Julie Andrews has confirmed that she will not return as Queen Clarisse Renaldi in The Princess Diaries 3.
The 90-year-old star said refusing was “very, very hard,” but she believes the next chapter can flourish without bringing Mia’s grandmother back.
Julie Andrews Created Queen Clarisse in 2001
Julie Andrews joined a then-young Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries in 2001. Her Queen Clarisse introduces Mia Thermopolis to royal life and becomes both mentor and grandmother. The film gave Andrews another beloved character decades after Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music, while simultaneously helping launch Hathaway into international movie stardom.
Julie Andrews Returned for Royal Engagement
Julie Andrews reprised Clarisse for The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement in 2004. The sequel ultimately ended with Clarisse stepping aside while Mia became queen, giving the character a natural point of closure. That ending now matters more because the third film is expected to continue primarily around Mia rather than restoring the original grandmother-granddaughter dynamic.
Julie Andrews Once Left the Door Open
Julie Andrews did not always rule out another installment. Over the years she occasionally expressed affection for the possibility, especially when original director Garry Marshall was still alive. As the gap between films grew, however, Andrews became increasingly cautious about reviving something simply because audiences loved it. Marshall died in 2016, further changing what a reunion would mean.
Julie Andrews Says Mia’s Story Comes First
Julie Andrews said the third film should now belong to Princess Mia. More than 20 years have passed since the second installment, and Hathaway’s character has grown from uncertain teenager to Genovia’s queen. Andrews believes that evolution gives the franchise enough material without requiring Clarisse to remain involved simply to recreate nostalgia.
Julie Andrews Found Refusal Very Hard
Julie Andrews told InStyle that the creative team repeatedly asked during the previous year whether she would return. She eventually declined, describing the decision as extremely difficult because she had enjoyed the films so much. At 90 and living with arthritis, Andrews said she now considers herself essentially retired and prefers greater privacy.
Julie Andrews Still Works With Her Voice
Julie Andrews has not disappeared creatively. She continues voice work, including Lady Whistledown on Bridgerton, and has recorded characters for major animated films. Voice performance allows her to remain involved without taking on the physical demands of a full-screen production. She also continues writing books with her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton.
Julie Andrews Leaves Clarisse’s Legacy Untouched
Julie Andrews’s absence will disappoint fans, but it also protects a character whose story already received a satisfying ending. Anne Hathaway remains attached to the third film, while Adele Lim is directing. Andrews, meanwhile, has a Disney documentary ahead and says she still feels fortunate to be embraced by audiences after an extraordinary career.
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