# Sonia Gandhi's candid world leader recollections > Sonia Gandhi shares candid moments with Clinton, Sarkozy and Diana in memoir. - Title: Sonia Gandhi's candid world leader recollections · Indiatimes - Summary: Sonia Gandhi shares candid moments with Clinton, Sarkozy and Diana in memoir. Sonia Gandhi describes Bill Clinton's 'old habit' of sizing up women, Nicolas… - Keywords: sonia gandhi, bill clinton, nicolas sarkozy, princess diana, belonging memoir, india, world leaders, memoir, candid recollections, kashmir, Indiatimes - Source: Indiatimes — https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/clintons-old-habit-arrogant-sarkozy-real-star-diana-sonias-candid-accounts-of-world-leaders/articleshow/135707561.cms - Author: Abhishek Mishra - Published: 2026-11-10T10:25:00+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: sonia gandhi, bill clinton, nicolas sarkozy, princess diana, belonging memoir, india, world leaders, memoir, candid recollections, kashmir, news ## Clinton's 'old habit' Sonia Gandhi recalls Bill Clinton during his 2000 India visit surreptitiously sizing up women at receptions. > old habits die hard ## Sarkozy's love life Sarkozy visited India in 2008 without his partner Carla Bruni, messaging her while being questioned about their relationship. > President Sarkozy seemed unperturbed by the cross-examination, even eager to share details of his love life ## Diana's India visit Princess Diana visited India in 1992, posing alone at the Taj Mahal's 'love bench' and meeting Sonia Gandhi. > On the very day she famously posed alone on what I call the 'love bench' in front of the Taj Mahal ## Diana's tea meeting Diana met Sonia Gandhi's mother and daughter at a tea gathering in 1992, speaking Italian with Diana. > Piacere, comne stai? ## Diana's wave Diana waved to Sonia Gandhi's mother as she left the tea meeting in 1992. > Ciao. Nonna! ## Diana's hairdresser moment Sonia Gandhi wrote a note to Diana at a hairdresser's but accidentally wrote 'Hye' instead of 'Hi'. > I scribbled a word and passed it on to her, and the next second realised that instead of 'Hi', I had written 'Hye' ## Clinton's Kashmir comments Clinton described Kashmir as 'a nuclear flashpoint, one of the most dangerous places on earth'. > a nuclear flashpoint, one of the most dangerous places on earth ## Sarkozy's India speech Sarkozy spoke to India's prime minister about the country's responsibilities in an arrogant manner. > He spoke cordially but infrequently, while her husband held forth, expounding his views to our prime minister on what India should do in what I felt was a rather arrogant manner ## Diana's marriage issues Diana's marriage was strained during her 1992 India visit, with her appearing morose. > she appeared morose, though looking wonderful in a striking red and purple two-piece suit ## Sarkozy's marriage Sarkozy married Carla Bruni after his 2008 India visit, with her being a popular singer and model. > She spoke cordially but infrequently, while her husband held forth, expounding his views to our prime minister on what India should do in what I felt was a rather arrogant manner ## Diana's royal family Diana was the 'real star' of the British royal family during her 1992 India visit. > The real star of that family had of course been Princess Diana: Tall and slim, with large blue eyes, an enchanting smile, and a magnetic personality ## Sarkozy's India dinner Sarkozy and Bruni attended a private dinner hosted by India's prime minister in 2008. > The couple made a joint appearance in India on a subsequent visit, attending a private dinner hosted by then prime minister Manmohan Singh and his wife ## Clinton's 2000 India visit Clinton visited India in 2000, staying at the Sheraton hotel with his daughter Chelsea and delegation. > Recalling Clinton's 2000 visit, Sonia writes about meeting the then US president at the Sheraton hotel ## Sarkozy's 2008 India visit Sarkozy visited India in 2008 without his partner Carla Bruni, who was a singer and model. > It was said that he (Sarkozy) had been advised not to bring her (Bruni) because they were unmarried which would have been awkward at official functions ## Diana's 1981 wedding Diana married Prince Charles in 1981, with Sonia Gandhi attending the wedding. > I can never forget how ravishing she was as a bride when Rajiv and I attended their wedding in 1981 ## Diana's 1992 India visit Diana visited India in 1992, posing alone at the Taj Mahal's 'love bench' and meeting Sonia Gandhi. > On the very day she famously posed alone on what I call the 'love bench' in front of the Taj Mahal ## Key takeaway Sonia Gandhi describes Bill Clinton's 'old habit' of sizing up women, Nicolas Sarkozy's love life, and Princess Diana's brief India visit in her memoir Belonging: A Journey Of Love.