Anne Hathaway spent years playing a princess on screen. At D23, Disney officially made her one.
The Oscar-winning actress was inducted as a Disney Legend on August 16 at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, bringing her journey from awkward teenager Mia Thermopolis to one of Disney’s most celebrated stars full circle.
But Hathaway’s biggest moment with fans was not just about looking back. During the same weekend, she gave The Princess Diaries fans a reason to start dreaming again, revealing that the team behind the long-awaited third movie is working carefully to make sure they get it right.
“It’s why we are working so hard to get Princess Diaries 3 right. Thank you for your patience,” Hathaway told fans during Disney’s entertainment showcase.
For anyone who grew up watching Mia discover she was heir to the throne of Genovia, the timing felt almost too perfect: Disney was celebrating Hathaway’s legacy while she hinted that the story that made her famous is still alive.
Anne Hathaway’s Disney Journey Began With Mia Thermopolis
When Hathaway first appeared as Mia Thermopolis in 2001’s The Princess Diaries, she was a young actress stepping into her first major studio film.
The movie introduced audiences to a shy teenager who suddenly learned she was royalty, transforming Hathaway into a household name almost overnight. She returned for 2004’s The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, continuing Mia’s journey as she prepared to take on her royal responsibilities.
Disney specifically highlighted Hathaway’s work as Mia as one of the performances that earned her the Disney Legends honor. The company also recognized her roles as the White Queen in Alice in Wonderland (2010) and Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016), along with her voice performance as Haru in the English-language version of The Cat Returns.
For Hathaway, the honor was deeply connected to where her career began.
“I am here today because I am one of the most insanely lucky people in the world,” she said during her acceptance speech.
She also reflected on the person who helped make her Disney debut so memorable: Julie Andrews, who played Queen Clarisse Renaldi in The Princess Diaries.
“How lucky am I that my first studio picture ever starred perhaps the greatest Disney Legend of all time, the incomparable Julie Andrews,” Hathaway said.
Related: Anne Hathaway’s secret to a natural face-lift went viral. Doctors have concerns.
David Frankel And Anna Wintour Helped Celebrate Hathaway’s Legacy
Hathaway’s Disney Legends moment also brought together another major chapter of her career.
David Frankel, the director of The Devil Wears Prada, presented Hathaway with the honor, while Vogue’s Anna Wintour appeared in a special video tribute.
Frankel praised Hathaway’s talent and recalled the qualities that helped define her career. Wintour highlighted Hathaway’s work ethic, versatility, and kindness.
“There is so much to admire about Anne: her work ethic, her talent, her versatility, but most of all, it’s her kindness that is so impressive,” Wintour said.
The appearance created a rare Hollywood crossover moment: the actress who became a Disney favorite through The Princess Diaries was being celebrated by people connected to another one of her most beloved films.
Still, Disney’s own description of Hathaway’s Disney legacy focused primarily on her official Disney-related roles rather than her entire film career.
Hathaway Says She Wants To Get ‘Princess Diaries 3’ Right
The biggest takeaway for fans was that The Princess Diaries 3 is still moving forward, but Hathaway made it clear the team is not rushing.
Rather than promising quick updates or revealing plot details, she emphasized the importance of creating something worthy of the original films.
That patience matters because the franchise holds a special place for a generation of viewers who grew up with Mia’s transformation from ordinary teenager to future queen.
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Hathaway also joked about the lasting impact of her movies, telling fans:
“Please never stop reciting your favorite lines to me, because I still can’t spell Gabbana. And I have come to love being told to shut up.”
The reference was a playful nod to the famous moments fans still quote decades later.
No release date, additional casting announcements, or story details for Princess Diaries 3 have been confirmed from Hathaway’s appearance.
A Disney Legend Honor That Became A Family Celebration
While the princess connection made Hathaway’s induction feel especially fitting, her speech focused less on fame and more on gratitude.
She spoke about the people who supported her journey and the life she built outside Hollywood.
“I have gotten my life so far doing what I love, having so many adventures along the way, knowing joy and valuing the extraordinary good fortune that allows me to share my life with my greatest blessing: a family I couldn’t love more,” Hathaway said.
She added: “As cool as all this is, just us being us is where I’m happiest.”
That personal message became one of the most emotional parts of the ceremony. After decades of playing characters audiences fell in love with, Hathaway used her Disney Legends moment to celebrate the people who know her beyond the screen.
Hathaway Joins Disney’s Newest Class Of Legends
Hathaway was one of 11 people inducted into the 2026 Disney Legends class, which also included Dwayne Johnson, the Jonas Brothers, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bob Iger, Jerry Bruckheimer, Alan Tudyk and others.
Disney describes the Disney Legends award as its highest honor, recognizing individuals whose work has made a lasting contribution to the company’s legacy.
Since the program began in 1987, Disney says 329 people have received the honor.
For Hathaway, the recognition arrived at a moment that feels less like a farewell celebration and more like a new chapter.
Twenty-five years after audiences first met Mia Thermopolis, the actress who played a reluctant princess has officially become part of Disney history herself.
And for fans hoping to return to Genovia, Hathaway’s message was simple: be patient.
The next chapter is still being written.
What makes The Princess Diaries still resonate with audiences decades later, and what would you want to see from a third movie?
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