Tale of Three Princesses

Let me tell you all a story of my quest for the perfect white princess. I found one as one of the first two plants in my philodendron journey and sadly killed it. (The pink princess I got at the same time I am happy to report is thriving.) After the demise of my first one I kept looking for another from local nurseries. Enter princess #1.

Princess #1. (Picture 1) Bought from a local nursery and was labeled a white princess. I was a little dubious but this is the first one I had seen in months and Google said they can look like that when young so I believed it. I am rather certain I was lied to as it continues to look like my not very happy Jose Buono. Are my suspicions correct?

Enter Princess #2. (Pictures 2-3) Bought from a different local nursery in a “rare plant sale.” The leaves looked the right shape this time and the white was a lot more promising. I can’t tell a white knight from a wizard but always read the white princess have pink in the stem. No pink in this stem though. White princess or one of the others?

Enter Princess #3. (Pictures 4-5) Months later I stumbled into Trader Joe’s looking for a $12 Thai Con but instead find the most perfect white princess of my dreams. Beautiful pink in the stem and small amounts of pink even showing in the leaves. Also only $12, a fraction of the price I have paid for my possible imposters. I love her to bits and can’t wait to see her grow.

So what’s the consensus? Have I been scammed by all but Trader Joe’s or is it 2/3? And what is #1?

Thanks!