20 Years Later, ‘The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement’ Still Remains as Regal as Ever
Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures.
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement was released in theaters on August 11, 2004. The film is a sequel to The Princess Diaries which was released in 2001. The sequel follows Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) as she graduates college and returns back to Genovia to discover she cannot be queen unless she gets married within 30 days. Nicholas Devereaux (Chris Pine) makes the top of Mia’s suitor list, but he’s more interested in the crown than wooing Mia.
The film turns 20 this year, so I want to take a look back on its legacy and the impact it has had on my childhood and into my adulthood. Let’s dive into this.
A Royal Legacy
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement is a sequel to The Princess Diaries which has become a cult classic over the years. The first film was based on the book written by Meg Cabot, but the sequel isn’t based on any of Cabot’s books. Garry Marshall, the film’s director, and many of the cast members talked for years about doing another sequel. Unfortunately, Marshall passed away in 2016 and there haven’t been any major developments for a sequel to these films.
Your Crowning Glory is a song sung by Raven-Symoné and Julie Andrews in the film. It has become somewhat of a crowned jewel and the scene where the actors sing the song is iconic in its own right.
A Trip Down Memory Lane
This film in particular takes me back to my childhood every time I rewatch it. I distinctly remember playing it on my portable DVD player when my mom and I would go on road trips to Disney World. I’d watch the film and watch the bonus features.
It’s an entirely different experience watching this film as an adult. I notice certain moments that I didn’t understand as a kid or just ones that went over my head. This goes for most films and TV shows I watched as a kid and rewatch now as an adult.
Since I’ve started reading romance books, I can’t get over how Mia and Nicholas practically invented the enemies to lovers trope. I’m kidding, but am I really though? They had the perfect amount of angst and their chemistry is off-the-charts amazing. They’re one of my favorite fictional couples of all time. There are many scenes that stand out in my mind like the scene in front of the fountain where Mia and Nicholas kiss and eventually fall into.
One of the things I love so much about this film is how the writers didn’t drastically change Mia’s character. She matured and grew up as she should since she’s in her early twenties here and in a rush to find a husband, so she can rule a country. No biggie. I could always relate to Mia’s introverted nature and her awkwardness, especially in the first film.
This is one of those films that will stick with me well into my adult years. I’ve grown a deeper love for it as an adult, and I believe that love with continue to grow over time because of the bittersweet connection to my childhood.
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement is available to stream on Disney+.
Director: Garry Marshall
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Chris Pine, Julie Andrews, Héctor Elizondo, Heather Matarazzo
Producers: Whitney Houston, Debra Martin Chase