Princess Diana’s older sister, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, 70, has been hospitalized following a significant injury sustained in a horse-riding accident.

The incident, which reportedly occurred “within the past month,” was publicly confirmed by her brother, Earl Spencer, during an episode of the Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth podcast.

“Sarah, who is almost a decade older than me and has always had a knack for getting into trouble, had a really bad fall last month and has been in hospital for some time,” he shared.

A Tough Recovery and a “Demanding Patient”

Earl Spencer revealed that Lady Sarah’s recovery has been challenging, adding that medical staff have hinted she has been a spirited presence in the hospital. He recalled a lighthearted comment from the lead doctor, who approached her husband, Neil McCorquodale, and remarked:

“The lead doctor said to my brother-in-law, ‘She’s quite a character, isn’t she?’, which I think is code for, ‘Could you take her home?’”

Royal Connections and a Remarkable Past

Lady Sarah has long been closely associated with the royal family. She once briefly dated then-Prince Charles and later introduced him to her younger sister, Diana—a moment that would eventually lead to one of the most iconic royal marriages in modern history.

As the aunt of Prince William and Prince Harry, she has remained an important, if private, figure within royal and aristocratic circles. She lives a largely low-profile life with her husband, landowner Neil McCorquodale, maintaining strong family ties.

Reflecting on Diana’s Legacy

During the podcast, Earl Spencer also discussed the ongoing public fascination with Princess Diana and how it can be emotionally complex for the family. He admitted:

“I tell you what I do find quite difficult, it probably sounds ungracious, but occasionally total strangers come up and feel they must tell me where they were when they heard she died. I’m sure that’s helpful to them, it’s not entirely helpful to everyone else.”

He went on to describe a recent encounter with an American woman who “clutched me to her ample bosom and said that I may have thought I grew up with Diana, but actually she did in South Dakota.”

Revisiting Diana’s Funeral Controversies

Earl Spencer also reflected on the deeply emotional decision to have Princes William and Harry walk behind their mother’s coffin during the 1997 funeral. He said:

“I was very anti-it. I thought it was terrible. It wasn’t [Prince Philip’s] decision to do it. But, actually, on the day, he was a calming presence.”

Prince Harry later wrote in his memoir Spare that his uncle had condemned the plan as a “barbarity” and rejected a suggestion that William should walk alone.

Despite the challenges and public scrutiny surrounding her family, Lady Sarah has remained known for her strong spirit and adventurous nature. Even in her seventies, she continued her passion for horse riding—an activity that unfortunately resulted in her current hospitalization.

We extend our thoughts and well wishes to Lady Sarah McCorquodale and hope for her swift and full recovery.