Princess Diana's Final Phone Call to Her Sister Revealed: 'She Was Distraught'

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Princess Diana's Final Phone Call to Her Sister Revealed: 'She Was Distraught'

BY YEET MAGAZINE — ROYAL DESK | October 9, 2026

Two days before she died, Princess Diana called her sister. She was on a yacht in the Mediterranean. She was with Dodi Fayed. But she wasn't happy. She told Lady Sarah McCorquodale she thought the boat was bugged. She told her she was distraught over a newspaper article. And when Sarah suggested she talk to Dodi about it, Diana said it would be "a waste of time." That phone call told Sarah everything. The romance was over. Two days later, Diana was dead. And that conversation has haunted the royal family ever since.

What Did Diana Say in Her Final Call to Her Sister?

This is what we know. The phone call happened in late August 1997. Diana was on Mohamed Al Fayed's yacht, The Jonikal. She was cruising the Mediterranean with Dodi Fayed.

Lady Sarah testified at the inquest in 2008. She told the court Diana called her from what she "assumed" was her mobile phone.

Diana told Sarah she thought the boat was being bugged. By Mohamed Al Fayed. Dodi's father.

Sarah said: "Yes, she thought the boat was being bugged by Mr al Fayed senior."

Diana was also upset about an article in the French newspaper Le Monde. It was about her landmines campaign. She felt she had been misquoted. She felt she looked like she was criticizing the government.

Sarah said: "She was very upset because she felt she had been misquoted and as a result had appeared to look like she was criticising the Government. She was distraught."

Why Did Sarah Think the Dodi Romance Was Over?

Because of what Diana said next. Sarah suggested Diana talk to Dodi about the article. Diana said "that would be a waste of time."

Sarah told the court: "From that, I just did not think that the relationship had much longer to go."

Think about that. Diana was on a romantic yacht trip with Dodi. But when she needed to talk to someone, she called her sister. And when her sister told her to talk to her boyfriend, she said it wasn't worth it.

That's not a romance. That's a countdown.

The Timeline: Diana's Final Days

Who Was Diana Really Thinking About?

Not Dodi. That's what Lady Sarah suggested at the inquest. She said Diana might still have been pining for Hasnat Khan, the Pakistani heart surgeon she had dated for two years.

Sarah said: "I believe there was a serious possibility that she and Hasnat Khan would get married. But the man couldn't get used to her lifestyle; he was a committed doctor. I don't think Diana thought that relationship was over: she at least hoped that wasn't the case."

So Diana was on a yacht with Dodi, calling her sister, thinking about Hasnat Khan. That's the real story of her final summer.

What Else Did Diana Do in Her Final Hours?

She called her sons. William and Harry were at Balmoral with the royal family. Diana called them from Paris. William talked about a school project on landmines. He praised his mother's work. Diana was emotional.

A second call was brief because the boys were playing with their cousins. Harry and William have both said they regret cutting that call short.

She also called Richard Kay, a Daily Mail journalist and friend. Police told Kay he was the last person Diana called. He said she was "in quite a good place." She was looking forward to coming home. She wanted to see her boys.

She spoke to Rita Rogers, a medium she trusted. Rogers said Diana laughed and said Dodi had gone to get a ring. Rogers warned her it sounded like an engagement ring. Diana reportedly said: "Oh dear, I hope not, what will I say?"

Hours later, she was dead.

Why This Phone Call Still Matters

Because it shows Diana's state of mind. She wasn't a woman in love. She wasn't planning a new life with Dodi. She was tired. She was frustrated. She was looking forward to going home.

Lady Sarah's testimony painted a picture of a woman who was ready to move on. From the yacht. From the summer. From Dodi.

She never got the chance.

Princess Diana: Her Final Summer in Photos

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