Where Was The Princess Diaries Filmed? Anne Hathaway’s Remarkable Comedy-Drama Flick!  

There are only a few directors who can make light-hearted comedies as Gary Marshall does, and if you enjoy watching good comedy films, then I assume you’ve seen The Princess Diaries (2001). The coming-of-age comedy-drama film follows Mia Thermopolis, a shy and awkward teenager who finds out that she is the princess of a European state. In this article, I’ll discuss the movie and tell you where was The Princess Diaries filmed. 

A young Anne Hathaway plays the lead role in the movie along with Julie Andrews, Hector Elizondo, Heather Matarazzo, and Mandy Moore. Anne Hathaway certainly needs no introduction. She is one of highest highest-paid actresses in Hollywood and has worked with legendary and senior filmmakers like Christopher Nolan, Tim Burton, Nancy Meyers, and Ang Lee. The Oscar-winning actress has been in successful and critically acclaimed movies like The Dark Knight Rises, Brokeback Mountain, Rachel Getting Married, Interstellar, and many more. 

Now, to answer your main question regarding where The Princess Diaries was filmed, the coming-of-age comedy-drama movie was filmed in Salisbury, United Kingdom, and California, United States of America.

The Princess Diaries was first screened at the El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles on 29th July 2001, followed by its theatrical release on 3rd August 2001 in America. Eventually, the comedy-drama film arrived on digital platforms on 27 May 2016. It is currently streaming on Disney+, and you can watch it with a monthly plan. However, without any further delay, let’s find out more about the filming locations. 

Where Was The Princess Diaries Filmed? Here Are The Locations!

Garry Marshall’s The Princess Diaries was a huge commercial success and a hit at the box office. The comedy-drama film earned over $165 million against a production budget of $26 million, making it one of the highest-grossing films of 2001. Not to mention, it got a number of constructive reviews from critics, who applauded Anne Hathaway’s performance and Marshall’s extraordinary direction. Los Angeles Times’ Kevin Thomas called The Princess Diaries “an ideal film,” praising Marshall’s ability to “make make-believe seem real”.

The comedy-drama flick got a rating of 6.4 on IMDb and an audience score of 68% on Rotten Tomatoes. Marshall is best known for his dramas and comedies, a few of his notable movies include Pretty Woman, Never Been Kissed, and A League Of Their Own.  Let’s move on and get into the details of where was The Princess Diaries filmed.

Langford Castle, Salisbury, United Kingdom

Principal photography of The Princess Diaries commenced on 18th September 2000 and was wrapped up by 8th December 2000. The Genovia castle that we see in the movie is actually a real castle in Salisbury, UK. The castle is known as Langford Castle. It is situated in Bodenham, England, on the banks of Avon, a river in the southern region of Salisbury.

California, United States of America

The movie was filmed in multiple locations across California. Filming of the comedy-drama film took place in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Burbank. The majority of the scenes were filmed in San Francisco. 

Mia’s home in the movie is located at 724 Brazil Avenue in San Francisco. Her high school in the movie is situated in San Francisco’s Lyon Street.

A handful of other scenes were also filmed near the Golden Gate Bridge. A number of indoor scenes were shot in the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. 

Plot Of The Princess Diaries (2001) | Mia’s Dream Finally Came True!

The story of The Princess Diaries revolves around Mia Thermopolis, played by Anne Hathaway. Mia is a 15-year-old intelligent yet clumsy and shy girl who lives with her paternal grandmother, Clarrise, played by Julie Andrews, as her father passed away. Mia is not so popular in school and is bullied by other students. Her only friends are Lily and Michael. Mia does not know, but Michael has a secret crush on her but does not have the guts to tell her.

One fine day, Mia discovers something that changes her life forever. She learns the fact that she is the princess of a kingdom known as Genovia in Europe, and Clarisse, her grandmother, is the queen. She finally confronts her strict grandmother about the whole thing. Soon, Clarisse gives her granddaughter “princess lessons” and sends her off on a comical journey to her throne. 

Final Word

Now that you’re aware of where was The Princess Diaries filmed, hurry up and make a plan with your family and at least visit California. You have plenty of things to do in California, so there is no chance of getting bored. Having said that, if you wish to read more interesting articles on filming locations, then keep a check on the Viebly website.