12 times the royal family broke their own protocol

The INSIDER Summary:

• Given how public their lives are, the royal family has extensive protocol to follow to maintain their image. 
• But that doesn't mean they don't break the rules from time to time.
• From giving out hugs and autographs to traveling together, these are 12 times the royal family broke their own protocol.

When Princess Diana didn’t act like a royal

The People’s Princess is most remembered for her frank, approachable attitude. She openly discussed her eating disorder and the importance of mental health. She met HIV positive patients and hugged them. She gave candid interviews about her failing marriage with Prince Charles. While her manner of conduct was not expected from a member of the royal family, it was very much appreciated by the public.

When Princess Diana picked her engagement ring

We already know Princess Diana had an incredible sense of fashion, and her taste in jewelry is no exception. After Prince Charles proposed, she got an engagement ring with a 12-carat oval blue sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds. However, she didn’t get it custom made as royal brides-to-be usually do. She selected hers from a Garrard jewelry collection catalog. Critics called it the “commoner’s sapphire” for that reason, even though it looks anything but common. Prince William used that exact ring when he proposed to Kate Middleton, and the Duchess still wears it today.

When Princess Diana sent her son to public school

With this year marking the 20th anniversary of her death, rare photos of Princess Diana and her sonsare surfacing across the Internet. They capture just how hands-on she was as a mother. She took them to amusement parks, they ate at McDonald’s together, and maybe most surprisingly, she sent them to public school. When Prince William started at Mrs. Jane Mynor’s nursery school at age 3, he became the first heir to the British throne to not start his education within the palace. Prince Harry later joined him at the same school.