Princess Diana’s niece refers to the daughters of her two older siblings, Sarah Spencer (née McCorquodale) and Jane Fellowes (née Spencer). The most commonly mentioned is Lady Sarah McCorquodale, born 1955, and Lady Jane Fellowes, born 1957. They are not formally styled as princesses but hold courtesy titles through their father. Both have supported Diana publicly, maintained protective privacy, and balanced royal proximity with ordinary lives. This overview explains their lineage, titles, roles, and how their status relates to the wider monarchy.
Lineage and Birth Order
To understand Princess Diana’s niece, start with her siblings. Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, is Diana’s younger brother. However, the term niece here applies to the daughters of Diana’s older sister and brother-in-law. Key family points include:
- Lady Sarah Spencer (born 1955), later Lady Sarah McCorquodale, was the firstborn of Diana’s siblings.
- Lady Jane Spencer (born 1957), later Lady Jane Fellowes, is the second sibling in birth order.
- Both were born before Diana’s marriage to Prince Charles, making them her nieces by blood, not by marriage.
Sarah McCorquodale (née Spencer)
Lady Sarah McCorquodale is widely recognized as the niece most directly associated with Princess Diana in public memory. She married into the McCorquodale family and maintains a notably private lifestyle. Key aspects of her life include:
- Birth name and title: Lady Sarah Spencer at birth, transitioning through marriage to Lady Sarah McCorquodale.
- Family role: Eldest niece, often appearing in background roles at major royal events during Diana’s lifetime.
- Children: She has two children, Eleanor Aitken and William Aitken, who do not use royal or Spencer styling.
Jane Fellowes (née Spencer)
Lady Jane Fellowes is frequently in the spotlight because of her close caregiving role before and after Diana’s death. Observations about her include:
- She was frequently seen supporting Diana at public engagements and during difficult periods in the late 1990s.
- She and her family have consistently chosen privacy, avoiding commercial exploitation of their relationship to Diana.
- Her children, including Eliza Lopes, have also largely remained out of media scrutiny.
Titles and Styles
Because their father held a peerage, both Sarah and Jane carry courtesy titles. However, they are not styled as Princesses of the United Kingdom. Understanding this distinction clarifies many common confusions:
| Name | Birth Name / Title | Married Name | Courtesy Style | Daughter Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lady Sarah Spencer | Lady Sarah Spencer | Lady Sarah McCorquodale | The Honourable Sarah McCorquodale | Eleanor Aitken, William Aitken |
| Lady Jane Spencer | Lady Jane Spencer | Lady Jane Fellowes | The Honourable Jane Fellowes | Eliza Lopes, Arthur and Mary Fellowes |
Relationship With Princess Diana
Both nieces maintained steady, supportive relationships with Diana, especially during her most intense public scrutiny. They were present at key moments and provided emotional stability. Important aspects of this relationship include:
- Visibility: They attended major royal and family events, often walking in prominent positions behind Diana in processions.
- Support: Jane Fellowes was noted for staying close to Diana in the hospital in Paris and in the days that followed.
- Boundaries: Neither niece sought media attention or royal roles, preserving personal privacy.
Public Perception and Media Portrayals
Media coverage of the nieces often focused on their connection to Diana, but they have largely resisted becoming public figures themselves. Coverage highlights include:
- Minimal tabloid attention compared to cousins and in-laws, reflecting their low public profiles.
- Framing them as stabilising figures who supported Diana without seeking the spotlight.
- They are not involved in royal charities or official capacities, distinguishing them from working royals.
Modern Relevance and Legacy
The nieces’ enduring legacy centers on loyalty and discretion. In a media environment that often dramatizes royal families, their consistent refusal to participate in public narratives has preserved a unique form of dignity. Points to remember:
- They are not working royals and do not carry royal patronages or official duties.
- They represent a private buffer between the public monarchy and the wider Spencer family.
- Their steadiness offers a long-term counterpoint to the more turbulent public stories surrounding Diana’s immediate family.
FAQ
Reader questions
Are Lady Sarah and Lady Jane technically princesses?
No. They are the daughters of an earl and a viscountess, not of a prince. Courtesy titles such as Lady are correct, but Princess is not part of their legal or formal style.
Do they have any royal duties or incomes from the Crown?
They do not carry out royal engagements, accept official royal funds, or use royal helicopters. Their means are privately managed.
How are they positioned in the royal family tree?
They sit one generation below Princess Diana and are members of the extended Spencer family. They are related by blood but not part of the institutionally defined royal family.
Have they given interviews about life with Diana?
They have largely declined interviews, maintaining the privacy that has characterised their relationship with the media and the public.
What distinguishes their roles from those of Diana’s cousins?
They are blood relatives through Diana’s siblings, whereas many cousins are from her father’s side. Their proximity was shaped more by family structure than by official proximity to the throne.
How does the monarchy officially acknowledge them?
They are acknowledged in familial contexts at times of significant anniversaries but do not appear on official royal calendars or lists of working royals.