Princess Diana’s sister makes rare appearance to support Prince William: Who is Lady Sarah McCorquodale?

After his annual summer break, the future King appears to be back to his routine. The day after Kate Middleton’s much-awaited announcement, William travelled to Llanelli in South Wales for a solo visit. He said at the event that his wife coming out of the woods is ‘good news’, but there’s still ‘a long way to go’.

The future King then attended the graduation ceremony of the Royal Air Force (RAF) College in Cranwell, Lincolnshire. Reportedly, he was representing his father at the royal event when he was met with a surprise.

Princess Diana’s sister makes a rare appearance to support Prince William

Princess Diana's sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale made a rare appearance at Prince William’s engagement at the Royal Air Force College in Cranwell on 12 September 2024. The event was the Sovereign’s Parade, a ceremony in which new RAF officers graduate.

According to Mail’s Royal Editor Rebecca English, Lady Sarah got to know that her nephew was in the area and decided to visit him. She posted a video on X that showed Lady Sarah standing in the far distance as William spoke to cadets at their graduation, reports People Magazine. She wrote in the caption:

I’m told she heard he was in the area and wanted to support him.

Prince William attended the event sporting his much-adored bearded look.

Princess Diana’s brother and sisters have always been a constant presence in Prince Harry and William’s lives. Despite the estrangement between the brothers, the Spencer family has consistently supported them. They even attended Princess Lilibet's christening in Montecito.

Lady Sarah McCorquodale: Everything we know about her

Born in 1955, Lady Sarah is the eldest daughter of John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, and Frances Shand Kydd. Throughout her life, she has largely stayed out of the spotlight, living quietly in Lincolnshire with her family. She has occasionally stepped into public roles, such as her involvement in managing the now defunct Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, reports Hello! Magazine.

The two sisters shared a close bond, with Princess Diana once saying Sarah was ‘the only person I can trust’. They remained close even after their marriages and often took their children on trips together. According to MailOnline, Sarah also served as one of Diana’s ladies-in-waiting between 1992 and 1997.

Lady Sarah married Neil McCorquodale, a wealthy Lincolnshire farmer, in 1980. The couple have three children together–Emily, George, and Celia. Her husband is reportedly ‘solid, very steady, private, quiet, with a good sense of humour.’

Lady Sarah’s short-lived romance with ‘Prince’ Charles

Before Princess Diana’s world-famous marriage to Prince Charles, Lady Sarah was romantically linked to the future King. In the late 1970s, two years before Diana and Charles met, Sarah and Charles dated briefly. However, the romance ended when Sarah revealed in a candid interview that she didn’t love Charles.

Their relationship involved outings to polo matches, and Sarah was even invited to Balmoral. However, after a skiing trip to Klosters in 1978, Sarah told the media:

I'm not in love with Prince Charles.

She explained that while Charles made her laugh and she enjoyed his company, there was ‘no chance’ she would marry him. Sarah confessed:

I'm not in love with him. And I wouldn't marry anyone I didn't love whether he were the dustman or the King of England.

According to Daily Mail, the remark irritated Charles and contributed to their split, but they ended the relationship on good terms. Sarah later introduced Charles to Diana and famously referred to herself as the ‘cupid’ behind their relationship.

Read more

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Sources used

People Magazine: Princess Diana's Sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale Supports Prince William at Military Ceremony

Hello! Magazine: Princess Diana's siblings - everything to know about Charles Spencer and more

Daily Mail: How Princess Diana's cigarette-loving big sister - who dated Prince Charles - found love with a farmer instead of the heir to the throne