Search icon

News

22nd May 2019

This is how Princess Diana broke a royal tradition that had been around centuries

Rebecca O'Keeffe

princess diana

She was right, too!

The British royal family is steeped in hundred of years of tradition.

Some may call them out of date and archaic, but these traditions have allowed them to maintain a monarchy.

Anyway, throughout the years, there have been members of the family that choose to change these traditions.

The goal? To modernise the royal family, while also making life easier for the members.

Princess Diana was one of those trailblazers, who chose not to strictly follow royal protocol.

princess diana

In fact, there was one tradition in particular that Princess Diana broke, despite the fact that it had been around for hundreds of years.

According to royal author, Katie Nicholls, Princess Diana “rewrote royal history” for choosing not to give birth to the heir at home.

In her book, William and Harry, she wrote:

“Like generations of royals before him, Prince Charles had been delivered in the Belgian Suite at Buckingham Palace.”

“Diana, as the royal family quickly discovered, wanted to do things differently.”

The late princess endured a tough pregnancy, and was determined to give birth in a hospital, rather than a palace.

princess diana

And so, Diana gave birth to Prince William (and subsequently Harry) at the private Lindo Wing of St Mary’s hospital in Paddington.

This broke hundreds of years of tradition, but also paved the way for future royals.

Kate Middleton has given birth in the same wing as her late mother-in-law three times.