While Princess Diana's roles as a member of the British monarchy, philanthropist, and style icon have undoubtedly inspired generations of fans, her legacy as a mother [1] might be what we remember her for the most. Her fearlessness and compassionate spirit guided her parenting style. She boldly broke tradition, valuing her instincts above rules. She felt her way through the dark years of private heartache and public scandal, always speaking her truth and refusing to be jaded. In the process, she became a trailblazer for a new generation of royals and everyday moms alike. Here are 10 times Princess Diana proved that leading with the heart is a parent's best compass.
— Additional reporting by Britt Stephens
She Broke Royal Tradition by Giving Birth in a Hospital
Traditionally, royal births were done at home and required major medical interventions. Queen Victoria gave birth while medicated with ether, and Queen Elizabeth II reportedly opted for twilight birth [2], but Diana broke royal tradition by choosing a hospital delivery.
In June 1982, she gave birth to Prince William at St. Mary's in London, becoming the first British royal to give birth in a hospital. Two years later, Prince Harry was born in the same hospital [3], as were William's children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
She Chose Her Own Birth Plan
In addition to choosing a hospital setting for Prince William's birth, Diana worked with a natural childbirth expert. It was reported that after 16 hours of labor, Diana delivered Prince William naturally and while standing, supported by Prince Charles [4].
She Spoke Candidly About Her Struggle With Postpartum Depression
Today, many celebrities are helping to break down the stigma surrounding postpartum depression [5] by sharing their own experiences, but Diana was a PPD pioneer. In her infamous tell-all interview with BBC's Martin Bashir [6] in 1995, she revealed that she suffered from postpartum depression after William's birth in 1982. She went on to describe the loneliness she felt from not having a strong support system among the royal family. "I felt like I was the first person ever in the royal family to openly cry and nobody knew what to do," she said, adding, "If you haven't seen it before, how do you support it?" Diana's bravery in opening up about her struggles is most likely what inspired both William and Harry to work with mental health charities [7] like Heads Together today.
She Insisted That Her Sons Go to School With Other Kids
Typically, children in the royal family were educated by a governess in the palace, but Diana believed that Prince William should be educated outside of the home. When he turned 3, she enrolled him in nursery school, creating a new educational tradition that Prince William carried on with his children. When his own son George was just 2 1/2, he and wife Kate Middleton enrolled him at the Westacre Montessori School. In September 2017, William and Kate's 2-year-old daughter, Charlotte, enrolled in nursery school [8], and George transferred to [9]Thomas's Battersea School [10], a private school in South London.
She Took Pleasure in Giving William and Harry a Normal Upbringing
Diana wanted her sons to have a sense of life beyond palace walls. She took them to McDonald's and the grocery store, and they went on vacations in Austria, the British Virgin Islands, and even Walt Disney World in Florida.
She Was Honest With Prince William About Charles's Affair
Diana didn't shy away from having difficult discussions with her boys. Instead of leaving her oldest son alone to process his emotions about his father's affair with Camilla, Diana directed the conversation in a way he would be able to understand. "I told William, 'If you find someone you love in life, you must hang onto it and look after it. And if you are lucky enough to find someone who loves you, then you must protect it.'"
She Protected William and Harry From Their Separation Announcement
Telling your kids that you're getting a divorce [11] is one of the hardest conversations a parent could have, but Diana understood the importance of being available and present for her children while breaking the news. A week before Diana and Charles decided to announce their separation to the public, she went to visit William and Harry at school to sit them down and tell them in person. Once the official announcement was then made, the two boys were shielded from all the media while tucked away at school.
She and Charles Rose Above the Drama to Coparent Their Sons
Charles and Diana shared equal access to Prince William and Prince Harry, who were 14 and 11 at the time of their parents' divorce. The boys alternated holidays with each of their parents when they weren't attending boarding school. Things remained civil between Charles and Diana as they worked together to coparent their boys after the divorce and up until Diana's death in August 1997.
She Understood the Value of Self-Care
These days, the concept of moms putting themselves first sometimes [12] is slowly becoming less taboo. This list of 41 ideas for practicing self-care [13] proves that it doesn't even need to involve elaborate activities. Diana was ahead of her time and practiced this concept proudly by indulging in what she called "Pampering Diana Day," and she was a better mom for it. Getting aromatherapy massages, making face masks in her kitchen, and getting her hair done with stylists Sam McKnight and Daniel Galvin were some of her favourite Pampering Diana Day activities.
She Passed On Her Charitable Spirit to Her Sons
Prince William and Prince Harry have taken on many of their late mother's charity organisations, including Centrepoint, which helps get homeless youth and teens off the streets, and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, a cause that Diana famously brought to light by walking through a recently cleared landmine field in Angola.