She challenged royal norms and embraced the public, making the royal family more relatable, which thrilled fans but did not amuse the Firm. At all.A beloved figure before her death in 1997, Princess Diana’s rise to international stardom as a philanthropist and fashion icon grew out of her approachable demeanour (most unroyal!), kindness, empathy and cheeky rebellious spirit. We take a look at the royal rules – unwritten and written – that the beloved princess shattered, endearing her to millions of fans around the world.SCRAPPED ‘OBEY’ FROM WEDDING VOWSIt has been a longstanding tradition for royal brides to say they will “obey” their husbands when saying their wedding vows. (Even the then Princess Elizabeth said she would obey Prince Philip.) But 20-year-old Diana changed that when she married Prince Charles in 1981, ditching the word from her vows, which had never been done before.The new Princess of Wales said she would “love him, comfort him, honour him, and keep him, in sickness and in health”. But she would not “obey” him. NEW WAY OF PARENTINGPrincess Diana refused to allow Prince William and Prince Harry to largely be raised by nannies and governesses as she and her husband had. She brought heart and a hands-on approach to parenting that had never been seen by senior members of the royal family. Whether it be insisting her boys attend preschool outside of the confined walls of the Palace, taking them on amusement park rides, racing barefoot against other parents at school sports day, or hugging them in full glare of the paparazzi spotlight, she wanted them to feel the love that neither she (nor Prince Charles) had known.THAT BBC INTERVIEWPrincess Diana broke all the rules when, in 1995, she sat down with BBC journalist Martin Bashir. Britain came to a standstill when the princess spoke about how shabbily the royal family had treated her, her failed marriage and Camilla’s role within its demise. (Famously, she said “there were three of us in this marriage”.)Speaking publicly about such private matters was just not done by the royals. Princess Diana blew that notion apart and the public loved her more for it. DEBUNKING THE STIGMA AROUND HIV/AIDSIn the 1980s when AIDS/HIV sufferers were largely shunned due to ignorance and a lack of education, Princess Diana sat at their bedside. In 1987, she opened the UK’s first HIV/AIDS clinic in London and it was at this clinic where she shook the hand of an AIDS patient — without gloves, which was unheard of.“HIV does not make people dangerous to know, so you can shake their hands and give them a hug, heaven knows, they need it,” the princess said in 1987.MODERN FASHION CHOICESPrincess Diana broke royal protocol numerous times over her fashion choices, opting for more modern and casual pieces, making her a style icon and a Vogue cover star.Who could forget the moment she donned a midnight blue velvet, off shoulder dress while dancing with John Travolta at the White House in 1985 as Prince Charles looked on through gritted teeth. Then there was the infamous “revenge dress,” the asymmetric, figure-hugging mini dress she wore to a London event the day Prince Charles’ publicly admitted to having an affair. Black was considered only appropriate for royals during funerals. Diana also embraced celebrity, swapping out stuffy aristocratic circles, and instead forging close friendships with the likes of Elton John, George Michael, Gianni Versace and pop superstars, Duran Duran.
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