Lady Sarah McCorquodale
Encyclopedia
The Lady Elizabeth Sarah Lavinia McCorquodale (born 19 March 1955) is the older sister of Diana, Princess of Wales
.
The Lady Elizabeth Sarah Lavinia Spencer in 1975, when her grandfather
died and her father became the 8th Earl Spencer. She suffered from the eating disorder anorexia nervosa in her early twenties. She was educated firstly at Riddlesworth Hall in Norfolk and secondly at West Heath
boarding school near Sevenoaks
in Kent
. She left West Heath after passing O Level exams to work in London.
and Rosemary Sybil Turnor, on 17 May 1980 in Northamptonshire
, England
. Neil McCorquodale is a nephew of Lady Sarah's stepmother, Raine Spencer.
Neil McCorquodale and Lady Sarah McCorquodale have three children
These children are first cousins of Prince William and Prince Harry on the maternal side.
She and her family reside near Grantham
, Lincolnshire
where she served a one year term as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire
in 2009. She is now a Master of the Belvoir Hunt.
Prince Harry of Wales
bears a striking resemblance to her, as does her son, George. Lady Sarah was accompanied by her husband and children to the Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Diana on 31 August 2007.
led to the first meeting between Diana and her future husband. During the period in which she dated the prince, she allegedly met two reporters, James Whittaker and Nigel Nelson, at a restaurant and gave them an exclusive report on her royal connection. She is said to have admitted to having been diagnosed with anorexia, having "thousands of boyfriends", a past problem involving alcohol, and that she had started keeping a scrapbook of all the press clippings about her royal romance that she intended to "show" future grandchildren. "Her head seemed to be turned by the publicity", the two reporters later said. When the article was released, she showed it to the prince and he replied, "You've just done something incredibly stupid". The relationship dissolved soon after that. Some have stated the relationship between her and Diana was strained, because of her long resentment of the Prince marrying Diana and not her, though others (including Diana's biographer Andrew Morton
) have said she was one of the few people Diana trusted. Later in Diana's life, she often accompanied Diana on official visits.
Upon the death of Diana
on 31 August 1997, Sarah, along with her younger sister Jane
and ex-brother-in-law Prince Charles flew to Paris to accompany Diana's body back to England. She, like her younger siblings, contributed to the readings at her sister's public funeral
. She was co-executor of Diana's will and is President of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund
. Sarah also attended the wedding of her nephew Prince William to Catherine Elizabeth "Kate" Middleton
on 29 April 2011.
, who wrote a best selling biography on the life of Diana, said Diana's two older sisters were extremely close and loyal to each other. Sarah gave her first child, Emily, the middle name of 'Jane' in a tribute to her younger sister. Her relationship with younger brother Earl Spencer
has been volatile at the best of times. As the eldest and the youngest of the Spencer children, they have clashed frequently in adulthood and childhood. In recent years, possibly due to the death of their sister, the siblings appear to have settled previous differences.
to her sister.
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
.
Early life
Sarah was born The Honourable Elizabeth Sarah Lavinia Spencer; she acquired the courtesy titleCourtesy title
A courtesy title is a form of address in systems of nobility used for children, former wives and other close relatives of a peer. These styles are used 'by courtesy' in the sense that the relatives do not themselves hold substantive titles...
The Lady Elizabeth Sarah Lavinia Spencer in 1975, when her grandfather
Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer
Albert Edward John Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer , styled The Honourable Albert Spencer until 1910 and as Viscount Althorp from 1910 to 1922, and known less formally as "Jack" Spencer, was a British peer...
died and her father became the 8th Earl Spencer. She suffered from the eating disorder anorexia nervosa in her early twenties. She was educated firstly at Riddlesworth Hall in Norfolk and secondly at West Heath
The New School at West Heath
The New School at West Heath is an independent school in Sevenoaks, in southeast England. It caters for children for whom mainstream schooling has become insufficient, for varying reasons...
boarding school near Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks is a commuter town situated on the London fringe of west Kent, England, some 20 miles south-east of Charing Cross, on one of the principal commuter rail lines from the capital...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. She left West Heath after passing O Level exams to work in London.
Family
Sarah married Neil Edmund McCorquodale (born 1951), son of Alastair McCorquodaleAlastair McCorquodale
Alastair McCorquodale was a Scottish athlete and cricketer.McCorquodale was educated at Harrow where he opened the bowling for the 1st XI in the 1948 Eton v Harrow match at Lord's. He represented Britain in Athletics at the 1948 Olympic Games in London...
and Rosemary Sybil Turnor, on 17 May 1980 in Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Neil McCorquodale is a nephew of Lady Sarah's stepmother, Raine Spencer.
Neil McCorquodale and Lady Sarah McCorquodale have three children
- Emily Jane McCorquodale (born 2 July 1983)
- George Edmund McCorquodale (born 1984)
- Celia Rose McCorquodale (born 1989)
These children are first cousins of Prince William and Prince Harry on the maternal side.
