Mia Thermopolis didn't want to rule her own country. She just wanted to pass the 10th grade. But now, two decades later, fans are still bowing down to the princess of Genovia.
The Princess Diaries celebrated its 20th anniversary on July 29, and Anne Hathaway marked the major milestone with a royally perfect tribute on Instagram.
"Miracles happen," the actress wrote while referencing Myra's hit track from the soundtrack (you know the one) and sharing a series of photos from the film. "Happy 20th Birthday to #theprincessdiaries, AKA the film that launched a thousand sleep overs."
In case you haven't re-watched it for the millionth time recently, The Princess Diaries is based on Meg Cabot's novel and tells the story of Mia Thermopolis (Hathaway), a high school student who learns she's actually the heir to the throne of a place called Genovia. As she receives training from her grandmother, the reigning Queen Clarisse Renaldi (Julie Andrews), and tries to balance her new royal duties with high school life, she must decide if she wants to take on the title.
In addition to the two Oscar winners, the film featured Heather Matarazzo, Mandy Moore, Erik von Detten, Hector Elizondo, Sandra Oh and more stars. The sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, was released in 2004, and fans have been keeping their fingers crossed for a third film ever since.
"There is a script," Hathaway said during a 2019 episode of Watch What Happens Lives With Andy Cohen. "I want to do it, Julie wants to do it, Debra Martin Chase our producer wants to do it. We all really want it to happen. It's just, we don't want to do it unless it's perfect because we love it just as much as you guys love it. It's as important to us as it is to you. And we don't want to deliver anything until it's ready, but we're working on it."
To see the cast then and now, scroll on.
Anne Hathaway
The Princess of Genovia is all grown up. Since appearing in the 2001 Disney movie, Anne Hathaway has earned rave reviews (and one Oscar!) for her performances in Les Misérables, The Devil Wears Prada, The Dark Knight Rises, Ocean's Eight and more films. And, no, she will not shut up about her most famous roles. Currently filming a follow-up to The Devil Wears Prada, she hinted at her return for Princess Diaries 3.
"Miracles happen," she captioned an October 2024 post. “Back to Genovia with @adeleblim @disney @somewherepictures. The fairy tale continues.”
And speaking of happily ever afters, after marrying jewelry designer Adam Shulman in 2012, the pair welcomed sons Jonathan in 2016 and Jack in 2019.
Mandy Moore
While her character—bully Lana Thomas—wasn't exactly beloved by Mia in The Princess Diaries, Mandy Moore has maintained a huge fan base thanks to her singing career and Emmy-nominated role as Rebecca Pearson in NBC's hit series This Is Us.
Other credits include her own Disney princess moment, voicing Rapunzel in 2010's Tangled, a starring role in Peacock's Dr. Death and the upcoming comedy feature The Breadwinner.
She tied the knot musician Ryan Adams in 2008, but the pair divorced in 2016. She wed musician Taylor Goldsmith in 2018, and the two went on to welcome sons August "Gus" Harrison in 2021 and Oscar "Ozzie" Bennett in 2022 and daughter Louise "Lou" Everett in 2024.
Julie Andrews
Bow down to Hollywood royalty. Ever since her role as Queen Clarisse Renaldi, Julie Andrews has appeared in family friendly flicks like Tooth Fairy, Ella Enchanted, Despicable Me and the Shrek franchise.
In addition to her lead roles in The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins the Oscar winner is also a best-selling author thanks to her assortment of children's books in The Very Fairy Princess series.
And, yes, you've definitely heard her voice more recently as she's voiced Bridgerton's one and only Lady Whistledown!
Married to set designer Tony Walton in 1959 (Maggie Smith was a guest at their wedding!), they welcomed daughter Emma in 1962 before divorcing in 1968. She married director Blake Edwards in 1969, becoming a step mom to his children Jennifer and Geoffrey. Together, they had daughters Amelia and Joanna and were married 41 years until his death in 2010. The actress is now a grandmother to nine and great-grandma to three.
Heather Matarazzo
How can fans forget Mia's best friend Lilly, who not only had her own cable access TV show called Shut Up and Listen but also shut down Mia's haters. While Heather Matarazzo's career is still going strong with TV appearances on Grey's Anatomy and Exes & Ohs and roles in films like Hostel: Part II, she recently left Hollywood behind for wife Heather Turman's home state.
"My wife was born and raised in Michigan," the star, set to appear in the second season of Wednesday, shared in a August 2024 TikTok video. "We met in L.A. about eight years ago, and a year and a half ago, we kind of looked at each other and were like, 'Do we wanna be in Los Angeles anymore?'"
Noting their answer was a "big fat no," the actress raved, "I just love it here so much. There's such an abundance of nature, and everyone's just been so incredibly kind."
Sandra Oh
Vice Principal Gupta, the queen is coming! While Sandra Oh's role in the film was brief, fans will never forget her iconic lines that brought laughs to the masses. Outside of the franchise, Sandra has been a fan-favorite on Grey's Anatomy and Killing Eve. Class dismissed!
In 2003, the Emmy-winning star married filmmaker Alexander Payne, but the two divorced in late 2006.
Robert Schwartzman
Fans will remember Robert Schwartzman for his role as Mia's loyal friend Michael Moscovitz both before and after she became a princess. After starring in the Disney film, Robert—who is the younger brother of Jason Schwartzman—became a recording artist as the lead vocalist of rock/pop band Rooney and a director with 2016's Dreamland, 2018's The Unicorn and 2023's The Good Half.
He's also served as a producer on films like The Last Showgirl, Takin' Care of Business and I Live Here Now. In 2017, he married photographer Zoey Grossman. "We met in elementary school, in first grade," he wrote in a 2021 Instagram anniversary tribute. "I took her back there and proposed where we took our yearbook photos. I married my best friend, I couldn’t ask for anything more. It gets better every moment."
Erik Von Detten
How can we forget Mia's crush Josh Bryant? Days of Our Lives alum Erik Von Detten went on to star in the short-lived sitcom Complete Savages in 2004, reprised his Toy Story role of Sid in all the sequels up to the 2010 film Toy Story 3 and did other voice-over and TV work. Having not been on screen since appearing on a 2008 episode of Bones, he appeared in the 2024 TV movie My Acting Coach Nightmare.
He and his real estate agent wife Angela Von Detten share daughter Claire (born in May 2019) and sons Thomas (March 2021) and Nicholas (December 2022).
"Since I was a kid, I wanted to have a large family," he explained to E! News in 2021, explaining why he largely abandoned the "fickle" acting industry. "Luckily, simultaneously when things started to slow down in acting in my early 20s, another opportunity presented itself for me with a company that I started working with at age 25. And I've been with that company ever since. It's a sales position with a company working in finance. I've grown into a management position and it's worked out really well."