Royal Rebel: 12 Ways Princess Diana Broke with Tradition and Paved a New Path for the Royal Family

Mar. 15, 2025

01of 12PRINCESS DIANA WAS FIRST TO HAVE A PAYING JOB BEFORE HER MARRIAGETim Graham/Getty ImagesDespite beingLady Diana Spencer— her father was 8th Earl Spencer —she worked as a nanny and a nursery school teacher in London, making her the first royal bride to have had a paying job before her engagement.

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PRINCESS DIANA WAS FIRST TO HAVE A PAYING JOB BEFORE HER MARRIAGE

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Despite beingLady Diana Spencer— her father was 8th Earl Spencer —she worked as a nanny and a nursery school teacher in London, making her the first royal bride to have had a paying job before her engagement.

02of 12SHE CHOSE HER OWN ENGAGEMENT RING — FROM A CATALOGUETim Graham/Getty ImagesPrince Charlesgave Diana perhaps her most iconic piece of jewelry: her sapphire and diamondengagement ring. However, rather than create a custom band for his bride, as is royal tradition, Diana chose stunner from the jeweler Garrard’s catalog.Of course, the ring still has special significance — which is whyPrince Williamgave it toKate Middletonwhen he proposed. Nowadays, Kate is rarely seen without the sweet reminder.

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SHE CHOSE HER OWN ENGAGEMENT RING — FROM A CATALOGUE

Prince Charlesgave Diana perhaps her most iconic piece of jewelry: her sapphire and diamondengagement ring. However, rather than create a custom band for his bride, as is royal tradition, Diana chose stunner from the jeweler Garrard’s catalog.

Of course, the ring still has special significance — which is whyPrince Williamgave it toKate Middletonwhen he proposed. Nowadays, Kate is rarely seen without the sweet reminder.

03of 12DIANA CHANGED HER WEDDING VOWSAnwar Hussein/GettyEven afterQueen Elizabethinsisted on including that she would “obey"Prince Philipin their wedding vows, Diana omitted the line from their 1981 nuptials. Instead, she promised to ‘‘love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health.‘‘The decision was controversial at the time, and others after her did vow obedience when they married into the royal family, includingSarah FergusonandSophie Rhys-Jonesin 1986 and 1999, respectively.Both Kate Middleton andMeghan Marklefollowed Diana’s lead andkept “obey” out of their wedding vows.

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DIANA CHANGED HER WEDDING VOWS

Anwar Hussein/Getty

Even afterQueen Elizabethinsisted on including that she would “obey"Prince Philipin their wedding vows, Diana omitted the line from their 1981 nuptials. Instead, she promised to ‘‘love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health.’’

The decision was controversial at the time, and others after her did vow obedience when they married into the royal family, includingSarah FergusonandSophie Rhys-Jonesin 1986 and 1999, respectively.

Both Kate Middleton andMeghan Marklefollowed Diana’s lead andkept “obey” out of their wedding vows.

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SHE GAVE BIRTH IN A HOSPITAL

Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

Up until the 1977 birth of the first ofQueen Elizabeth’s grandchildren, Peter Phillips,royal births occurred at home(even for the Queen!).

05of 12DIANA WAS A HANDS-ON PARENTA.G. Carrick/Diana Memorial Fund/GettyWhile raising young royals was often left to nannies while the parents took on their duties, Princess Diana made sure to make being a mother her top priorty.She and Charles even took then 9-month-year-old William with them on an official visit to Australia and New Zealand in March 1983, a decision that was unprecedented at the time.BothPrince WilliamandPrince Harryhave followed her lead, taking their young children on royal tours with them.

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DIANA WAS A HANDS-ON PARENT

A.G. Carrick/Diana Memorial Fund/Getty

While raising young royals was often left to nannies while the parents took on their duties, Princess Diana made sure to make being a mother her top priorty.

She and Charles even took then 9-month-year-old William with them on an official visit to Australia and New Zealand in March 1983, a decision that was unprecedented at the time.

BothPrince WilliamandPrince Harryhave followed her lead, taking their young children on royal tours with them.

06of 12SHE SENT HER KIDS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLTim Graham/Getty ImagesNo royal tutors and homeschooling for Diana’s son!Prince Williambecame the first heir to the British throne to attend public school at the urging of his mom.“The decision to have William, 3, develop his finger-painting skills among commoners showed the influence of Diana, Princess of Wales, who had worked in a nursery school herself when she was just a Lady,” George Hackettwrote inNewsweekin 1985 of William going to Jane Mynor’s nursery school.

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SHE SENT HER KIDS TO PUBLIC SCHOOL

No royal tutors and homeschooling for Diana’s son!Prince Williambecame the first heir to the British throne to attend public school at the urging of his mom.

“The decision to have William, 3, develop his finger-painting skills among commoners showed the influence of Diana, Princess of Wales, who had worked in a nursery school herself when she was just a Lady,” George Hackettwrote inNewsweekin 1985 of William going to Jane Mynor’s nursery school.

07of 12SHE GAVE HER KIDS REAL WORLD EXPERIENCESJulian Parker/UK Press/GettyIn addition to attending school with regular kids, Princess Diana made sure they had experiences that would ensure her boys had a sense of a “normal” childhood. This included trips to theme parks, using public transportation and enjoying hamburgers from McDonald’s.

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SHE GAVE HER KIDS REAL WORLD EXPERIENCES

Julian Parker/UK Press/Getty

In addition to attending school with regular kids, Princess Diana made sure they had experiences that would ensure her boys had a sense of a “normal” childhood. This included trips to theme parks, using public transportation and enjoying hamburgers from McDonald’s.

