Princess Diana Called a ‘Pillar of Light and Love’ in Sarah Ferguson’s Poignant Birthday Post
July 1 was Princess Diana‘s birthday. The late Princess of Wales would have turned 63 years old. Commemorating the milestone was her former sister-in-law and friend Sarah Ferguson, who called Diana a “pillar of light and love” in a poignant birthday post.
Sarah Ferguson recalled Princess Diana’s friendship on her birthday
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, became a constant in Princess Diana’s life upon becoming engaged to King Charles’ brother, Prince Andrew, in 1986. The women were young and liked to laugh and have fun, but at the same time, they were part of an institution steeped in tradition.
Honoring that friendship, Sarah shared a photo on Instagram taken in 1990, when she and Diana attended the 50th Anniversary of The Battle of Britain Parade on the Buckingham Palace balcony. Alongside the image, she shared a poignant message.
“Happy birthday to my dear friend, Diana. You were a pillar of light and love.” the message began.
“And what a legacy you have left behind. I will forever remember our laughter and the kindred, kind spirit I found in you. I am sure you are watching over us always. Rest in peace, my friend,” it concluded.
Sarah Ferguson and Princess Diana were 4th cousins
During a June 2023 episode of her podcast Tea Talk with the Duchess and Sarah, Sarah Ferguson dove deep into her family history with Princess Diana. She revealed details of how many years their families have known one another.
The two first met when Diana was 14 and Ferguson was 15. They were fourth cousins.
“Her mother and my mother were at school together, and they were best friends,” Ferguson revealed. “And Diana was my fourth cousin. You know, it’s just extraordinary that we were brought together.”
She also explained how Diana’s influence helped shape her as she joined the royal family. Sarah revealed how she mirrored Diana’s every move.
“I remember when I first became a princess with Duch [Diana’s nickname], and I watched her work a room, and I just copied her. I mirrored her, how she did it, because she was just incredible,” Sarah shared.
“She just immediately went in with her heart. Full heart, full energy, and she left everything outside the door.”
Princess Diana didn’t know how ‘brilliant’ she was, says Sarah Ferguson
In a segment of Sarah Ferguson’s podcast called “Drink or Spill,” co-host Sarah Thomson asked the duchess if she and Princess Diana connected over charity work.
“Diana and I, we definitely talked incessantly about charity. We loved to give. So she was very similar to me,” Sarah admitted.
“She never understood how brilliant she was really, and together we both didn’t. And I used to hug her, but she wouldn’t understand,” she continued.
The duchess concluded, “And we loved each other with all our hearts, and she made me laugh more than any other single person I’ve ever met in my life. Diana was just a tinkling laughter down the corridors and there was nobody like her in the world because she had that ability to give her entire heart because she didn’t give her entire heart to herself.”
Sarah Ferguson is an author, grandmother, and humanitarian. Princess Diana died at the age of 36 in a car crash in Paris, France, in 1997.
