Is 'The Princess Diaries' In 'The Royal Treatment' Universe? - Netflix Tudum

  • Explainer

    Is ‘The Princess Diaries’ Part of ‘The Royal Treatment’ Universe?

    Sound the Genovia National Anthem.

    By Tara Bitran
    Jan. 20, 2022

The Royal Treatment exists in a universe where there are Christmas princes who marry the journalists of their dreams in Aldovia and princes of Lavania who fancy straight-shooting hairdressers. But there is another far-off land with a princess who warrants a mention — and we’re not talking about The Princess Switch.

No, in fact, we’re speaking of a land whose national anthem is near and dear to the hearts of early 2000s kids. It’s Genovia, home kingdom of Queen Clarisse and her heir apparent Mia Thermopolis from The Princess Diaries. But how does this royal lineage tie into The Royal Treatment? Glad you asked.

Izzy (Laura Marano), the hairdresser extraordinaire who styles the Prince of Lavania’s hair in The Royal Treatment, casually namedrops Genovia in the film. And this was one reference we couldn’t ignore.

The valet/butler/MVP Walter (Cameron Rhodes) to the prince (played by Mena Massoud) needs to schedule a hair appointment for His Royal Highness. So when Siri leads him (astray) to Izzy’s number, he prefaces that he is calling “on behalf of my employer, Prince Thomas of Lavania.”

If someone made this request to you, would you not also be inclined to believe this is a prank? So, Izzy naturally retorts, “Yeah, I’m the Queen of Genovia.”

For fellow eagle-eyed movie watchers, you’d also clock this sly nod to the queen who is never late (everyone else is simply early, of course).

But is Genovia really an ally of Lavania? Do they exchange pear delicacies over diplomacy dinners? We may not ever know.

But I like to imagine that next time Queen Clarisse flies into New York City, she’ll be booking an appointment at Izzy’s Bellissime salon.

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