The Princess Diariesand its 2004 sequel,The Princess Diaries: Royal Engagementare tied to a European country called Genovia. Adapted from Meg Cabot’s best-selling novels about an American teenager who discovers she’s actually the princess of a small European country,The Princess Diarieswas one of the best teen movies of the early 2000s.Anne Hathaway has appeared in several other moviesafterThe Princess Diaries, but her role as Mia in the teenage drama remains memorable.
Following the success of the first twoPrincess Diariesmovies, there have been rumors about whether a sequel would happen. In 2022, Disney officially announced that there would indeed be a third installment in the franchise and that it was in development (viaTheHollywood Reporter). Now thatThe Princess Diaries 3has been confirmedwith Hathaway reprising her role as Mia, Genovia is sure to make a return.
The Princess Diaries' Genovia Is A Fictional Country
Genovia Is Similar To Some Countries Located In Western Europe
Although Genovia might seem like a real place due to the way it’s portrayed inThe Princess Diaries,the country was actually made up for the movie. Genovia is a small nation in Western Europe with an average population of 50,000 people, and is presumably so small that even if it did exist in real-life, it would most likely be too small to easily spot on a map. As for its geography, it’s understood that Genovia boasts sprawling hills and perfect weather,which is commonly associated with countries in Western Europe.
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InThe Princess Diariesmovies, the made-up country is established as a member of the European Union, complete with a consulate in the United States. What’s more, Genovia is governed by a royal family and even has its own currency, the Genovian Franc. The realistic portrayal of Genovia inThe Princess Diariesdidn’t only raise questions about whether it exists,but it also contributed to what made the movie so interesting.
Genovia Is Similar To Monaco And Andorra In The Princess Diaries
Genovia Was Inspired By Monaco
Although Genovia is an imaginary country, it actually has a basis in reality. According toThe Princess Diariesnovels, Genovia is located between France and Italy. The movies, however,place the country between France and Spain. Because of this, Genovia has been compared to Monaco, a small European country that actually is real. The fictional country also bears a resemblance to Andorra, another real country located in Western Europe.
While Monaco was the inspiration for Genovia in The Princess Diaries, the fictional country seems like it’s a combination of Monaco and Andorra.
The Princess Diaries’author, Meg Cabot, got the inspiration for Genovia when she visited Monaco, which explains the similarities between the fictional nation and the real country. Genovia and Monaco have several things in common, such as the fact that they’re both small, have low taxes, and are ruled by a monarch (viaThe Guardian). And similar to how Genovia is the setting for a love story, Monaco is deeply associated with Grace Kelly, the Hollywood actress who married a member of its royal family, Prince Rainer III.
The Princess Diaries
Cast
The Princess Diaries follows Mia Thermopolis, a teenager who discovers she is the heir to the throne of a European kingdom. The film explores her journey from an ordinary student to embracing her royal heritage, confronting the challenges and transformations this revelation brings to her life.
