Perhaps you have watched this Netflix Series that chronicles the story of the British Royal Family. It’s just finished Season 4, that focuses a lot on Prince Charles and Princess Diana. I want to focus on 3 fascinating lessons from the life of Diana, which are based on fact coming from interviews with her by her speech trainer and are also brought to life in the Series.

1.Our Royal Destiny

This is the first key to Royal Living. Diana had this nickname, “the Dutch”, from young because she acted like someone above her station. She had an inkling at a young age of her destiny. As sons and daughters of God, who is our heavenly Father, we too are princes and princesses who have a royal destiny. So we need to act like it and pass on this royal destiny to others. So when Di later understood that being Royal had some big advantages, she used them to the full to help others and make a difference to their lives.

2.Small in our own eyes key to influence

This is the second key to Royal Living.  Princess Diana had extraordinary humility and self awareness.

She commented on her huge Royal marriage occasion being hysterical, ridiculous and so grown up because she was just a kindergarten teacher! Also later she saw herself on the front page most days and she said,

“I hadn’t done anything (worthy) like climb Mount Everest!”

And she maintained this “small in your own eyes” (1 Sam 15:17) attitude for the rest of her life, which endeared her to people and attracted people to her because it was so genuine. This characteristic got her a long way and gave her access to influence many people for good, who were forever changed by one meeting with her.

The same is true of Billy Graham, who considered himself just as a farmer’s boy and gave attention to anyone as if that person was the most important in the world. So he reached the common man and even presidents! God is the same with us!

So we need to keep small in our own eyes, however well-off or well-known we become. Only with this humility can God greatly use us in our Royal destiny.

3.Modelling the best way to teach

This is the third key to Royal Living. Her life has in many ways been continued in her children. They show the same ability to connect with ordinary people, to express feelings and to empathize. Why? Because she modelled this for them as they were growing up. She showered them with affection and love, and spent much  time listening to them.

Modelling is the best way to teach, like Jesus did. Too often at church we believe that the best way to teach is the sermon rather than to disciple people through inviting them to watch your life! Too often we don’t spend enough time with our children but let work or the urgent crowd this out. Let us use the model of Jesus that Diana showed with her children and her impact on countless others that she treated the same.

Sum up

So let’s not forget that we are Royal too and that we have a Royal destiny as princes and princesses of our heavenly Father. Let’s commit ourselves to Royal Living and transforming the world through this.

For other articles on identity, see:

FROM IDENTITY TO DESTINY: GOD’S GREAT PLAN

OUR INCREDIBLE IDENTITY IN CHRIST: KIM WALKER AND COL 3:3

ARE YOU AN EAGLE OR A CHICKEN? OUR POWERFUL IDENTITY IN CHRIST