Wait. Is that actually Stan Lee?
If you were watching The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement back in 2004 and thought you saw the face of Marvel Comics chilling at a royal wedding, you weren't hallucinating. It really was him. Long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) turned him into a global easter egg hunt, Stan "The Man" Lee was popping up in the most unexpected places. Genovia, apparently, was one of them.
Most people associate Stan Lee with superheroes. Spidey, Iron Man, the X-Men—that's his wheelhouse. Seeing him alongside Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews feels like a glitch in the Matrix. But there he is, wearing a tuxedo and trying to learn English from the Three Stooges. Honestly, it’s one of the most bizarrely charming moments in early 2000s cinema.
Who Did Stan Lee Play in The Princess Diaries 2?
In the movie, Stan Lee plays a character officially credited as the Three Stooges Wedding Guest.
The scene happens during the big royal wedding sequence. As the guests are being introduced, Stan approaches Queen Clarisse (the legendary Julie Andrews). Instead of a standard "Your Majesty" or a polite nod, he greets her with a series of nonsensical noises and a "Nyuk-nyuk-nyuk!" This is a direct homage to Curly from The Three Stooges.
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Basically, the joke is that his character is a foreign dignitary who learned all his English—and social graces—by watching classic American slapstick comedy. It’s short. It’s weird. It’s quintessentially Stan.
How Did This Even Happen?
You’d think there’d be some deep corporate synergy reason for this, right? Maybe a secret deal between Disney and Marvel five years before the actual acquisition?
Nope.
The truth is way more "Hollywood" than that. Stan Lee and the film's director, Garry Marshall, were actually good friends. Marshall, the man behind Pretty Woman and Happy Days, was known for casting his buddies and family members in his projects.
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Around that time, Marshall was reportedly in talks with Stan Lee’s company, POW! Entertainment, about developing some of Stan's non-Marvel properties. They hit it off. When Marshall was filming the sequel in California, he basically just asked Stan if he wanted to come down to the set and play a wedding guest. Stan, being a guy who never met a camera he didn't like, said yes.
Why the Cameo Still Matters Today
In 2004, this was just a "Hey, look, it's that comic book guy" moment for a very specific subset of nerds. Today, it feels like a piece of lost history.
- Pre-Disney Marvel: This happened in 2004. Disney didn't buy Marvel until 2009. Seeing Stan Lee in a Disney-branded "Princess" movie was actually a pure coincidence that became prophetic.
- The Rare Non-Marvel Appearance: While Stan had dozens of cameos, most were in Marvel-adjacent properties (like X-Men or Spider-Man). Seeing him in a romantic comedy with zero capes in sight is a rarity.
- The Garry Marshall Connection: It highlights the "Old Hollywood" style of directing where sets were family affairs. Marshall’s granddaughters are also in the film as the twin princesses.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Cameo
Some fans try to headcanon this into the MCU. They’ll tell you he’s playing the same "Watcher Informant" character seen in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
While that’s a fun theory, it’s not true. This wasn't a calculated move by Kevin Feige. It was just Stan Lee having a blast on a Tuesday. There’s no secret Genovian lore that connects Princess Mia to the Avengers (though, honestly, Anne Hathaway would have made a great superhero back then).
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How to Spot Him Next Time You Watch
If you’re planning a rewatch, keep your eyes peeled during the wedding procession.
Look for the line of guests waiting to greet the Queen. He’s impossible to miss once you know he’s there—mostly because of the distinctive voice and that iconic mustache.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're a Stan Lee completionist or just a fan of weird movie trivia, here's how to dive deeper into this specific rabbit hole:
- Watch the Behind-the-Scenes: Check out the DVD or Disney+ "extras" for The Princess Diaries 2. There’s often footage of Garry Marshall joking around with his guest stars.
- Hunt for Other Non-Marvel Cameos: Stan Lee also popped up in Mallrats (1995) as himself and The Big Bang Theory. He even had a voice cameo in Teen Titans Go! To the Movies, which is the only time he "crossed over" to DC.
- Check Out "With Great Power": This is a 2010 documentary about Stan Lee's life. Garry Marshall actually appears in it to talk about their friendship and Stan's love for being on screen.
The Princess Diaries 2 stan lee appearance isn't just a random blip. It's a reminder that before he was the grandfather of the biggest movie franchise in history, he was just a guy who loved the industry and couldn't say no to a funny bit.
Next time you’re in a trivia night and someone asks what Stan Lee’s most unexpected role was, you’ve got the answer. It wasn’t a general in the Army or a bus driver. It was a guy who learned English from Moe, Larry, and Curly just so he could talk to a Queen.