In the books it's clearly modelled on Monaco, and the country moves from absolute to constitutional monarchy thanks to Mia's influence. I haven't seen the films since they were new, but I gather the adaptation took it in a direction somewhere between Liechtenstein and The Prisoner of Zenda. (Along with many other changes, such as killing off Mia's father.)
It sounds like the books get much more in the weeds with it, which squares with my otherwise baseless assumption that the movies targeted a slightly younger audience than the books
I think the films are inevitably more interested in what can be made visual - both in the hilarious-pratfall and ugly-duckling-to-ballgown variety - than in how monarchy actually works. And to be fair you have a lot more room to manoeuvre in ten-plus books than two screenplays.
As a long standing lover of both the Princess Diaries and Louis-Phillipe (although of course legitimist is the correct position for a true monarchist) this essay thrilled me to bits.
So looking at this entirely in the context of the film, it's not right-wing because its protagonists are politically to the left of the antagonists. Makes sense, and also appears to be accurate. (The two don't always go together.)
But is it "right-wing" compared to the attitudes in modern day Hollywood? It kind of has to be, just by the fact that it was made 24 years ago. I can't say for sure - it's probably been more than 20 years since I've seen it.
In some ways the franchise was extremely progressive. Like, the second film was entirely about Mia getting married to fulfill a legal obligation before assuming the throne, and then at the end Parliament strikes down the law and Mia doesn't get married. It might not be as radical as it was 20 years ago, but it's hard for me to sincerely claim a movie with that plot is "right-wing".
There's a whole 'nother essay here about whether or not The Princess Diaries is feminist, and to what degree, but that's too far outside my wheelhouse for me to say.
Having met the champagne socialists of NYC, I can say that many people on the “left” have the fantasy of being identified as descendants of European royalty and consequently being made rulers of small nations.
Thanks for knowing this much about real things so you can entertain us about fake things.
(edit: this comment is our most popular thing on Substack lol. We invite you to read our latest short story- about looking down the gap between who you are and who you seem to be: https://open.substack.com/pub/malleablebrains/p/a-common-connection?r=6oyaog&utm_medium=ios
This post sent me down a legitimist Wikipedia rabbit hole, and I would just like to point out that this individual is neither bald nor ugly: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Alphonse_de_Bourbon
Let's call Disney and have them issue a correction
You should try the Italian legitimist rabbit hole, taking into account that almost every region was a state in itself.
In the books it's clearly modelled on Monaco, and the country moves from absolute to constitutional monarchy thanks to Mia's influence. I haven't seen the films since they were new, but I gather the adaptation took it in a direction somewhere between Liechtenstein and The Prisoner of Zenda. (Along with many other changes, such as killing off Mia's father.)
It sounds like the books get much more in the weeds with it, which squares with my otherwise baseless assumption that the movies targeted a slightly younger audience than the books
I think the films are inevitably more interested in what can be made visual - both in the hilarious-pratfall and ugly-duckling-to-ballgown variety - than in how monarchy actually works. And to be fair you have a lot more room to manoeuvre in ten-plus books than two screenplays.
There were books?
Yes, and literally like 20
Thats impressive
First Mike Wazowski and now Mia Thermopolis. Doing the lord’s work.
For real though this was very fun to read
As a long standing lover of both the Princess Diaries and Louis-Phillipe (although of course legitimist is the correct position for a true monarchist) this essay thrilled me to bits.
cachet not caché (tho they pronounced the same)
fuck
It's things like this that make me love the internet. Thank you!
Bonus Flag: Ganducato di Toscana (monarchia costituzionale, 1848-1849).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_the_Grand_Duchy_of_Tuscany_(1848-1849).svg#mw-jump-to-license
That's from right after the Hapsburgs granted Tuscany a constitution, right? Man what a wild emblem on that thing
Exactly. Then, in 1859, there was a plebiscite that allowed annexation to the Regno di Sardegna (the Regno d'Italia was proclaimed in 1861).
This was helpful. I read a biography of Alexis de Toqueville once and got bogged down in this stuff.
"France would continue to revolt through the rest of the 18th century." Maybe you meant 19th? See also note 5.
Fuck! This is the second time I’ve made that same mistake! I’ve edited it, I can’t keep living like this
So looking at this entirely in the context of the film, it's not right-wing because its protagonists are politically to the left of the antagonists. Makes sense, and also appears to be accurate. (The two don't always go together.)
But is it "right-wing" compared to the attitudes in modern day Hollywood? It kind of has to be, just by the fact that it was made 24 years ago. I can't say for sure - it's probably been more than 20 years since I've seen it.
In some ways the franchise was extremely progressive. Like, the second film was entirely about Mia getting married to fulfill a legal obligation before assuming the throne, and then at the end Parliament strikes down the law and Mia doesn't get married. It might not be as radical as it was 20 years ago, but it's hard for me to sincerely claim a movie with that plot is "right-wing".
There's a whole 'nother essay here about whether or not The Princess Diaries is feminist, and to what degree, but that's too far outside my wheelhouse for me to say.
Eh, I say it doesn't have to be anything besides a cute movie that pre-teen girls will enjoy. Which reminds me that I should suggest it to my girls.
That's the right spirit, I'd say.
What a delightful essay.
Thank you as always, Betsy!
Having met the champagne socialists of NYC, I can say that many people on the “left” have the fantasy of being identified as descendants of European royalty and consequently being made rulers of small nations.