aemond and the audience shared.

"So going into season 2, you know, he regrets that moment. He starts the domino effect that might lead to the Dance of the Dragons. So in season 2 you are going to see that side maybe reveal itself again. Or maybe he's just squashed it, maybe it doesn't exist anymore."

As a child, Aemond is mocked by his older brother Aegon and nephews Prince Jacaerys Velaryon (Leo Hart, Harry Collett) and Prince Lucerys Velaryon (Harvey Sadler, Elliot Grihault) over his lack of a dragon.

Alicent is concerned by Aemond's obsession with obtaining a dragon.

The Prince was a dutiful and sullen child, in contrast to his upbeat and roguish older brother Aegon. Aemond has been trained in combat with his mother's personal protector, Ser Criston Cole.

Eventually, in the seventh episode of the series, Aemond manages to mount the largest dragon in the world, Vhagar, which helps him to become one of the most fearsome warriors in the Dance of the Dragons.

However, his decision to mount the dragon of the late Lady Laena Velaryon leads to a confrontation with his Velaryon nephews and a vicious fight that concludes with Lucerys cutting out Aemond's eye.

In response, Alicent wants one eye of Lucerys's cut out as a punishment, but Viserys rules against his wife.

Yet, Aemond believes it was a fair trade to lose an eye but gain a dragon - and his grandfather Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) agrees.

In the aftermath, Aemond wears an eye patch and becomes one of the fiercest fighters in House Targaryen.

In the eighth episode, Aemond is present when Rhaenyra and her family arrive at the Red Keep to defend Lucerys's familial claim to Driftmark against Ser Vaemond Velaryon (Wil Johnson).

During a feast following Viserys ruling in Lucerys's favour, Aemond toasts his nephews as "Strong" boys, referring to their illegitimate paternity as the sons of Ser Harwin Strong (Ryan Corr) and sparking further tension.

Following a clash between Alicent and Rhaenyra's sons, Aemond stares down his uncle Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith).

Finally, in the season finale, Aemond chases Lucerys on Vhagar in the skies above Storm's End, killing the young Targaryen Prince and, seemingly, beginning a civil war.

Who plays Prince Aemond Targaryen in House of the Dragon?

In season 2, Aemond Targaryen is played by Ewan Mitchell. However, he's not the only actor to have ever played the Prince.

Ewan Mitchell

Ewan Mitchell portrays Prince Aemond Targaryen as an adult in House of the Dragon.

The actor appears from episode 8 onwards and is continuing the role into season 2.

Mitchell is best known for his television roles as Billy Taylor in The Halcyon, Tom Bennett in World on Fire, Billy Washington in Trigger Point, and Osferth in The Last Kingdom.

Additionally, Mitchell has appeared as Ettore in the film High Life, opposite Robert Pattinson.

Leo Ashton

Instagram: @leo_ashton_

Leo Ashton previously portrayed Prince Aemond Targaryen as a child in House of the Dragon.

The actor appears in episodes 6 and 7.

The child star's previous roles include Liam Longwell in Red Rose, Oliver Marshbrook in The Bay, and Sam Kallisto in the mini-series Deep Water.

House of the Dragon season 2 will air on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK from 17th June – find out more about how to sign up for Sky TV.

Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what's on tonight. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.