7 Times Princess Diana Broke Royal Parenting Rules

The late Princess Diana is most well-known for being a rebellious yet inspirational figure in British royalty. Word has it that she’s broken more royal protocols than we can count on both hands. Yet here we are, decades after her death, still patronizing her and using her as a maternal example.

We at Bright Side are sharing with you the royal parenting rules that Princess Diana rebelled against, and that today are still being embodied by her sons and daughters-in-law.

1. She gave birth in a hospital.

Princess Diana was the first in royal history to break the tradition of home births. Instead of giving birth on royal grounds, the princess gave birth to Prince William at St. Mary’s Hospital in London. While giving birth to her second son, Prince Harry, Princess Diana opted to not take any pain medication during labor and birth. These events made her sons the first royals to be born in a local and general hospital.

2. She prioritized her children over her duties.

It was said that Princess Diana “loved nothing more than being a mother.” In an interview, her late father, John Spencer recalled that she had always loved babies and little children from an early age. Unlike other royals who focused on their duties and work, the princess always made sure to be there for her children and put them first, above all else. Despite the protocol that public displays of affection were discouraged and even frowned upon for royals, Princess Diana did not shy away from showing her love for her children by constantly holding and hugging them.

3. She sent her sons to a school.

Another first in the line of British royals was that Princess Diana fought to send her sons to public school. Prince William became the first heir to the royal throne who did not receive an at-home private education.

4. She brought the boys along on official trips.

Princess Diana set the trend when she took 9-month-old Prince William along for a tour in Australia and New Zealand. Prior to this event, it was common for royal children to be left at home while their parents traveled for official business. To this day, her children Prince William and Prince Harry, also take their children along on official tours and trips.

5. She spoke to children at eye-level.

With her immense love for children, Princess Diana not only showed it, but she made them feel it. One of her common practices was to crouch down to be at eye-level with the children she spoke to, not just her own kids but to others whom she visited as well. This was a first that was seen among royals, and now her children pay it forward with the same practice.

6. She exposed the princes to ordinary life.

Although Princess Diana was born into royal nobility and ultimately married royalty, she wanted her children’s lives to be as ordinary as possible. According to some of the royal staff, the Princess did all she could to allow her sons to experience everyday things like going to the movies, standing in line for McDonald’s, going to amusement parks, and jumping on the bed with her in their pajamas.

7. She remained a hands-on mother above all else.

From nursing her children at birth to taking them along on trips and adjusting her schedule according to those of her sons, Princess Diana is the epitome of the modern hands-on mother. One of her famous quotes simply goes, “Don’t call me an icon. I’m just a mother trying to help.”

Do you believe that these protocol breaches are justified? Is there a characteristic about the princess that inspires you to become a better person or parent?