Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway Reunite After ‘Princess Diaries’

Dame Julie Andrews might have said no to a third Princess Diaries movie since the first two movies’ director Garry Marshall passed away, but the friendship between the iconic actress and her co-star Anne Hathaway is apparently still going strong! During the American Film Institute’s awards ceremony honoring the Mary Poppins star with an AFI Life Achievement Award, Anne Hathaway was vocal about her admiration for the actress, singer, dancer, and author who played Queen Clarisse of Genovia — and Andrews recently had plenty of positive things to say about Hathaway, too!

Anne Hathaway as Princess Mia in ‘Princess Mia 2: Royal Engagement’. Credit: Slant Magazine

“Not only is she real, she’s better than real, she’s aspirational. I’m so lucky that she was there to set an example for me when I was starting,” Anne Hathaway said in a video message to her co-star during the American Film Institute awards ceremony (alongside other people who have worked with Andrews such as Dick van Dyke, Andrews’ close friend Carol Burnett, and Steve Carell). “I love you, Julie. Cheers to you,” she added.

Julie Andrews as Queen Clarisse in ‘Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement’ opposite Anne Hathaway as Princess Mia. Credit: D23

When asked on the Awardist podcast about working with Anne on Princess Diaries back in 2001 (which was Anne Hathaway’s big break in Hollywood), the My Fairy Lady actress and renowned soprano said that “I recognized instantly how talented she is. She’s just a natural onscreen.”

“We have remained friends and when we meet, it’s like old home week really. We’re very good friends. I don’t see her as much as I like…but friends in the best of all possible art forms, [is] always kept and it’s like yesterday when you get together again, you know?”.

Julie Andrews as Queen Clarisse. Credit: D23

Anne Hathaway played the endearingly awkward high school student Mia Thermopolis in the first Princess Diaries movie, and Dame Julia Andrews played her grandmother Queen Clarisse Rinaldi of Genovia. In the film, Mia finds out that she is actually next in line for the Genovian throne and begins princess lessons with Queen Clarisse!

The sequel brought Mia and Queen Clarisse to Genovia, where Mia promptly fell in love with a new love interest (Chris Pine) and engaged in plenty of comical and emotional hijinks while the regal queen played by Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles author Andrews looked on with bemusement and exasperation.

Anne Hathaway as Princess Mia in ‘Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement’. Credit: Disney

The chemistry between the two actresses, the two movies’ family-friendly charm, and the Mary Poppins star’s natural elegance made both Princess Diaries and Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement major successes.

Now, since Andrews has continued to say that “it wouldn’t be appropriate” to return for a third movie without the original director Gary Marshall, it does not look like a third movie in the series is happening — but fans of Mia and her Genovian story can be moved to learn that the bond between Hathaway and Andrews lives on!