The Princess Diaries

The Princess Diaries (2025): A Royal Return with Grace, Growth, and a New Generation

Nearly two decades after The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, Disney’s The Princess Diaries (2025) marks a long-awaited return to Genovia and to the beloved characters who captured hearts around the world. Directed by returning visionary Garry Marshall’s protégé and produced in collaboration with Anne Hathaway, this new installment is both a nostalgic continuation and a fresh beginning—blending humor, heart, and modern royal challenges in a film that resonates across generations.

Set 20 years after Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) accepted her royal duties as Queen of Genovia, the story opens with her ruling confidently but facing a rapidly changing world. Genovia, once a fairytale kingdom, is now a modern nation grappling with global issues—technology, climate change, and an increasingly vocal youth. Mia is a beloved monarch, but she's feeling the pressure to keep the crown relevant and inclusive while maintaining the traditions that once defined her.

When a long-lost branch of the Renaldi family surfaces—with a teenage daughter named Amara, raised in the U.S. unaware of her royal heritage—Mia is faced with a familiar dilemma: guide a young woman through the whirlwind of royal training, politics, and media scrutiny, all while protecting the legacy she's built. Amara, played by rising star Marsai Martin, brings a fresh energy to the film, portraying a Gen Z teenager with bold opinions, sharp humor, and no interest in royal rules—at least at first.

Julie Andrews makes a much-celebrated return as the ever-graceful Clarisse Renaldi, now a retired queen and wise grandmother figure. Her scenes with both Mia and Amara are highlights of the film—layered with warmth, wit, and the quiet authority that made her character iconic. The film also includes appearances from fan favorites like Lily Moscovitz (Heather Matarazzo), who now runs a non-profit in Genovia, and Joseph (Héctor Elizondo), who remains Clarisse’s loyal companion.

The heart of The Princess Diaries (2025) lies in the evolving relationship between Mia and Amara. Through their dynamic, the film explores themes of identity, duty, and finding your voice. It moves away from the romantic focus of earlier films and leans into generational storytelling: how each woman defines royalty, leadership, and self-worth on her own terms.

Visually, the film is a feast of regal settings blended with Genovia’s updated, eco-conscious infrastructure. From palace ballrooms powered by solar energy to scenes of Amara sneaking out of royal dinners to meet local activists, The Princess Diaries (2025) redefines what it means to be a modern princess.

With a beautiful score blending original motifs from the first films with new compositions, and an uplifting message about embracing who you are—crown or no crown—this third chapter in the franchise is both a love letter to longtime fans and a bright welcome to new ones. The Princess Diaries (2025) proves that royalty isn’t about perfection, but about heart, courage, and the willingness to grow.