After a botched routine surgery on Julie Andrews' vocal cords tragically robbed her of her amazing vocal range, it seemed that Andrews would never sing again. But The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement changed all that, when she was given "Your Crowning Glory", a song deliberately written as easy for Andrews to sing. Hearing her in a Disney film singing this simple, yet beautiful song and gaining the confidence to sing in public once more certainly qualifies this as a CMOH.
When Andrews sang it live on the film set during shooting, the film crew were in tears.
The scene with the girls from the orphanage in the second film definitely counts.
Mia: And I say that anyone can be a princess today.
Nicholas' change of heart. To stop Mia from entering a loveless political marriage and ensure that she can become queen in her own right regardless by abdicating, he takes his grandfather's penny farthing bicycle, trades it with a farmer for his horse, arrives just in time at the church in support of Mia to give a heartwarming and persuasive speech to the parliament. And all topped off with:
Nicholas: And, besides... [looks directly at Mia] Just think how lovely she'll look on our postage stamp.
How do you completely sell an utterly cliche chick-flick romance? You cast the incredibly talented Anne Hathaway and Chris Pine, sit back, and let them sell it for you. Mia and Nicholas' whole relationship is too adorable for words — entirely thanks to their acting.
Although Andrew is well aware that Mia is not in love with him, he is willing to marry her, tying himself to her for the rest of their lives, and support her in running the country, solely because he thinks she can be a great queen and he wants to help her.
After cancelling her own wedding, Mia asked the Genovian Parliament if they can abolish the law that is forcing her to marry for the throne. All of them vote in favor. Even the scheming Baron von Troken stood up in support of Mia, despite his vote not counting because he's not in parliament.
The ending of the second movie where "the sparrow takes off" and "the eagle flies for the last time". Not only is it awesome to see Mia finally crowned as queen, but almost everyone from throughout the movie, even those who had seemingly been against her or at least to enjoy her misfortunes are all there and happily join in on the Genovian national anthem, from Nicholas and the stoic new secret service agent, to her ex-fiance and his love interest, to the annoying Scottish gossip-rag journalist, even the scheming nobles from the first movie- and a song that was mostly Played for Laughs in the first movie becomes a sincere, heartfelt, even stirring performance.
