Royal sisters-in-law, Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson, shared a close bond during their time together in the royal family. They leaned on each other for support after the breakdown of their marriages. However, their relationship took a turn for the worse in 1996, with Sarah expressing bewilderment over Diana’s sudden silence towards her. Speculation arose that Diana was upset by how Sarah portrayed her in her autobiography released that year.
Former butler Paul Burrell has shed light on the fallout between the two women in his latest book. He revealed that Diana and Sarah had formed a strong friendship in the early 1980s, sharing intimate conversations and meals. Despite Diana providing valuable advice to Sarah on navigating royal life, their friendship deteriorated after the publication of Sarah’s autobiography, “My Story,” in 1996.
Paul clarified that Diana was supportive of Sarah’s decision to go public but had requested her not to discuss Diana, her sons, or their relationship. When Sarah disregarded this request in her book, Diana was reportedly furious and felt betrayed. The rift between them deepened as Diana perceived Sarah’s actions as manipulative and ended all direct communication with her.
Their communication was reduced to exchanging letters, with a significant incident involving a letter purportedly from Sarah’s daughter, which Diana perceived as a manipulative tactic. This led to a final confrontation where Diana accused Sarah of using her child to intervene in their relationship, ultimately leading to their estrangement.
Despite their falling out, Sarah has since spoken fondly of Diana, referring to her as a “sister-in-law and best friend.” She paid tribute to Diana on what would have been her 63rd birthday, acknowledging her as a beacon of light and love. The legacy Diana left behind continues to be cherished by those who knew her closely.