Fascinating twist of royal history, it has emerged that Sarah Spencer, the elder sister of Princess Diana, had a brief romantic relationship with Prince Charles just before introducing him to her younger sister. This revelation sheds new light on the early days of the relationship between Charles and Diana.
In 1977, a 29-year-old Prince Charles first visited the Spencer family’s home in Althorp, where he met a 16-year-old Lady Diana. At that time, Sarah Spencer, who was romantically involved with Charles, played a crucial role in the eventual union between the Prince and her sister. Reports from People reveal that Sarah’s relationship with Charles was short-lived, ending within the same year. Despite this, Sarah’s introduction of Charles to Diana would later lead to one of the most talked-about royal marriages in history.
During their brief romance, Sarah was dating someone else, a relationship that did not lead to marriage. According to Mirror, Sarah had once remarked that she would not marry Charles, regardless of his status. She was quoted saying, “I wouldn’t ever get married to the Prince of Wales if he were the dustman or the King of England.” This sentiment suggests that her relationship with Charles was more of a passing phase rather than a serious commitment.
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As time passed, Sarah moved on and married Neil McCorquodale. Interestingly, McCorquodale later claimed credit for playing matchmaker between Charles and Diana. In 1981, he stated, “I introduced them. I’m Cupid,” highlighting his role in the royal romance as reported by The Guardian.
The Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer officially announced their engagement on February 24, 1981. Charles fondly recalled his first meeting with Diana, describing her as “jolly and amusing” in an interview with The Telegraph. Diana also reflected on their subsequent encounters in the biographical documentary “Diana: In Her Own Words,” where she recounted their growing closeness after Charles had recently experienced personal losses.
Despite their initial connection, Diana had doubts leading up to their marriage. In her documentary, she recounted a troubling moment during their engagement announcement, where Charles’s response to a question about their love left her feeling unsettled. She remembered, “Charles turned round and said, ‘Whatever love means.’ And that threw me completely.”
This intriguing piece of royal history underscores the complex relationships and personal dynamics that preceded one of the most iconic unions of the 20th century. As new details emerge, the story of Sarah Spencer’s romance with Prince Charles adds another layer to the narrative of Charles and Diana’s legendary love story.
