A young European princess, overwhelmed by her suffocating schedule, decides to take off for a night when her family visits Rome. In search of freedom and an escape from her royal duties, her adventure begins when she secretly leaves her country's embassy. The sheltered princess is eager to explore life outside the palace walls, but her lack of experience with the everyday world leads to her falling asleep on a public bench.

An American news reporter, looking for a scoop, stumbles upon her asleep on the bench. Initially unaware of her royal identity, he sees an opportunity for an exclusive story and offers his apartment to her for the night. His ulterior motive: to get an insider's interview with the runaway princess. As they spend time together, the reporter is struck by her charm and innocence, and a genuine connection forms between the two, complicating his intention to exploit their encounter for his career.