How Princess Diana Bravely Defied The Rules of the Royal Family

In 1981, Diana Spencer married Prince Charles and became a member of a royal family that was strict about adhering to tradition and upholding dated marital values and gender roles. She was quoted as saying "I do things differently because I don't go by a rule book because I lead from the heart, not the head." Though her rebellious ways sometimes came off as scandalous, her impact is still relevant today. Here are some of her most prominent rule-breaking ideas...

She Gave Birth in a Hospital

A royal tradition that has withstood centuries is home birth. The mothers were put to sleep and the babies were birthed using forceps. This allowed for an easy, drama-free birth on the family.  However, that wasn't in Diana's plans. She wanted to be awake and give birth naturally, which meant she'd need to be admitted to a hospital. Since then, both Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle have also delivered their babies in hospitals.

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The More You Know

  • In the late 1600s, London was plagued by an attacker who would spank his victims with a rod and shout "Spanko!" before running away.
  • Tarantula bites are about as painful as bee stings.
  • The horse on the Wyoming license plate is named Steamboat.
  • The first TV commercial didn't air until the 1940s.
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