Lady Sarah McCorquodale

Lady Elizabeth Sarah Lavinia McCorquodale (née Spencer), born on 19 March 1955, is a member of the British nobility and a sibling of Diana, Princess of Wales. She is one of two older sisters of Diana, the other being Lady Jane Fellowes.

Early Life and Education:

She was born with the honorific "The Honourable" and acquired the courtesy title "Lady" in 1975 following the death of her grandfather, when her father became the 8th Earl Spencer. Her early education was at Riddlesworth Hall School in Norfolk and subsequently at West Heath boarding school near Sevenoaks in Kent. During her early twenties, she experienced anorexia nervosa. After completing her education, she moved to London to work.

Family:

On 17 May 1980, Lady Sarah married Neil Edmund McCorquodale, born on 4 October 1951. Neil is the son of Alastair McCorquodale and Rosemary Sybil Turnor. The marriage took place in Northamptonshire, England. Lady Sarah and Neil McCorquodale have three children:

- Emily Jane McCorquodale, born on 2 July 1983, who married James T. R. Hutt on 9 June 2012; they have two children.

- George Edmund McCorquodale, born on 17 November 1984, who married Bianca Moore on 6 August 2016; they have three children.

- Celia Rose McCorquodale, born in 1989, who married George Woodhouse on 16 June 2018; they have two children. Celia wore the Spencer Tiara at her wedding, a piece previously worn by her mother and aunts.

Lady Sarah is an aunt to William, Prince of Wales, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.

Career and Public Service:

Lady Sarah and her family reside near Grantham, Lincolnshire. She served as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire for one year in 2009. In May 2010, she became a master of the Belvoir Hunt. She was also the president of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, which raised over £112 million for charity before its closure in 2012. The fund pursued legal action in 1998 against the Franklin Mint for unauthorized use of Diana’s image, but the attempt was unsuccessful.

Relationships and Social Connections:

In 1977, Lady Sarah's relationship with Prince Charles led to the first meeting between Diana and her future husband. She has publicly commented on her role in introducing the couple, calling herself "Cupid." During her relationship with Prince Charles, she reportedly met reporters James Whittaker and Nigel Nelson, providing them with exclusive information about her royal connection. She has acknowledged having battled anorexia, and reportedly had numerous romantic involvements, including alcohol-related issues and maintaining a scrapbook of press clippings about her relationship with Prince Charles. She once declared she would not marry Charles if he were a dustman or the King of England. Following the release of an interview in which she discussed her relationship, Prince Charles was reportedly infuriated. Her relationship with Diana was subject to speculation, with some stating it was strained due to her perceived resentment over her sister’s marriage, while others, such as Diana's biographer Andrew Morton, considered her among Diana’s trusted confidantes.

Diana’s Death and Later Involvement:

After Diana’s death on 31 August 1997, Lady Sarah traveled to Paris alongside her sister Jane and Prince Charles to accompany Diana’s body back to England. She participated in the funeral readings and was a co-executor of Diana’s will. She also played a role in the Memorial Fund. Lady Sarah attended significant royal events, including her nephew Prince William's wedding to Catherine Middleton in 2011, and her nephew Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018.

2018 Incident:

In 2018, she publicly supported George Grant, an employee of the Belvoir Hunt involved in an assault on hunt monitors affiliated with the League Against Cruel Sports. Lady Sarah, who served as joint master of the Hunt, stated that Grant’s actions were out of character.

Health:

In September 2025, Lady Sarah was hospitalized following a fall incurred while horse riding.