Princess Diana’s legacy continues to fascinate the world decades after her tragic death, but one detail about her £21 million fortune still surprises royal watchers today. While many assumed her entire estate was left directly to her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, reports reveal that Diana entrusted much of her wealth to one unexpected person — her older sister, Lady Sarah McCorquodale.
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When Diana died in Paris in 1997 at the age of 36, she left behind an estate estimated at around £21 million before taxes. After legal fees and inheritance tax deductions, the amount reportedly dropped to approximately £13 million. Naturally, the public believed the inheritance would go entirely to her two young sons. However, the process was far more complex.
Diana named her mother, Frances Shand Kydd, her private secretary Patrick Jephson, and her sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale as executors of her will. Among them, Lady Sarah emerged as one of the most trusted figures responsible for protecting Diana’s wishes and preserving her memory.
Although William and Harry were the ultimate beneficiaries, they did not immediately receive the fortune. Instead, the estate was carefully managed in trust until the princes reached adulthood. Reports suggest the inheritance generated millions more through investments over the years, eventually becoming significantly larger by the time the brothers gained access to it.
Lady Sarah’s role became especially important after Diana’s death because she was considered one of the princess’s closest confidantes. Unlike many members of the royal inner circle, Sarah maintained a deeply personal relationship with Diana and supported her through difficult periods, including her divorce from then-Prince Charles.