At 60, Princess Diana’s Sister Breaks Down In Tears And Finally Confirms The Rumors | HO
Sarah Spencer, Princess Diana’s older sister, once confirmed the reports that she dated Prince Charles for a short time before he married Diana. In an honest interview, Sarah said that she and Charles had been dating for a short time. She even joked that she was the one who set them up. She made it clear that there were no bad feelings and was happy for her sister when Diana started dating Charles. It’s an interesting little-known fact that changes the plot of the royal love story.
Some of the Spencer family had lived in Althorp for more than 500 years. It was a large farm in Northamptonshire. That’s where Sarah grew up, in this beautiful house with its huge grounds and classic style. Sarah went to Riddlesworth Hall School and then West Heath boarding school, where she did very well in both school and social life. From a young age, she was known for having a bright personality and being independent. Sarah was raised with a strong sense of duty because she grew up in a conservative family and knew what was expected of her by the British upper class. Even though her high social status put pressure on her, she was always eager to go her own way.
Lady Sarah McCorquodale, Princess Diana’s eldest sister, recently shared candid memories and revelations about her family’s complex relationship with the British royal family. Her insights touch on her own brief relationship with Prince Charles and her role in connecting Charles with her younger sister, Diana. After decades of silence, Lady Sarah’s reflections bring new light to one of history’s most famous royal love stories.
Before Princess Diana ever met Prince Charles, he had briefly dated Lady Sarah in the late 1970s. Raised in a conservative, aristocratic British family at the grand Althorp estate, Sarah Spencer’s life was shaped by duty and social expectations. By 1977, the Spencers’ ties with the royal family allowed Sarah and Charles to meet at a pheasant hunt, a quintessentially British gathering where they immediately hit it off. Her lively personality caught Charles’s attention, and he was captivated by her candor and independence—qualities he admired.
Their connection grew over shared interests, including environmental causes, and culminated in several memorable weekends, particularly at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, where they enjoyed a rare sense of privacy. However, their relationship was ultimately short-lived. The royal expectations, media scrutiny, and Sarah’s unfiltered honesty led to tension. In a famous interview, she quipped that she wouldn’t marry Charles “whether he were the dustman or the king,” a comment that shocked the royals and the public, leading to their breakup.
Interestingly, despite their breakup, Sarah continued her friendship with Charles and ultimately introduced him to her younger sister, Diana. Charles was still recovering from his breakup with Sarah, so Diana’s sweetness and simplicity were a welcome change. Sarah’s casual matchmaking set the foundation for a royal romance that would soon captivate the world. Diana, only 16 at the time, was instantly drawn to Charles, and the feeling seemed mutual.
Lady Sarah has since admitted that introducing Diana to Charles was one of the most pivotal moments in the family’s history. “I’m Cupid,” she once said proudly, reflecting on her role in uniting Diana with the future king.
After their initial meeting, Charles and Diana didn’t reconnect until three years later. By then, Diana was 19 and more self-assured, while Charles was reeling from personal setbacks, including the death of his mentor, Lord Mountbatten. Their relationship blossomed quickly. Diana became a regular visitor to Balmoral, marking the beginning of their official courtship, though they often communicated by phone due to Charles’s busy schedule. Despite limited time together, Charles proposed to Diana in 1981.
The engagement announcement sent the world into a frenzy, with media attention focused on the young couple’s fairy-tale romance. Diana’s youth and charm instantly endeared her to the public, and as their July wedding approached, excitement reached fever pitch. An estimated 750 million people worldwide tuned in to watch the wedding ceremony, which cemented Diana as “the people’s princess.”
As Diana’s life became increasingly dominated by her royal duties and constant media scrutiny, Lady Sarah stood by her sister’s side. Despite not wanting the spotlight herself, she accepted a role as one of Diana’s ladies-in-waiting, providing her with much-needed support and familiarity amidst the pressures of royal life. Lady Sarah became an emotional anchor, assisting with charity events and supporting Diana through her turbulent marriage.
When rumors of Charles’s affair with Camilla Parker Bowles began to surface in the 1980s, Diana often turned to Sarah for comfort. Sarah understood the complexities of being romantically involved with Charles and offered Diana a listening ear and wise counsel during those challenging times.
The 1990s brought seismic shifts for the royal family as the cracks in Charles and Diana’s marriage became more visible. The public’s awareness of Charles’s relationship with Camilla turned into full-blown scandal in 1993 when a private phone conversation between the two was leaked. Dubbed “Camillagate,” the conversation’s explicit details shocked the world and damaged the royal family’s image.
In a landmark 1994 interview, Charles admitted to his affair, marking a turning point for public perception of the British monarchy. Diana, too, spoke out in a 1995 interview with the BBC’s Panorama, famously saying, “There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.” This comment struck a chord with the public, solidifying Diana’s status as a symbol of grace and resilience. The royal family, known for their stoicism, was shaken by this emotional revelation.
After years in the public eye, Lady Sarah chose a quieter life. She married Neil Edmund McCorquodale in 1980 and focused on raising their three children. She found solace away from the spotlight, living in a farmhouse in Lincolnshire and appreciating the simplicity of country life. Although rumors about her supposed jealousy or regret over Charles and Diana’s relationship persisted, Sarah prioritized her own happiness and independence.
When Diana tragically passed away in 1997, Sarah’s support for her sister’s legacy became a defining aspect of her life. She continued to advocate for Diana’s causes and even took a leading role in preserving the princess’s memory through charity work. This dedication proved that Sarah’s love for her sister went far beyond any past romantic ties with Charles.
Today, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, at 60, shares her reflections on these remarkable events with a newfound openness. Her honesty about her past with Charles, her role in introducing Diana to the prince, and the love and loyalty she showed her sister provide a deeper understanding of the royal family’s history. Sarah’s revelations also underscore the strength and resilience that characterized both her and Diana’s lives.
While the romantic dramas and heartbreak of the past remain part of British royal history, Lady Sarah’s story shows that love, family loyalty, and personal integrity can outlast even the most intense media scrutiny.
