Princess Diana’s marriage to King Charles is one of the most widely discussed royal relationships in history. But there’s an interesting detail many people may not know: Diana’s older sister, Lady Sarah Spencer, also once dated the future king.
At one point, some people even believed Sarah might become engaged to Prince Charles. However, their relationship came to an abrupt end in early 1978 following a controversial interview that reportedly changed everything.
As a young and eligible bachelor who was next in line to the throne, Prince Charles had plenty of potential romantic partners. Many wondered who would eventually become the woman standing beside him as his future queen.
Diana Spencer later became the princess adored by millions for her beauty, gentle personality, and seemingly fairytale journey into royal life. Like Cinderella, she had once worked as a cleaning lady for her older sister Sarah, who was actually the first Spencer sister to become romantically involved with the prince.
When Charles married Diana on July 29, 1981, the archbishop conducting the ceremony famously said, “Here is the stuff of which fairy tales are made – the prince and princess on their wedding day.”
However, the story would not have the happy ending associated with traditional fairy tales.
The young Prince of Wales had previously been linked to several women, including his complicated, on-and-off relationship with Camilla Shand. At the time, traditional royal expectations meant Camilla was not considered a suitable candidate to become a princess.
Charles remained deeply attached to Camilla, who married cavalry officer Andrew Parker Bowles. Meanwhile, the prince’s search for another romantic partner eventually brought him closer to Sarah Spencer, whose family had longstanding connections with the royal family.
Born in 1955, Sarah was the eldest of three Spencer sisters. Jane was born in 1957, while Diana arrived in 1961. Their younger brother, John, was born in 1964 and later became the 9th Earl Spencer.
During the late 1970s, rumors about Charles’ possible engagement plans placed Sarah at the center of royal speculation.
Many believed Lady Sarah could eventually receive a proposal. But their romance ended suddenly in early 1978 after she made a serious mistake.
Sarah had become friendly with two journalists, Nigel Nelson and James Whitaker. During a lunch in London, following a skiing holiday in Klosters, Switzerland, with the future king, she gave them a remarkably candid interview.
After the couple had been photographed together and the media began asking questions about their relationship, Sarah described the holiday as a “marvellous holiday but there’s no question of an engagement.”
Charles Reportedly Flew Into a Rage
Sarah, who was 22 at the time, went on to make her position even clearer.
“There is no chance of my marrying him. 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…If he asked me I would turn him down. I would only marry for love.”
Charles reportedly became furious after reading the interview. It also contained personal revelations about Sarah, including details about her underage drinking, expulsion from school, and struggles with anorexia.
Tina Brown, author of The Diana Chronicles, described Sarah’s reaction to the situation:
“Sarah herself realized her mistake as soon as the words were out of her mouth. She muddled things more by trying some damage control, suggesting that Whitaker’s interview had been obtained by foul means. This did not play well.”
According to the story, Charles reportedly responded with a blunt remark:
“You’ve just done something extremely stupid.”
Sarah eventually married Neil Edmund McCorquodale in 1980. Before that, she had introduced Charles to her younger sister Diana, who would later become his wife. At the time, Diana worked as a nursery teacher’s assistant.
Diana had also worked as a cleaning lady for Sarah when she was 17. She was 19 when she met Charles at Althorp House, the Spencer family’s childhood home.
Royal biographer Penny Junor recalled that Diana and Charles were sitting on a bale of hay after a polo match when the young woman expressed sympathy for the prince following the death of his beloved great-uncle, Lord Louis Mountbatten.
Mountbatten had been murdered by the IRA the previous year and had played an important role in Charles’ life. The prince was reportedly emotionally vulnerable when he first met Diana.
Speaking to History Extra, Junor explained how Diana connected with Charles through her words:
“My heart bled for you when I watched the funeral; I thought, ‘It’s wrong, you’re lonely–you should be with somebody to look after you.’”
Junor continued:
“Diana really touched a nerve in Charles, she said just the right thing to him, at the right moment, and he was moved by her.”
Diana’s family background and the royal family’s expectations surrounding her personal history also played a role in making her an acceptable choice to senior royals. The couple eventually married in 1981.
“I introduced them. I’m Cupid,” Lady Sarah reportedly said before Diana and Charles married.
The Prince and Princess of Wales welcomed two sons. Prince William, the future heir to the throne, was born in 1982, followed by Prince Harry in 1984.
In tribute to the late Lord Mountbatten, Louis became a middle name for Prince William and his son, Prince George.
Lady Sarah McCorquodale remained close to the couple and was frequently seen accompanying her sister during official engagements as one of Diana’s ladies-in-waiting.
She and her sister, Lady Cynthia Fellowes, have also maintained close relationships with their nephews, William and Harry.
Meanwhile, Camilla Shand, who became Camilla Parker Bowles after marrying Andrew Parker Bowles, remained largely outside the public spotlight until the breakdown of Charles and Diana’s marriage began attracting widespread attention.
Diana, Princess of Wales, died at the age of 36 on August 31, 1997, one year after her 15-year marriage to Charles ended. King Charles III eventually married Camilla in 2005.
Following Diana’s death, Lady Sarah became president of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, a role she held until the organization closed in 2012.
It’s fascinating to imagine how the royal family might look today if Lady Sarah had married the future King Charles instead of introducing him to her younger sister.
Diana remains deeply missed by people around the world, and many still wonder what she would have thought about the events involving her sons and the royal family today.
What do you think about this remarkable royal love story?
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