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

  • Dentistry is the oldest profession in the world.
  • The Nobel Committee declined to award the Nobel Peace Prize in 1948 because "there was no suitable living candidate." This was meant as tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, who was assassinated earlier that year without receiving the Prize.
  • Humans are the only animals with chins.
  • Little brown bats sleep more than any other mammal on earth.
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