Julie Andrews has confirmed that she will not appear in The Princess Diaries 3, despite being offered the opportunity to reprise her role as Queen Clarisse Renaldi.
Disney confirmed in 2022 that it was moving ahead with a third instalment of the popular franchise. Anne Hathaway, who played Mia Thermopolis in the original films, confirmed in October 2024 that she would return for the new movie.
Andrews, 90, said she was approached about returning as Mia’s grandmother but ultimately decided against it because she considers herself retired from screen acting.
Speaking to InStyle magazine, Andrews said she had been asked throughout the previous year whether she would be interested in returning. Although she found the decision difficult, she felt the film could continue successfully without her character.
“I think I’m retired, really, would be about the best description for that,” she said. “It was very, very hard to say no, but I did because I thought I had a wonderful ride, and this one I felt would flourish very well and wouldn’t need granny going in there at my age.”
Andrews later explained to The Hollywood Reporter that, while she no longer plans to act on screen, she remains involved in other creative projects. These include writing books, recording podcasts and providing voiceovers.
“I’m not completely retired, but it’s a different kind of work that I do these days,” she said, adding that she did not believe she should be part of the third film.
Despite her decision, Andrews said she remains enthusiastic about the project and is looking forward to seeing what Hathaway and author Meg Cabot, whose novels inspired the films, create for the new story.
The original The Princess Diaries, which marked Hathaway’s first major film role, recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. Reflecting on the enduring popularity of the movie, Andrews credited its late director, Garry Marshall, with making the production such an enjoyable experience.
She described Marshall as “the sweetest director you could imagine” and praised him as funny, talented and considerate.
The third film will be directed by Adele Lim, who previously worked on Crazy Rich Asians and Joy Ride.
Production on The Princess Diaries 3 has recently been delayed following Hathaway’s pregnancy. During an appearance on SiriusXM’s Radio Andy, the actress said that preparing for the arrival of her third child had taken priority, meaning she was unsure when she would be able to begin filming.
However, Hathaway revealed that the creative team had recently made progress with the story. She explained that the script had to be reworked following a new direction, but said everyone involved was confident they were now moving towards the right version of the film.
While Andrews will not be returning, fans can still expect Hathaway to reprise her beloved role as Mia when The Princess Diaries 3 eventually reaches production.
