Initially, the main trio of the original Star Wars trilogy appear to be in a love triangle, with both Han Solo and Luke Skywalker interested in Princess Leia along with a small rivalry between them over the matter. In The Empire Strikes Back, Luke leaves the group for a time, letting Han and Leia grow closer; and in Return of the Jedi, Luke and Leia learn that they are siblings, dashing the triangle.
As a result, Leia's love interest is always Han Solo. Although the two are notorious for their bickering and fighting, Leia constantly demonstrates that she does love Han despite everything.
8 Trying To Storm Slave 1 After She's Freed
Much of Empire's final act deals with Han, Leia, Chewbacca, and C-3PO being imprisoned on Cloud City after they are betrayed by Lando Calrissian, leading to the iconic moment when Han is imprisoned in carbonite. When Vader seems about to abduct Leia and Chewie and take control of Cloud City, Lando commits another betrayal, freeing the two.
Despite having just been captured and being liable to do so again with the Empire all over Bespin, Leia's priority isn't to escape. Instead, she leads their small group after Boba Fett to try and rescue Han. They're too late, but Han is still her first concern.
7 Infiltrating Jabba's Palace To Retrieve Him
The first act of Return of the Jedi follows the main characters as they attempt to rescue Han from Jabba's Palace, using a multi-layered plan of infiltration. After Lando impersonates a guard and has himself embedded in the Palace, C-3PO and R2-D2 are given to Jabba as a gift while Leia infiltrates as a bounty hunter.
Lacking the easy ingratiation of the others or Luke's force powers, Leia is the most vulnerable during her attempt – which sees her have to threaten to suicidally use a thermal detonator to earn Jabba's respect. Furthermore, she is the one who tries to outright rescue Han, seeing her caught.
6 Kissing Him Despite The Stormtroopers Present
The emotional thrust of the scene where Han Solo is frozen in carbonite, is its effect on Han and Leia's relationship. After Han talks Chewie down from his rampage against the stormtroopers, Leia kisses him.
This is despite the fact that the entire room is on-guard after Chewie threw several stormtroopers to their death, and Boba Fett has proven himself willing to open fire. A sudden move could have seen her gunned down, but Leia still kisses Han.
5 Their Reconciliation In The Force Awakens
When The Force Awakens begins, Han and Leia have been estranged for some time following their son's turn to the Dark Side and massacre of his Jedi peers. While Leia returned to being a rebel general in First Order space, Han didn't stick with her, and in his shame, took smuggling up once more.
It is implied throughout TFA that Han left Leia, not the other way around. Nonetheless, events conspire to bring them back together when Han brings Rey, Finn, and BB-8 to the Resistance. After a moment of tension, Leia reconciles with Han, showing understanding for what he did and that she loves him even after not seeing each other for many years.
4 Supporting Chewie In Throttling Lando
As soon as Lando frees the group from their bonds, Chewbacca responds by seizing him about the throat and squeezing hard, visibly strangling him. Leia all but cheers Chewie on as he does, disagreeing with Threepio's request to hear Lando out.
Although far from a pacifist, Leia is often the voice of reason for the group and is typically opposed to the sort of reckless aggression involved in strangling Lando. After Han is frozen, however, she is angry enough to support it, only relenting when Lando says he can help them rescue Han.
3 Starting A Relationship With Him
Audiences never see Han and Leia marry, but they do see the beginnings of their proper, formal relationship. After three movies of arguing, flirting, and occasional angst-driven kisses, Han and Leia finally discuss their relationship.
Believing Leia to be in love with Luke, Han offers to step aside. Leia, however, makes it clear that it is Han she wants to be in a relationship with, confirming her love for him while also letting him be the first person she trusts with the information that Luke is her brother.
2 Trying To Stop Han Leaving Echo Base
Before the Empire attacks the rebel base on Hoth, Han is preparing to leave the Rebellion again because of his debt to Jabba and the threat it poses him, only not doing so because the Millennium Falcon is grounded for repairs.
As he plans this, Leia picks a fight with Han, telling him to stay. Although she insists it's because he's a good pilot, soldier, and leader for the Rebellion, Han and the audience both know it's because she doesn't want to lose him – something he doesn't hesitate to point out to her.
1 Telling Him After A Film Of Denying It
For much of The Empire Strikes Back, Han and Leia's bickering is punctuated by insults from Han, implying that Leia loves him, which is met with firm denial. Even during the most high-stakes of moments, the two continue their dynamic.
As Han is being lowered into the carbonite chamber, however, Leia finally admits that she does love him. Although Han's response of "I know" has become the more iconic moment, it is nonetheless a clear sign of Leia's love that she is willing to finally admit it to him after a long period of denial.