Princess Diana's love of an early bedtime regularly put her at odds with royal tradition, with the late princess even breaking protocol to retire before Queen Elizabeth II.
Diana's Early Bedtime Routine
According to her former personal chef, Darren McGrady, the late Princess of Wales was devoted to an early bedtime, often heading to bed hours before other members of the Royal Family. McGrady revealed that the princess liked to be "in bed at 8pm at the latest" and typically woke up around 7am.
Clash with Royal Family Traditions
Her preference for an early night contrasted sharply with the traditions of the monarchy, particularly during the family's annual summer stay at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. According to McGrady, royal evenings often stretched late into the night, with family members returning from outdoor activities as late as 11pm.
"The princess was also an early bird, so she liked to get up early," McGrady said. "Dinner for her was 6.30pm, but if the Royal Family were dining, she couldn't go to eat or go to bed at her usual time."
Diana's Dislike for Balmoral
"She didn't like Balmoral at all," he recalled, explaining that Diana struggled with the late-night routine. Former Queen Elizabeth II private secretary Sir William Heseltine also said Diana occasionally broke royal protocol by excusing herself and going to bed before the late Queen.
"For Diana, the long royal evenings were agony," Heseltine said, adding that leaving before the monarch retired was widely considered poor etiquette within royal circles.
Quiet Evenings at Home
McGrady remembered Diana's evenings as calm and informal. Before dinner, she would often let him know she was taking a bath before returning to the kitchen in a white towelling robe with wet hair. "She looked stunning and amazing," he recalled. Rather than attending glamorous late-night events, Diana preferred quiet evenings, especially when spending time with her sons, Princes William and Harry.
"On a Saturday night, you'd see Diana sitting down in front of the TV eating dinner with her boys. It just made everything so normal," McGrady previously said.
Early Love for Bedtime
Even before joining the Royal Family, Diana was open about her love of an early night. During an interview on the eve of her wedding to then-Prince Charles in 1981, she joked that she would miss a fireworks display because she planned to be "tucked up in bed." She also reportedly described her honeymoon aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia as the perfect opportunity to catch up on sleep.
Contrast with Charles
Diana's routine differed significantly from that of the then-Prince Charles, who has long been known for working late into the night. Lady Frederick Windsor, Sophie Winkleman, has said the King often works until the early hours after a quick evening meal, while Prince Harry has also spoken about his father's habit of falling asleep at his desk after working late into the night.
The contrasting lifestyles highlighted another difference between Charles and Diana during their years together, with the princess favouring quiet family evenings and an early bedtime over the Royal Family's traditionally late-night schedule.
