Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a general term of approval, an admirable or generous person.

1821		W.T. Moncrieff Tom and Jerry III iii: Here, Dusty, my prince, now then, sluice your bolt.
1919		H.C. Witwer Smile A Minute 214: Eagan’s mother is a prince if they ever was one.
1936		(con. 1920s) Dos Passos Big Money in USA (1966) 981: Bill, you’re a prince.
1951		J.D. Salinger Catcher in the Rye (1958) 51: You’re a real prince. You’re a gentleman and a scholar, kid.
1975		J. Wambaugh Choirboys (1976) 115: Captain Drobeck on the other hand had recently tried to demonstrate he was not a prick but a prince.
1982		G.V. Higgins Patriot Game (1985) 48: He’s a prince of a fellow. Blew a guy’s head off and did it for money, of course, but nobody’s perfect.
1991		W.T. Vollmann Whores for Gloria 64: The boys said Jimmy you prince are you porking her?
2009		A. Vengel Sprout! 38: Awww, I give Gardener a hard time and all, Marsha, but he’s a real prince—and a real smart guy, too.

2. (US black) a charismatic man.

1994

(con. 1970s–80s) C. Major Juba to Jive.