How Princess Diana unexpectedly broke Royal protocol

With a legacy spanning centuries, the British Royal Family has always stood out for its formal and polished image and its strict, rigid rules. For generations Royals are expected to keep their emotions in check during public events, reflecting the monarchy’s approach to duty and decorum.

Yet, Diana, the late Princess of Wales, defied the traditions and made the royal family feel approachable and relatable to the public.

What made Diana a beloved global icon wasn’t just her beauty, her elegance and style, her fame stemmed from her compassion, relatability and willingness to bend the rules.

Her acts of defiance sent shockwaves but made the Royal family we know and love today more accessible and approachable.

Here are some of the strict royal rules the Princess challenged:

Fashion Rules

Diana was never one to shy away from making a fashion statement. But as a Royal, there were rules, which she famously bent with elegance.

She made a daring debut alongside then Prince Charles, turning heads in a glamorous strapless gown that essentially pushed boundaries of Royal protocol.

However, this wasn’t the first time she used fashion to break away from the Royal rulebook. During an appearance in Melbourne, Australia, Diana had all eyes on her as she wore a choker as a tiara, a look that wasn’t just bold and unconventional, it was unforgettable.

She also shook up Royal fashion by unapologetically and confidently embracing shorter hemlines, wearing knee length dresses and skirts, defying royal norms.

Worked Prior to her Engagement

She broke tradition very early on, before her engagement to Prince Charles, Princess Diana worked as a nanny and a nursery school teacher in London, making her the first royal bride to have held a paying job. 

Learning Outside Royal Grounds

Diana set a new precedent when she enrolled her three-year-old son Prince William to a school outside the Palace and with that, William became the first Royal child to attend school outside Palace walls.

Traditionally, royal heirs were educated at home by a governess.

Continuing to break tradition, two years later, Prince Harry followed his elder brother’s lead, enrolling in the same school.

According to the New York Times, the Prince and Princess of Wales took their eldest son to Jane Mynor’s Nursery School in London, in 1985. Her decision to enroll William in this small school was a deliberate choice as she wanted her son to have the experience of a regular English education and wanted him to grow like any ordinary child.

By choosing early public education for her sons, Diana not only challenged Royal traditions, but also showcased her commitment and dedication to giving them a grounded, ordinary upbringing.

Running Barefoot

At Wetherby School’s sports day in 1991, Princess Diana kicked off her shows and ran barefoot in a parents’ race. Although she didn’t win, the incident showcased her playful side, as per Harper’s Bazaar.

Royals are generally expected to keep their feet covered and while most Royals follow the unspoken rules, Prince William and Prince Harry’s mother wasn’t afraid to break away from the rules from time to time. 

Selected Her Own Engagement Ring

Breaking away from the norm again, Princess Diana picked out her own engagement ring. The iconic sapphire and diamond ring may have been a gift from Prince Charles, but she had selected the jewellery herself.

Instead of following the long-running royal custom, she opted out of the norm of custom design jewellery and chose a ring from jeweler Garrard's catalog.

Despite the stunning 12-carat sapphire surrounded by 14 diamonds ring being chosen from a catalog, it still holds great significance as it was passed down to Kate Middleton, Prince William’s wife.

Altered Wedding Vows

Princess Diana breaking away from the Royal norms didn’t stop here. In fact she even sent shock waves on her wedding day as well.

Although the late Queen Elizabeth had included the promise to "obey" Prince Phillip in her own vows, Princess Diana made a quiet but powerful statement by opting to leave out the word during her vow exchange in 1981.

Rather than vowing to "obey," her focus was on other things as she promised to "'love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health.''

Royal family members like Sarah Ferguson and Sophie Rhys-Jones followed royal protocol and did vow obedience when they married into the royal family in 1986 and 1999 but like Diana, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle also omitted the word from their wedding vows. 

Hospital Birth

Believe it or not, before Peter Phillip was born in 1977, royal babies were traditionally delivered at home.

But a home birth was not part of Diana’s plan. Yet again, Diana shifted royal norms again by opting for a hospital birth, wanting to be fully conscious and awake and experience natural delivery.

Open About Mental Health

Diana: Her True Story, published by Andrew Morton in 1992, brought to light the Princess’ struggling with an eating disorder.

Following in her footsteps, her sons have tried to continue her their mother’s legacy by working to normalise conversation around mental health.