Top 10 Princess Diaries Moments

#10: Mia Is Crowned Queen of Genovia "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement" (2004)

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We couldn’t help but feel the same Genovian pride as the other citizens as they watched their current queen step down from her throne and pass on the crown to her granddaughter. Princess Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi is now Queen of Genovia. Her proud mother and stepfather, along with her best friend Lily and love interest Nicholas watch as she embraces her role as leader in front of parliament. Her journey is finally complete. She had learned so much from her teacher and grandmother that she is now ready to start her new life as ruler of Genovia. We are left happily wondering what this new chapter will entail, but more importantly hoping for another film so we can find out!

After watching their undeniable chemistry throughout the entire first film, it’s only natural that we keep up our hopes of Joseph and Clarisse finally ending up together in this one. Our hearts sank when Joseph’s proposal to Clarisse is met with a response he didn’t expect to hear. The queen felt that it was her duty to focus all of her attention on Mia and her wedding, rather than follow her heart. Once her granddaughter made her realize that she deserved her fairy tale ending too, Clarisse decided to ask Joseph if he still wanted her as his wife. As we wiped away the tears, we watched these two loving people finally get married and prove that love knows no age.

#8: Princess Parade "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement" (2004)

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Taking matters into her own hands, the princess stops the parade so she can go over to a little girl she sees being bullied. Carolina, played by Abigail Breslin, explains to Mia that the boys from the orphanage were tugging on her braid. After calling them out, Mia invites the children to be in the parade with her, claiming that anyone can be a prince or princess. Amelia’s decision reflects the poise and grace she possesses as a princess and as a potential ruler. Her kindness is inspiring, and leaves us with an incredible warmth that reminds us why this is such a feel good film.

Once the playground-style bickering over who had the better date to the garden party began, the passionate buildup between Mia and Nicholas would continue escalating. In his debut feature film role, Chris Pine effortlessly convinces us of his intense chemistry with Anne Hathaway. Their kiss actually makes Mia’s foot pop! However, given Nicholas’ current interest in the Genovian throne, we aren’t sure if his feelings for the princess are real, but her foot just proved that hers are. Having watched them argue while circling the fountain made us wonder just how or when they would fall in, and we were happy to see them both drenched. Nothing beats Clarisse’s remark after yet another one of Mia’s clumsy mishaps though!

#6: Mia Hits Josh with a Baseball "The Princess Diaries" (2001)

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Now while we all hated the way Josh treated Mia, we couldn’t help but understand her crush on the most popular guy in school. Josh Bryant was smooth and slick; much like the gel he put in his hair. Thankfully, the princess saw his true colors at the beach party when he kissed her to get his 15 minutes of fame. Mia’s frustration with Josh reached its climax in gym class when he motioned for his team to move in when it was her turn to bat. Channeling his constant laughter and Lana’s annoying cheerleading, Mia finally got her revenge by hitting the ball directly at Josh’s stomach and sending him to the floor. Passing gym class never felt so good!

#5: Mia’s First Meeting with Nicholas "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement" (2004)

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As one of the country’s oldest traditions, Mia is to dance with all the eligible bachelors in Genovia at her 21st birthday party. After dancing with an eclectic bunch, Mia accidentally steps on a young man’s foot. Their immediate connection and genuine chemistry are palpable, and climaxes when he saves Mia from an awful dancer. Like the staring girls, we watch in awe and jealousy as the pair glides across the dance floor. Although Prince Jacques butts in, we immediately realize the impact Nicholas has on Mia and she on him. Their romantic introduction is an important part of their relationship, as it will come up again in a few short scenes. Nevertheless, we impatiently wait for his return.

#4: Princess Lessons with Clarisse "The Princess Diaries" (2001)

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Learning to give a speech without throwing up is hard enough without adding royalty lessons to the list of things to master. Clarisse proves that you really can teach someone how to walk, talk, sit, stand, eat and dress like a princess. Correcting her posture, adjusting her table manners and learning how to use a fan are all tools the Queen believed Mia should learn in preparation for her title. As entertaining as it was to watch the princess-to-be injure Joseph during rehearsal, it was even more satisfying to see Clarisse passionately dance with him. Throughout Mia’s schooling, we see her relationship with Clarisse blossom, and realize that she is learning more than just proper etiquette.

As someone who is used to being sat on, Mia has grown accustomed to the idea of being invisible, and wants to stay that way. Her grandmother’s revelation about her true identity puts her invisibility into question. Unable to absorb and process this new information, Mia responds by telling Clarisse to shut up. Her authentic reaction stuns the Queen but has us in stitches. The thought of leading a country completely freaks Mia out, and Clarisse’s persistence about her princess training and living arrangements is too overwhelming. Her natural instinct to run away reminds us of her debate and reveals more about her character. This scene is both an important part of Amelia’s transformation and her new relationship with Clarisse.

Now while we said we understood Mia’s crush on Josh, what we really meant was that we were secretly rooting for Michael the entire time. He saw what was behind those glasses and bushy eyebrows before the transformation occurred. Michael’s love for Mia was pure and genuine, which is why we felt his pain when she blew him off for Josh. Thankfully her apologetic “sorry” pizza and grand ball invitation was enough to get him to the party, allowing her to admit her true feelings for him. Their kiss gave Mia the foot pop she’d been dreaming of, and lit the romantic garden backdrop for her first “real” kiss. We can’t help but be a little envious of the princess in this moment. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: Mia & Lily Make Up Their Friendship “The Princess Diaries” (2001) Lana Gets Coned “The Princess Diaries” (2001) Do You Have a Chicken for My Table? “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement” (2004)

A complete makeover from head to toe? Sign us up! Paolo’s ultimate transformation of Mia appeared to be a simple cleanup; just a few eyebrow plucks and some hair brushing, or so it seemed. But the princess-to-be’s makeover must’ve actually taken them hours in order to achieve such beautiful results! Anne Hathaway’s visual transformation allowed us to see how she could play both facets of Mia so incredibly well. We believed Mia when she said that “this is as good as it’s gonna get”, but we’re happy to see that it wasn't. Watching her get pampered is incredibly satisfying, as we had been dying to separate Frida and Kahlo! Mia now looks more refined, polished and royal. Get ready Genovia, your princess is postage stamp ready! Do you agree with our list? Which other moments in the Princess Diaries films do you think were most memorable? For more fun Top 10’s published every day, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.