I'm Begging Princess Diaries 3 To Not Kill Julie Andrews' Character

Honorary Genovians, the moment we’ve been waiting for might finally be in sight — but with one very notable absence. In 2001, The Princess Diaries became an instant classic, introducing a generation to Anne Hathaway’s Mia Thermopolis and her grandmother Queen Clarisse of Genovia, played by none other than Julie Andrews. Following the 2004 sequel, there was no telling when audiences would see the royal family next — that is, until 2024, when Hathaway announced that a third installment of The Princess Diaries franchise was in the works. Things have been looking up since, with the actress confirming in July that the project was moving forward with a new script. However, the most recent update has weighed heavy on many fans’ hearts. On Aug. 10, Andrews revealed that she would not be returning for the third film.

Though not necessarily a shock — Andrews, 90, has stuck largely to remote roles over recent years, most notably her voiceover work for Bridgerton — this is devastating news. The Academy Award-winning actress brought a warmth and gravitas to the kindhearted ruler like nobody else could, giving us touching moments as she helps Mia navigate her newfound role; not to mention the iconic quote, “A queen is never late. Everyone else is simply early."

Without Andrews available to fill Queen Clarisse’s (very fashionable) shoes, the producers of the upcoming film run the risk of making one major mistake, and as a lifelong fan, I would be remiss not to speak out at this pivotal moment.

When an actor is no longer available for a project, there are plenty of ways to go about managing the storyline they left behind. You can recast them, which is highly unlikely in this case, considering Andrews’ iconic status. You can give them a CGI replacement, though that controversial move seems to happen mainly in the sci-fi genre, and would undoubtedly go against Andrews’ wishes. Or, you can give their character a quiet, dignified off-screen death — and this is where I fear things could go wrong. Anne Hathaway, Mickey Mouse, the ghost of Walt Disney himself, please listen to me: do not kill off Queen Clarisse.

Kicking off the third film with the death of the queen might seem like the most convenient way to revamp the world of Genovia without its leader. It might provide a compelling storyline for Mia, who must now lead the country without her grandmother’s sage advice. It might even be realistic. Heads of state die all the time in the real world, and the most famous queen of our lifetime, Queen Elizabeth, passed only four years ago in 2022.

But The Princess Diaries was always meant to be an escape from reality, to a world where a curly-haired girl from San Francisco can become royalty. More than that, 25 years after the first film’s release, the Princess Diaries franchise is to many (myself included) a neat little bundle of childhood nostalgia, tied up in a bow — and that metaphorical bow is Julie Andrews. To kill off her character in the third installment would not just be disrespectul to the living actress, but it would put an unnecessary asterisk on a beloved classic. “I always loved The Princess Diaries movies, but can you believe Queen Clarisse died in the new one?”

I respect Andrews’ decision not to return for The Princess Diaries 3. Am I secretly hoping that she might have a change of heart? I am, as is Hathaway herself. Am I crossing my fingers that Andrews might provide narration, reading aloud a letter she wrote to Mia, or even chatting with her granddaughter over a super-secure royal Zoom from a United Nations aid mission? Of course. But I’ll leave the writing to the writers. All I’m asking in return is for them to pretty, pretty please leave my childhood intact.