Julie Andrews Passes on The Princess Diaries 3: "It's Her Story, Not Really Mine"
Julie Andrews has confirmed she will not reprise her role as Queen Clarisse Renaldi in The Princess Diaries 3, telling TODAY.com on 10 August 2026 that the time has passed for her to return. "But it's too late for me to do it," Andrews said. "I think the story has to continue in Princess Mia. It's her story. It's not really mine." (Just Jared)
In a separate interview with InStyle, Andrews used a blunter word: she "passed" on taking part in the new film and described herself as essentially retired, Deadline reported. Variety reported that Andrews said she was approached throughout last year to return but declined. The news lands with a particular weight for fans of the franchise, which began with the original Princess Diaries in 2001, directed by Garry Marshall and starring Andrews alongside Anne Hathaway. The 2004 sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, brought both back. Queen Clarisse — the poised, witty monarch of the fictional Genovia — became one of Andrews's most beloved late-career roles.
This is not a sudden decision. Andrews has been signalling hesitation for years. In 2022, after the threequel was first confirmed, she said she would "probably not" be able to reprise the role. By January 2023, when a new Princess Diaries film was announced as in development, Andrews again said she might not return. Her 2026 comments make the position final.
The third film itself remains in a delicate stage. In October 2024, Deadline reported that Anne Hathaway would return for the new instalment, though other original cast members had not yet been confirmed. By April 2026, Hathaway told fans the project had not yet been "greenlit or confirmed" — industry language meaning the studio has not yet committed the production budget that moves a film from development to active filming (Deadline).
So the picture is this: Hathaway is attached, the film is still finding its footing, and the queen will not be returning to the throne. Andrews, who turns 91 this year, seems at peace with that. Her message to the franchise's creators and its audience is straightforward — the story belongs to Mia now.