She and her family reside near Grantham
Grantham
Grantham is a market town within the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It bestrides the East Coast Main Line railway , the historic A1 main north-south road, and the River Witham. Grantham is located approximately south of the city of Lincoln, and approximately east of Nottingham...
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
where she served a one year term as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire
High Sheriff of Lincolnshire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Lincolnshire.The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred...
in 2009. She is now a Master of the Belvoir Hunt.
Prince Harry of Wales
Prince Harry of Wales
Prince Henry of Wales , commonly known as Prince Harry, is the younger son of Charles, Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and fourth grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
bears a striking resemblance to her, as does her son, George. Lady Sarah was accompanied by her husband and children to the Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Diana on 31 August 2007.
Diana, Princess of Wales
In 1977, Sarah's relationship with Prince CharlesCharles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
led to the first meeting between Diana and her future husband. During the period in which she dated the prince, she allegedly met two reporters, James Whittaker and Nigel Nelson, at a restaurant and gave them an exclusive report on her royal connection. She is said to have admitted to having been diagnosed with anorexia, having "thousands of boyfriends", a past problem involving alcohol, and that she had started keeping a scrapbook of all the press clippings about her royal romance that she intended to "show" future grandchildren. "Her head seemed to be turned by the publicity", the two reporters later said. When the article was released, she showed it to the prince and he replied, "You've just done something incredibly stupid". The relationship dissolved soon after that. Some have stated the relationship between her and Diana was strained, because of her long resentment of the Prince marrying Diana and not her, though others (including Diana's biographer Andrew Morton
Andrew Morton (writer)
Andrew David Morton is a former British Fleet Street journalist, a notable writer and biographer.Before moving into a career in journalism, he attended grammar school, then studied history at the University of Sussex....
) have said she was one of the few people Diana trusted. Later in Diana's life, she often accompanied Diana on official visits.
Upon the death of Diana
Death of Diana, Princess of Wales
On 31 August 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, died as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident in the Pont de l'Alma road tunnel in Paris, France. Her companion, Dodi Fayed, and the driver of the Mercedes-Benz W140, Henri Paul, were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Fayed's...
on 31 August 1997, Sarah, along with her younger sister Jane
Jane Fellowes, Baroness Fellowes
Cynthia Jane Fellowes, Baroness Fellowes is the older sister of Diana, Princess of Wales.-Early life:Lady Fellowes was born The Honourable Cynthia Jane Spencer. Her title changed to The Lady Cynthia Jane Spencer in 1975, when her grandfather died and her father became the 8th Earl Spencer...
and ex-brother-in-law Prince Charles flew to Paris to accompany Diana's body back to England. She, like her younger siblings, contributed to the readings at her sister's public funeral
Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales
The public funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales started on September 6, 1997 at 9:08 am in London, when the tenor bell sounded to signal the departure of the cortege from Kensington Palace. The coffin was carried from the palace on a gun carriage, along Hyde Park to St. James' Palace, where...
. She was co-executor of Diana's will and is President of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund
Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund
The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund is an independent grant-giving foundation established in September 1997 after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, to continue her humanitarian work in the United Kingdom and overseas...
. Sarah also attended the wedding of her nephew Prince William to Catherine Elizabeth "Kate" Middleton
Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton
The wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine Middleton took place on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London. Prince William, the eldest son of Charles, Prince of Wales, first met Catherine Middleton in 2001, when both were studying at the University of St Andrews. Their...
on 29 April 2011.
Other siblings
Sarah has shared a lifelong close relationship with her younger sister Jane. Author Anne EdwardsAnne Edwards
Anne Edwards is an author best known for her biographies of celebrities that include Princess Diana, Maria Callas, Judy Garland, Katharine Hepburn, Vivien Leigh, Margaret Mitchell, Ronald Reagan, Barbra Streisand, Shirley Temple and Countess Sonya Tolstoy...
, who wrote a best selling biography on the life of Diana, said Diana's two older sisters were extremely close and loyal to each other. Sarah gave her first child, Emily, the middle name of 'Jane' in a tribute to her younger sister. Her relationship with younger brother Earl Spencer
Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer
Charles Edward Maurice Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, DL , styled Viscount Althorp between 1975 and 1992, is a British peer and brother of Diana, Princess of Wales...
has been volatile at the best of times. As the eldest and the youngest of the Spencer children, they have clashed frequently in adulthood and childhood. In recent years, possibly due to the death of their sister, the siblings appear to have settled previous differences.
Quotes
"I play second fiddle to no one!" when asked about taking up the role as informal Lady-in-WaitingLady-in-waiting
A lady-in-waiting is a female personal assistant at a royal court, attending on a queen, a princess, or a high-ranking noblewoman. Historically, in Europe a lady-in-waiting was often a noblewoman from a family highly thought of in good society, but was of lower rank than the woman on whom she...
to her sister.
Ancestry
External links
- Lady Sarah McCorquodale picture Lady Sarah McCorquodale leaving the high court at her sisters (Diana, Princess of Wales) inquest.