Most people think they know the Spencer family story. You've seen the movies, you've watched The Crown, and you definitely remember that heart-wrenching image of a young Earl Spencer walking behind his sister’s coffin. But the reality of the Diana, Princess of Wales siblings is a lot messier, and frankly, more human than the polished royal documentaries suggest.
It wasn't all tea and tiaras.
There were four of them who made it to adulthood: Sarah, Jane, Diana, and Charles. There was also a brother, John, who died just hours after he was born in 1960. That tragedy hung over the family like a dark cloud, especially for their parents, whose marriage basically disintegrated under the weight of the grief and the desperate pressure to produce a male heir.
The Sister Who Was "Cupid" (And Dated the King First)
Let's talk about Lady Sarah McCorquodale. She's the eldest. Honestly, she’s probably the reason Diana became a Princess in the first place. Back in the late 70s, Sarah was actually the one dating the then-Prince Charles.
It didn’t last. Why? Because Sarah made the "mistake" of talking to the press. She famously told a couple of reporters that she wouldn't marry Charles if he were "the dustman or the King of England." Charles, unsurprisingly, was pretty ticked off. He reportedly told her she’d done something incredibly stupid.
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But there were no hard feelings between the sisters. When Diana and Charles eventually got together, Sarah called herself "Cupid." She stayed remarkably close to Diana throughout the royal years, often acting as a lady-in-waiting on official trips. Sarah was the one Diana said she could actually trust. After the crash in Paris, Sarah was one of the first people on the plane to bring her sister home.
The Rift Nobody Talks About: Lady Jane Fellowes
Then there’s Jane. If Sarah was the wilder, supportive sister, Jane was the one caught in the middle.
Jane married Robert Fellowes in 1978. At the time, he was the assistant private secretary to Queen Elizabeth II. Think about that for a second. While Diana was becoming the most famous rebel in the royal family, Jane’s husband was the guy whose literal job was to protect the "Firm."
It was a total nightmare for their relationship.
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As Diana’s marriage to Charles blew up in the 90s, Jane was stuck. Her husband was loyal to the Palace; her sister was at war with it. Reports from people like Paul Burrell (Diana’s former butler) suggest the sisters barely spoke for the last 18 months of Diana’s life. Jane has never spoken publicly about Diana’s death. Not once. She’s kept a dignified, perhaps painful, silence for nearly thirty years.
Charles Spencer: The Guardian of the Legacy
The youngest of the Diana, Princess of Wales siblings is Charles, the 9th Earl Spencer. He’s the one we see the most. You likely remember his 1997 funeral eulogy—the one where he basically called out the Royal Family and the paparazzi while the world watched in shock.
He was furious. He still is, in a way.
Charles has spent the last few decades turning Althorp (the family estate) into a shrine for his sister. He’s a writer and a historian by trade, and he’s been incredibly vocal about the BBC's "deceit" in the famous Bashir interview. Recently, in 2024 and 2025, he’s shared more about their childhood, including the "stunned and appalled" reaction his sisters had when they learned about some of the abuse he faced at boarding school—something he never got to tell Diana before she died.
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Where Are They Now in 2026?
The Spencer siblings are still very much a bridge between the two warring royal brothers. Even though William and Harry aren't exactly on speaking terms, they both seem to maintain a solid bond with their Spencer aunts and uncle.
- Lady Sarah lives a quiet life in Lincolnshire. She’s stayed close to William, even supporting him at RAF engagements recently.
- Lady Jane is still the quiet one, though she’s a godmother to Princess Charlotte. She was spotted supporting Harry at an Invictus Games service in London just a while back.
- Charles Spencer continues to manage Althorp. He recently went through a third divorce (from Karen Gordon) and remains the family's most public protector.
The Spencers aren't just background characters in a royal drama. They are the people who knew "Duch" before she was a global icon. Their relationships show that even in the most famous family on earth, things like sibling rivalry, professional loyalty, and grief are just as complicated as they are for the rest of us.
Actionable Insights for Royal History Buffs:
If you're looking to understand the Spencer family dynamic better, don't just watch the Netflix shows. Check out Charles Spencer’s memoir A Very Private School for a look at the environment they grew up in, or visit Althorp during the summer months when the grounds are open to the public to see Diana’s final resting place for yourself.