Princess Diana remains the most photographed woman in history. You likely remember her for her compassion and her stunning fashion sense. However, she was also a rule-breaker who modernized the monarchy. She refused to wear gloves when meeting patients and picked her own ring from a catalog. Furthermore, she walked through minefields to save lives. Her legacy continues to shape the royal family today. Let’s explore the life of the People’s Princess.
Princess Diana
Princess Diana made history as the first royal bride with a paying job before her engagement. Unusually, she worked as a kindergarten assistant and even cleaned houses for her sister. Thus, she lived a somewhat normal life before entering the palace.
She selected her famous sapphire engagement ring directly from a Garrard jewelry catalog. Interestingly, the royal family disapproved because the ring was not custom-made for her. Therefore, any member of the public with enough money could buy the exact same design.
She broke royal tradition by refusing to say the word “obey” during her wedding vows. Instead, she promised only to love, comfort, honor, and keep her husband. Later, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle followed her rebellious example.
Princess Diana stood exactly the same height as Prince Charles, measuring five feet and ten inches. Consequently, photographers often made her sit or slouch to make him look taller in official portraits. She usually wore flat shoes to avoid towering over him.
She struggled academically and actually failed her O-level exams twice before leaving West Heath School. However, she excelled in other areas like swimming, diving, and empathetic connection with people. Her emotional intelligence far outweighed her academic scores.
Her sister, Lady Sarah Spencer, actually dated Prince Charles before Diana did. In fact, Sarah introduced the couple during a hunting weekend at Althorp House. She later joked that she played Cupid for the future King and Queen.
Princess Diana famously shook hands with an AIDS patient without wearing gloves in 1987. At that time, people wrongly believed that touch transmitted the virus. Thus, her simple act of kindness changed global public opinion overnight.
She dreamed of becoming a professional ballerina during her childhood years. Sadly, she grew too tall for the profession and had to give up her passion. Nevertheless, she supported the English National Ballet throughout her life.
She invited supermodels Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell to Kensington Palace to surprise Prince William. The young prince was roughly 13 years old and had posters of them on his wall. Naturally, he turned bright red when he came home from school.
Princess Diana walked through an active minefield in Angola to raise awareness about landmines. She wore a protective visor and vest while walking a cleared path. Consequently, her bravery helped lead to an international ban on these weapons.
She loved a specific dessert called bread and butter pudding above all others. Her personal chef often made it for her when she needed comfort food. She would sneak into the kitchen to eat the raisins off the top.
The press photographed her wearing the famous “Revenge Dress” the same night Charles admitted to adultery. She almost stayed home but decided to wear the daring black dress instead. Therefore, she dominated the headlines the next morning.
Her grandmother, Ruth Roche, served as a lady-in-waiting to the Queen Mother. This connection meant the families knew each other for decades. However, her grandmother reportedly advised her against marrying into the royal family.
Princess Diana is buried on a small, secluded island within the grounds of Althorp Park. Her brother decided on this location to protect her grave from the public. Thus, her sons can visit her privately without any media intrusion.
She recorded secret tapes about her unhappy marriage and smuggled them to author Andrew Morton. A friend delivered the recordings to the journalist at a working men’s cafe. This risky move resulted in the explosive book Diana: Her True Story.
