Why Princess Diana Was a Radical Royal, From Her Show-Stopping Fashion to Her Progressive Ideology

Princess Diana was just 36 when she died on August 31, 1997, following a car crash in Paris. The late mother of two would’ve turned 65 this year, and it’s impossible to imagine what the world could have looked like if she were still alive today.

Before her death, King Charles III‘s ex-wife was known for being a radical member of the royal family — speaking her mind, fighting for causes she believed in and doing it all while dressed to the nines.

When she married Charles on July 29, 1981, Diana was the first Englishwoman to marry an heir to the throne in 300 years (since Anne Hyde married the future James II), according to the Royal Family’s website.

According to The New York Times — in a break from royal tradition — Diana decided she would not promise in her vows “to obey” Charles.

However, the now-king of the British throne ended up being the one who ultimately didn’t obey her.

In one of her most shocking moves, Diana sat down with journalist Martin Bashir to candidly discuss her relationship with Charles, now 77. The interview was broadcast as an episode of the BBC documentary series Panorama on November 20, 1995.

During their wide-ranging sit-down, Diana spoke openly about her mental health, marriage and experiences with self-harm. In regards to Charles’ relationship with now-wife Queen Camilla, she famously told Bashir, “There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.”

Diana was also known for her incredible fashion sense — and even became synonymous with the term “revenge dress.”

On June 29, 1994, Diana stepped out for a gala held at the Serpentine Gallery in London wearing a black, fitted, chic, off-the-shoulder dress by designer Christina Stambolian that featured an asymmetrical hemline and chiffon train.

According to the Associated Press, she donned the LBD the same night that Charles acknowledged on television that he had been unfaithful in their marriage.

The revealing ensemble was unlike anything usually worn by members of the royal family. Diana quickly made headlines, and on the cover of The Sun, it said: “Revenge is chic: Stunning…Di last night, showing Charles what he’s missing.”

Aside from the drama that surrounded Diana, she was incredibly thoughtful, kind and generous. According to Time, at one point Diana was linked to more than 100 charities.

During the height of the AIDS crisis, Diana didn’t shy away from meeting patients and even shook their hands — something people were afraid to do at the time because some falsely believed that the deadly disease could be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact.

After all, as Diana once stated, “Hugging has no harmful side effects.”