- I tried Princess Diana’s morning routine and it helped me out of my blocking crisis.
- I started with a morning stretch before eating a plate of beans and a pink grapefruit for breakfast.
- Then, it was time to create Diana’s exclusive look – blue eyeliner and a huge sweater.
- Visit the Insider home page for more stories.
The world fell in love with Princess Diana again after the first glimpse of royal skating at Buckingham Palace was shown in “The Crown”.
The late Princess of Wales had a remarkable life, which was documented through books, documentaries and vivid accounts by her former team.
Like many Diana fans, I always wanted to know what it would be like to spend a day as a princess – that’s exactly what I did earlier this week.
Read More: I tried the Queen’s blocking routine every morning for a week, and I wouldn’t do it again
Using articles from Insider, The Free Library and Hello! Magazine, I tried to replicate Princess Diana’s morning routine. This is what the princess schedule looks like:
- I woke up at 7:30 am by a royal butler
- Swim or stretch at Buckingham Palace
- Breakfast: a can of beans and a pink grapefruit with orange juice
- Get ready for the gym
- A training session at Chelsea Harbor Club
There was a part of Diana’s morning routine that I would happily never do again
I decided to follow Diana’s morning routine on a working day, which means that the alarm clock at 7:30 was not a big shock to the system. Although, unfortunately, I didn’t have a butler to wake me up.
According to a 1989 article in the Saturday Evening Post that was reissued by The Free Library, the princess traveled from her home in Kensington Palace to Buckingham Palace, where she used the pool and did a stretch.
As the local gyms, leisure centers and swimming pools are currently closed due to the blockade in the UK, I restrained myself with a five-minute stretch routine from a video I found on YouTube.
I admit, I’m generally not the type of person who does morning stretches – but just five minutes of movement helped me feel energized for the next day.
Then it was time to prepare Diana’s favorite breakfast. I recently interviewed the princess’s ex-chef, Darren McGrady, who told me that the king preferred a can of beans, a pink grapefruit and orange juice.
“She wanted Heinz beans because someone told her that they are low in carbohydrates, low in fat and high in protein, which is great for those who are working out,” said McGrady.
Read More: The former chef of Princess Diana says that she committed the “capital sin” of serving her favorite breakfast – a can of beans – to Americans
Although baked beans are considered a common food for breakfast in the UK, they are usually served as part of a cooked breakfast, rather than as a simple meal. It is definitely unusual for it to be served with grapefruit.
Diana’s breakfast: a glass of orange juice, a slice of pink grapefruit and a plate of beans and toast.
Mikhaila Friel / Insider
Usually like a small bowl of granola and fruit for breakfast, so eating something as hearty as baked beans was definitely a challenge.
Although, I can see where Diana’s logic comes from. The Heinz website describes the British version of the product as “high in fiber, high in protein and low in fat”, so I knew it would give me good preparation for my training session later that day.
That said, I could have done without the grapefruit. Surprisingly, I had never tried before – and I will not try again. The sour taste meant that I could barely eat a bite.
Then it was time to create the ‘Diana look’
Diana was known for her bold blue eyeliner, which she used in various engagements throughout the 1980s. The princess preferred Elizabeth Arden’s Blue kohl 636 pencil, which she applied to the lower lash line, Hello! Magazine reports.
I used the Exaggerate Aqua Sparkle pencil by Rimmel London. See how the finish is compared to Diana’s:
I followed the princess’s favorite makeup look.
Mikhaila Friel / Insider, Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
Since I work at home, I don’t usually wear makeup. When I was going to the London office (before the first block in the UK last year), I would never have used such a bold eye color.
I have to say it was a surprisingly good change and it made me feel like I had an important place to be – a rare sensation during the block.
Read More: The designer of Princess Diana’s wedding dress said she was “horrified” when she saw royalty wearing it because of how it was creased
I also tried to recreate one of the princess’s clothes. Since I planned to work out later that day, I decided to emulate the big sweater and royalty bicycle shorts she wore at the Chelsea Harbor Club in 1997.
I wore an outfit similar to the one Diana wore for a gym session in 1997.
Hulton Archive / Getty Images, Mikhaila Friel / Insider
I chose to wear my Inglewood / California sweater – which I bought for £ 32 ($ 43) at Nasty Gal last year – in black shorts.
There were several options when it came to Diana’s exercise routine
I ended my morning with a Diana-inspired workout.
According to Diana’s former personal trainer, Jenni Rivett, the princess enjoyed a variety of exercises, including step aerobics, energetic walking and rollerblading. She was also frequently seen at her local gym, Chelsea Harbor Club.
The princess was an avid cyclist, and there are several pictures of her cycling through Kensington before her engagement to Prince Charles, and also with her family while on vacation in the Isles of Scilly in 1989.
Princess Diana and Prince Harry cycling during the holidays.
PA Images via Getty Images
Unfortunately, I don’t have all the equipment needed to keep up with most of the king’s favorite activities – but I do have an exercise bike.
I spent 30 minutes cycling on the bike at home. As the gyms are closed at the moment, this was a welcome activity and something I miss doing regularly.
I spent 30 minutes on an exercise bike.
Mikhaila Friel / Insider
Having beans for breakfast earlier in the day also meant that I had enough energy for training, something I found myself struggling with from time to time in the past.
Read More: The ex-chef of Princess Diana told us what it was like to live with the royal family at Kensington Palace
Overall, it was a fun and productive end to an already excellent morning routine – with the exception of grapefruit.
My favorite part was to recreate the “Diana look”. The blue eyeliner forced me out of my comfort zone. This helped me feel less trapped at home, despite having no specific reason to leave the house that day.
Spending the morning like a princess was a fantastic distraction from the block and the best mood boost. I encourage everyone – especially those working at home – to try it out.