“A queen is never late. Everyone else is simply early.” Julie Andrews gave The Princess Diaries its elegance, warmth, and quiet authority as Queen Clarisse Renaldi. Her relationship with Anne Hathaway’s Mia formed the emotional heart of the first two films, making Clarisse essential to Genovia’s story and beloved by audiences around the world.

But as the third movie moves forward, Andrews has confirmed that she will not return.

In an interview with TODAY, Julie Andrews directly addressed her absence from The Princess Diaries 3. She explained that the new story belongs to Mia and suggested that Clarisse no longer needs to be at its center.

“I think the story has to continue in Princess Mia,” Andrews said. “It’s her story. It’s not really mine.” The 90-year-old actress also indicated that her age and the direction of the sequel played a role in her decision.

 Andrews further explained to TODAY.com that the story felt different and that it was too late for her to participate in the same way. Her comments also make clear that the decision was personal rather than the result of a dispute with Hathaway or the filmmakers.

For fans who grew up with the original films, Andrews’ decision marks the end of an important chapter. Queen Clarisse was more than a royal figure in Genovia. She was Mia’s grandmother, mentor, and one of the defining presences of the franchise. Anne Hathaway, however, remains attached to return as Mia Thermopolis, giving the third installment a direct connection to the original story. 

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And while Andrews is stepping away from Genovia, Hathaway has offered a promising update about the story that will carry the franchise forward.

Anne Hathaway has revealed that the long-awaited return to Genovia has made creative progress, although the sequel is still not ready to begin filming. During an appearance on SiriusXM’s Radio Andy, Hathaway explained that the team moved away from an earlier screenplay and developed a different direction for The Princess Diaries 3.

“I can say I think we had a story breakthrough,” Hathaway said. “I think we are moving in the right direction.”

Hathaway explained that the rewrite was necessary before the filmmakers could feel confident about the sequel. The team ultimately decided to start over with the new direction, a process that she acknowledged was not necessarily the update fans had been waiting to hear.

“We kind of had to start over with this new direction,” she said.

The update arrives during Hathaway’s busy year, with Verity and The End of Oak Street among her projects. She remains attached to return as Mia Thermopolis, while Adele Lim is set to direct. Disney has not announced a release date or filming schedule, and plot details remain under wraps.

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What do you think about Julie Andrews not returning as Queen Clarisse in The Princess Diaries 3? Let us know in the comments.