Why Julie Andrews Won’t Return for ‘The Princess Diaries 3’

While fans wait for their promised return to Genovia, one key player will be notably absent from The Princess Diaries 3, as Julie Andrews, a.k.a. Queen Clarisse, confirms she won’t be back for the franchise’s latest outing.

The actress, who portrayed Anne Hathaway‘s grandmother in the Disney favorite, and is also known for her beloved roles in films like The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins, confirmed her intentional absence in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. Andrews told the outlet, “I think the absolute truth is that I think I’m really past all that now. I’m not completely retired, but it’s a different kind of work that I do these days — [writing] books, and I do a lot of recording of podcasts and voiceovers. But truly, I don’t think I should be a part of it.”

Most recently, fans would have heard Andrews do her voiceover work as Lady Whistledown on Shondaland’s hit Netflix series Bridgerton, for which she has earned several nominations and even an Emmy win. Shonda Rhimes wrote the screenplay for The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.

Everett Collection

While Andrews says that it’s “still lovely to work on things,” her current preference is working off-camera. “It isn’t that I’m not enthusiastic for it. It’s just that I really don’t feel I should be part of it now,” she shared further, regarding her planned absence from the next film.

As for what she’d anticipate Princess Diaries 3 being about, Andrews admitted she didn’t know. “I think it proceeds from the second Princess Diaries. It moves on, but by now Annie, too, is a little older than she was when she did it. I’m interested to see what Meg [Cabot] and Annie and everybody comes up with.”

The revelation comes as The Princess Diaries celebrates its 25th anniversary, and regarding the film’s ongoing popularity, Andrews said, “I’ve not really given it thought that way. I mean, I’m thrilled, and it was well-made by dear Garry Marshall, who was the sweetest director you could imagine and funny and talented and considerate. So it was a very enjoyable film to make.”

While no official logline for the third film has been unveiled, Anne Hathaway has confirmed The Princess Diaries 3 will happen, and Adele Lim is currently attached to direct the movie.

Stay tuned for updates, and let us know what you think about Julie Andrews’ choice not to return for Princess Diaries 3.

Princess Diaries 3, Movie Premiere, TBA