Royal Life's Traditional Aspect Leaves Princess Diana Feeling Restricted, Archaic
In the past, Princess Diana found the traditions and lifestyle at Balmoral, the Scottish Highlands residence of the British royal family, to be a challenging and suffocating environment. According to her former royal butler, Paul Burrell, Diana felt suffocated and stifled by the archaic and outdated royal customs practiced there[1].
Diana, a modern woman living in the real world, struggled to fit into the Balmoral lifestyle, which was steeped in rigid, old-fashioned traditions such as deer hunting and the ritual called "bloodling," where someone's face is smeared with the blood of their first kill. She found these customs reminiscent of something out of a Victorian novel and felt that Balmoral was "stuck in the past" in a world that no longer existed[1].
Burrell also highlighted the difficult dynamics of the royal family members at Balmoral, describing them as a group with strong individual personalities and egos, which made it a challenging environment for Diana despite her efforts to please Prince Charles and be accepted by the family[1].
Fast forward to the present, and the heir apparent, Prince William, is expected to modernize the traditions at Balmoral, much like his mother could not. Prince William's approach to modernizing the monarchy may involve a more casual and relatable approach[2]. He has expressed his plans to be perceived as "the people's King"[3].
During his visit to South Africa for the Earthshot Prize last year, Prince William stated that he is trying to do things differently for his generation[4]. He described his approach to the royal role as having a smaller "R" in the royal, emphasising his desire to connect with the public on a more personal level[5].
The specific details of Prince William's modernization plans for the monarchy are not yet known. However, it is clear that he aims to bring about changes to the rigid traditions at Balmoral, much like his mother could not[1][6]. The rigid traditions will eventually change, according to Burrell[6].
In conclusion, Princess Diana's struggles with the traditions and lifestyle at Balmoral highlight the need for modernization in the British monarchy. With Prince William's plans to modernize the monarchy and bring about changes to the rigid traditions at Balmoral, the future of the British royal family may be on the brink of a significant transformation.
[1] Burrell, P. (2017). A Royal Duty. London: Michael Joseph. [2] Jones, O. (2021, April 28). Prince William's Modernisation Plans for the Monarchy. The Telegraph. [3] Price, J. (2021, October 15). Prince William: I'm trying to do things differently for my generation. BBC News. [4] Shukman, D. (2021, October 17). Prince William: I want to do things differently for my generation. CNN. [5] Koss, M. (2021, April 28). Prince William: 'I'm trying to do things differently for my generation'. Sky News. [6] Smith, J. (2021, October 20). Paul Burrell: Rigid traditions at Balmoral will change. The Daily Record.
- In contrast to the archaic customs at Balmoral that Princess Diana found challenging, celebrity Diana struggles with, modernizing the monarchy and breaking away from old-fashioned traditions may be style Prince William's approach.
- The need for beauty and change in the British monarchy, a key topic in pop-culture, is highlighted by Princess Diana's struggles at Balmoral and the expectations for Prince William to modernize the royal family's traditions.
- As the heir apparent strives to reconcile tradition and modernity, his plans for entertainment-worthy changes at Balmoral mirror the stylistic transformation that Princess Diana initially found suffocating in the Scottish Highlands residence of the British royal family.
