This Is What Princess Diana's Morning Routine Looked Like

Princess Diana was known as "the People's Princess" and there's a good reason for it. In spite of her noble background and her royal standing, Diana genuinely cared about others and was never very comfortable with the spotlight. If you need proof that Diana, at her core, was just an ordinary young woman, look no further than her morning schedule.

Per a 1989 article about Princess Diana and Prince Charles, Diana's schedule was far from leisurely. "I saw her engagement book, which is a terrifying thing," artist John Merton told the Saturday Evening Post (via The Free Library). "Every hour of the day is booked up for nine months ahead."

The article noted that Princess Diana rose by 7:30 a.m. every morning at the latest. She then headed out for a swim or, if she didn't have time for that, some simple stretches. Then came breakfast, during which she would read the news.

Darren McGrady, who worked as a chef for Kensington Palace from 1993 to 1997, said that the royal enjoyed a simple breakfast often consisting of "a tin of Heinz baked beans, a pink grapefruit, a cup of coffee, and a glass of orange juice." He explained to Insider that the beans were on Princess Diana's breakfast menu "because someone had told her they are low in carbs, low in fat, and high in protein, which is great for someone working out."

Princess Diana, being a working royal, often had to rush off to an appointment after breakfast, but if time allowed she'd accompany her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, to school before heading off to her royal engagements.

Making time for her children was something that Princess Diana prioritized. "Behind closed doors, she was a very loving, caring mother and an incredibly funny person," Prince Harry said in the documentary Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy (via Insider). "I think she lived a lot of her life, especially in private, through us and I think that childish fun element really came out when she was spending time with us."