Sonia Gandhi recalls Clinton’s wandering eyes, Sarkozy’s affectionate exchanges with Bruni and her memorable encounters with Princess Diana, offering a rare glimpse into the personalities of world leaders away from the political spotlight.
BY PC Bureau
NEW DELHI, November 10: From noticing Bill Clinton discreetly looking over women at a formal reception to sharing a warm, memorable exchange with Princess Diana, Sonia Gandhi’s memoir offers a series of personal glimpses into her encounters with some of the world’s best-known political and royal figures.
In Belonging: A Journey Of Love, released worldwide on November 10, the former Congress president recalls meetings with former US president Bill Clinton, French president Nicolas Sarkozy and the late Princess Diana, offering candid observations about their personalities and private moments away from the public spotlight.
Recalling Clinton’s 2000 visit to India, Gandhi says the Monica Lewinsky controversy had largely faded from public attention, but she noticed something familiar about the former US president’s behaviour at a reception hosted by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Clinton was staying at the Sheraton hotel with his daughter Chelsea and members of his delegation. Gandhi visited him along with India’s foreign minister.
She describes him as friendly, informal and self-assured, but says he appeared more interested in sharing his assessment of Kashmir than listening to the Indian side.
As @SoniaGandhi writes in her prologue,
“And here it is… my own story.”
Belonging: A journey of love by Sonia Gandhi — out now. Available wherever books are sold. https://t.co/cCuzCfYhPi
— HarperCollins (@HarperCollinsIN) November 10, 2026
Clinton described Kashmir as a potential nuclear flashpoint and one of the world’s most dangerous places, she recalls.
Sonia Gandhi then offers a more personal observation about the reception hosted in Clinton’s honour.
Although the Lewinsky affair had somewhat receded from the headlines, she writes that the former president appeared to retain his interest in attractive women.
She recalls noticing him occasionally casting discreet glances at some of the more striking women attending the gathering.
READ: He Looks Away’: Sonia Recalls Awkward Encounters With Modi
Sarkozy’s love life becomes dinner-table conversation
Gandhi also recounts an amusing episode involving French President Nicolas Sarkozy during his 2008 visit to India.
Sarkozy had travelled without his then partner, Carla Bruni, reportedly because their unmarried status could have created protocol complications at official functions.
At a state banquet, Mohammad Hamid Ansari’s wife, who was seated beside the French president, turned the conversation towards his relationship with Bruni.
Sonia Gandhi says she was amused as Ansari’s wife good-naturedly questioned Sarkozy about his plans to marry, whether a date had been fixed and whether he missed his partner.
The French president appeared perfectly comfortable discussing his personal life. He answered the questions while continuously exchanging messages with Bruni on his mobile phone, Gandhi recalls.
The couple appeared together on a subsequent visit, by which time they were married. They attended a private dinner hosted by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife.
Gandhi remembers Bruni making a striking entrance in a long, elegant gown. A former model and popular European singer-songwriter, she attracted considerable attention.
She describes Sarkozy as clearly besotted with his wife.
While Bruni spoke politely but sparingly, Sarkozy dominated the conversation, explaining to Manmohan Singh what India should do on various issues.
Gandhi found his manner somewhat arrogant, particularly because she felt he was speaking to a leader who was senior to him in experience and knowledge.
Princess Diana’s warmth left a lasting impression
Among the most affectionate passages in the memoir are Gandhi’s recollections of Princess Diana and her interactions with the British royal family.
She writes that relations between members of the British and Indian royal families had extended across generations. Rajiv Gandhi, she says, had shared a good rapport with then Prince Charles.
But Diana, in Gandhi’s words, was undoubtedly the most captivating personality in the royal family.
Sonia remembers attending Charles and Diana’s wedding with Rajiv in 1981 and being struck by the princess’s beauty, charm and magnetic presence.
When the royal couple visited India in 1992, however, Gandhi sensed that their marriage was under strain.
She recalls that on the very day Diana was photographed sitting alone on a bench overlooking the Taj Mahal, popularly remembered as the ‘love bench’, the royal couple visited her for a late afternoon tea.
Charles was cheerful and talkative, while Diana appeared subdued, although she looked striking in a red-and-purple outfit.
The conversation revolved around her experiences and impressions of India.
Gandhi’s mother was visiting at the time and was eager to meet the famous princess. Her daughter Priyanka was equally keen to introduce her grandmother, whom she called ‘Nonna’.
Diana noticed that Gandhi’s mother was unusually quiet. Priyanka explained that her mother had instructed her not to speak because she knew only Italian.
Diana immediately burst into laughter and turned towards the elderly woman, greeting her in Italian: “Piacere, come stai?” (Pleased to meet you, how are you?).
Although her pronunciation and use of the informal form of address were not entirely accurate, Gandhi says Diana’s warmth and spontaneity won everyone over.
The princess’s friendliness continued as the visitors prepared to leave. Halfway to the car, Diana turned around, waved to Gandhi’s mother and called out, “Ciao, Nonna!”
Gandhi also recalls presenting the royal couple with her book Rajiv. Diana later wrote to her, expressing admiration for her husband.
An embarrassing note at a London hairdresser’s
Gandhi’s memories of Diana did not end with their meeting in India.
During a visit to London, she was invited for tea with the royal couple. She remembers arriving in a black suit with a white collar and joking that she felt like a crow.
On another occasion, she unexpectedly found herself sitting beside Diana at a hairdresser’s.
Recognising the princess, Gandhi decided to pass her a discreet note. But a small spelling mistake turned the moment into an embarrassing memory.
Instead of writing “Hi”, she accidentally wrote “Hye”.
Sonia immediately regretted the error and wished she could retrieve the note, but Diana had already slipped it into her handbag. he two exchanged a few quiet words, careful not to draw the attention of others around them.
That was Gandhi’s last meeting with the princess.
Reflecting on Diana’s troubled life and the public scrutiny she endured, Gandhi says the princess had faced considerable criticism during her lifetime, with many accusing her of being spoilt and ungrateful despite her privileged position.
Gandhi says she always felt sympathy for Diana and continues to do so.
“There was a lot of criticism of her at that time: She was spoilt and complaining; she had everything; why was she behaving as if she had been wronged? I must say I felt for her throughout, and still do,” she writes.
