Based on the teen novel series of the same name, The Princess Diaries films, both the original and the sequel The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, are pop culture icons. Though neither are exactly beloved by critics, there is a charm to them that has allowed them to exist in the zeitgeist for nearly 20 years. While the original is a coming-of-age story, the sequel is a genuinely satisfying romantic comedy that has aged well despite evolutions in that genre. There are a few reasons why the romance between Anne Hathaway's Princess Mia and Chris Pine's Nicholas is still top tier.
Mia Meets Her Match in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
The Princess Diaries is a coming-of-age movie with a love interest that fits this type of story. Michael is a quiet, sweet boy who likes Mia before she's revealed to be a princess, and they finally get together when Mia becomes the best version of herself at the end of the film. He is cute and thoughtful, but the movie doesn't spend much time developing his personality or his relationship with Mia other than the fact that he clearly has a crush on her -- his sister's best friend, another trope of the genre. He's a nice first love, but he's missing the passion to be Mia's true love.
Nicholas, on the other hand, is brimming with personality. Where Michael is reserved, Nicholas is outgoing and more boisterous. Mia and Nicholas challenge each other in the best ways, and Nicholas forces Mia to push herself to be smarter and more confident. Michael is a safer choice, but Nicholas is the braver, more interesting match. Mia, once she gets over her aversion to public speaking, is a genuine force and Nicholas helps to bring out that side of her.
The Enemies-to-Lovers Trope Is Perfectly Executed in The Princess Diaries 2
The enemies-to-lovers trope works super well in romantic comedies as a structure for a love story, and it plays out perfectly in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. Mia is required by law to get married before being allowed to inherit the crown from her grandmother and reign as the Queen of Genovia. Nicholas is the nephew of a conniving Viscount with eyes on Mia's crown. At the start, the two are at odds with each other because Nicholas doesn't think she'd make a good queen, and she finds him arrogant and is obviously offended that he intends to undermine her claim to the throne. Despite their opposition, they have an undeniable chemistry that draws them to each other.
As the movie goes on, they learn that there is more to each other than they originally thought. Nicholas realizes that Mia would be the perfect queen, and Mia realizes that Nicholas actually has a good heart and is being misled by his uncle. In the end, Mia finds a way to change the law so that she doesn't have to get married to be queen, and she can instead marry for love when she's ready. Nicholas gives up his quest for her crown and instead supports her in her new role. Their feud turned love story helps them both become better people and better prepared to do what is best and right for the country of Genovia. Ultimately, that's why the trope plays out so effectively: their competition isn't just an excuse for them to argue with each other but a way to challenge them both in positive ways as well.
Mia and Nicholas' enemies-to-lovers relationship in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement is a really effective romance that is a near-perfect execution of the popular trope. The high intensity of their rivalry for the crown leads to a deeper understanding of each other and themselves as their relationship develops. It's also great that Mia is able to become the queen she is meant to be and doesn't allow herself to be defined by her relationship while also being in such an interesting and passionate relationship. Mia and Nicholas help make the film a top-tier classic romantic comedy.