The Knight Protecting Princess meme is based on a piece of digital art titled 'Guard' by the artist WLOP. It depicts a knight stoically enduring a barrage of arrows to shield a princess huddled behind them. This powerful visual metaphor rose to prominence in the late 2010s as a way to illustrate sacrifice, emotional support, or the act of shielding someone from negativity. Users typically label the arrows as external threats or criticisms, the knight as a protective figure—like a parent, a friend, or even a hobby—and the princess as the vulnerable entity being saved. It remains one of the most popular templates for expressing gratitude and the concept of 'taking one for the team' in a wholesome or relatable way.