08of 12THE ROYAL WAS CANDID WITH THE PRESSAntony Jones/UK Press via GettyWhile other royals kept a stiff upper lip, Diana was honest about the less-than-glamorous parts of her life — especially when her marriage fell apart.Charles and Diana separated in 1992. That same year, Diana gave anexplosive interview to BBC’sPanorama, in which she is candid about the affair, saying, “Well, there werethree of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded,” referring to Philip’s then-mistress and second wife, Camilla.

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THE ROYAL WAS CANDID WITH THE PRESS

Antony Jones/UK Press via Getty

While other royals kept a stiff upper lip, Diana was honest about the less-than-glamorous parts of her life — especially when her marriage fell apart.

Charles and Diana separated in 1992. That same year, Diana gave anexplosive interview to BBC’sPanorama, in which she is candid about the affair, saying, “Well, there werethree of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded,” referring to Philip’s then-mistress and second wife, Camilla.

09of 12SHE CHOSE NOT TO WEAR HATS OR GLOVESTim Graham/GettyThe Queen is often seen in one of her signature hats and almost always wears gloves while shaking hands at events. However, Dianadropped the practice.“She abandoned the royal protocol of wearing gloves because she liked to hold hands when visiting people or shake hands and have direct contact,” Eleri Lynn, the curator of an exhibit on Diana’s style, previously told PEOPLE. “She also stopped wearing hats because she said, ‘You can’t cuddle a child in a hat.’ "

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SHE CHOSE NOT TO WEAR HATS OR GLOVES

Tim Graham/Getty

The Queen is often seen in one of her signature hats and almost always wears gloves while shaking hands at events. However, Dianadropped the practice.

“She abandoned the royal protocol of wearing gloves because she liked to hold hands when visiting people or shake hands and have direct contact,” Eleri Lynn, the curator of an exhibit on Diana’s style, previously told PEOPLE. “She also stopped wearing hats because she said, ‘You can’t cuddle a child in a hat.’ "

10of 12SHE WORE BLACKAnwar Hussein/GettyDiana is known as a fashion icon, and even wearing the most basic colors was a statement.Queen Elizabethtypicallywears a rainbow of bright clothesso her royal fans can easily spot her in a crowd, and black is reserved for somber occasions. Diana wore her fair share of bold shades — however, she knew there was nothing quite like a little black dress or a cool neutral.

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SHE WORE BLACK

Diana is known as a fashion icon, and even wearing the most basic colors was a statement.Queen Elizabethtypicallywears a rainbow of bright clothesso her royal fans can easily spot her in a crowd, and black is reserved for somber occasions. Diana wore her fair share of bold shades — however, she knew there was nothing quite like a little black dress or a cool neutral.

11of 12DIANA DESTIGMATIZED AIDSNews Group/REX/ShutterstockAt the height of the AIDS epidemic in 1987, Princess Diana did something truly remarkable: She shook hands with an AIDS patient in London, a simple act that reverberated around the globe and smashed stigmas at a time when public fears about catching the disease were prevalent.“She was very real andvery about human contact,“her brother Charles, 9th Earl Spencer,previously told PEOPLE. “And what really mattered that day was to get across a very clear message that, ‘I’m going to touch this gentleman — and you can all exist in a community with people who are suffering, and we must help.“Today, her sonsPrince WilliamandPrince Harryhave carried on the mantle of her work of breaking down barriers toward public health, with Harry taking anHIV test alongsideGrammy winnerRihannain 2017.

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DIANA DESTIGMATIZED AIDS

News Group/REX/Shutterstock

At the height of the AIDS epidemic in 1987, Princess Diana did something truly remarkable: She shook hands with an AIDS patient in London, a simple act that reverberated around the globe and smashed stigmas at a time when public fears about catching the disease were prevalent.

“She was very real andvery about human contact,“her brother Charles, 9th Earl Spencer,previously told PEOPLE. “And what really mattered that day was to get across a very clear message that, ‘I’m going to touch this gentleman — and you can all exist in a community with people who are suffering, and we must help.”

Today, her sonsPrince WilliamandPrince Harryhave carried on the mantle of her work of breaking down barriers toward public health, with Harry taking anHIV test alongsideGrammy winnerRihannain 2017.

12of 12SHE GOT REAL ABOUT MENTAL HEALTHPrincess Diana.Tim Rooke/REX/ShutterstockIn 1992, Andrew Morton publishedDiana: Her True Story,which revealed that the princess was living with the eating disorder.In an 1995 interview with BBC, she described bulimia as a “symptom of what was going on in my marriage.“Her sons havecontinued her work to destigmatize mental health issues.“We need to normalize the conversation about mental health,“Prince Williamsaid in the documentaryWasting Away: The Truth About Anorexia. “We need to be matter-of-fact about it, and not hide it in the dark where it festers.”

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SHE GOT REAL ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH

Princess Diana.Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock

In 1992, Andrew Morton publishedDiana: Her True Story,which revealed that the princess was living with the eating disorder.In an 1995 interview with BBC, she described bulimia as a “symptom of what was going on in my marriage.”

Her sons havecontinued her work to destigmatize mental health issues.

“We need to normalize the conversation about mental health,“Prince Williamsaid in the documentaryWasting Away: The Truth About Anorexia. “We need to be matter-of-fact about it, and not hide it in the dark where it festers.”

source: people.com