Diana’s childhood home will go to a more distant relative rather than her own sons
It’s been 28 years since Diana, Princess of Wales, died in a tragic car accident. However, the late royal is still as beloved as ever. And we can’t help thinking about her and wondering what would have been if tragedy hadn’t struck in Paris on Aug. 31, 1997. Diana still pops up regularly in conversations and in the media, be it when new details of her death are revealed, like her last words or the fact that she probably would have survived the accident if only she’d worn a seat belt, or when Queen Camilla is spotted wearing one of her famous pieces of jewelry.
And then, there’s the story about Althorp House. You might know it as Diana’s childhood home. But did you know that it has also sparked quite some controversy in the royal bubble? Read on to learn why.
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What is Althorp House, exactly?
Althorp House is a Grade I listed country estate that has been the home of the Spencer family (aka Diana’s family) since 1508. It sits in a quiet location near Northampton in central England, about an hour north of London, and is surrounded by parkland and forests. The nearest village is Great Brington, with about 200 inhabitants.
Althorp House became famous as the place where the late Princess Diana lived as a teenager, together with her older sisters, Lady Sarah and Lady Jane Spencer, and her younger brother, Charles, the current Earl Spencer. Diana spent several holidays at Althorp House as a child and moved there full-time in 1976, at the age of 14. According to media reports, she absolutely loved it there. “Looking back, it was probably the happiest time of her life,” Betty Andrews, a former cook at the estate, revealed on the BBC. Althorp House is also where Diana first met her future husband, Prince Charles. Back then, the now king was dating Diana’s sister Sarah, but it seems that then-16-year-old Diana immediately caught his eye. When the pair got engaged in 1981, Charles remembered thinking “what fun she was” when they first crossed paths.
After her tragic death in Paris in 1997, the Princess of Wales returned to her family home—she was buried on the grounds of Althorp House. The estate remains in the hands of the Spencers. Currently, Diana’s brother Earl Spencer lives there, until recently with his third wife Karen and their daughter, Lady Charlotte Diana Spencer.
Why was Diana buried here?
Initially, Diana was to be buried in the Spencer family vault at a small church in Great Brington near the estate. But Diana’s brother Charles, well aware of the princess’s huge popularity and outpouring of grief following her death, voiced last-minute safety concerns. He was worried that the village, the church and its staff wouldn’t be able to handle the floods of Diana fans predicted to show up to pay their respects. What’s more, it would have been impossible for Diana’s now estranged sons, William and Harry, to have any peace and quiet when visiting their mother. So, to give the family more privacy and rule out security issues, it was decided to bury Diana at her family home.
Why won’t William or Harry inherit this estate?
Because someone else is closer in line to inherit it. Althorp House is currently owned by Diana’s brother Charles, and having been the seat of the Spencer family for more than five centuries, it will continue to be handed down that line according to the property’s rules of inheritance. The family law states that the estate will go to the first male heir of the current Earl Spencer, so both Prince William and Harry, as well as the Earl’s daughters, don’t stand a chance. The law of primogeniture (meaning the eldest son of a family holding a title is to inherit the family’s fortune) has raised eyebrows and sparked controversy, as many see it as a bit antiquated and, well, quite misogynistic. However, while the questionable inheritance rule was abolished for commoners in the U.K. in 1925, it’s still very much in place in royal circles. And there’s no change expected in this case.
So, who will be inheriting it?
Diana’s nephew, Louis Spencer, son of Charles Spencer and his first wife, Victoria Lockwood, will inherit Althorp House. Louis was born in London in 1994 but grew up in Cape Town, South Africa, away from the spotlight. He first grabbed media attention at Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding in 2011 as a good-looking 17-year-old. Seven years later, he was again pictured as a wedding guest, this time when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot.
However, apart from big family events like these, Louis, sometimes dubbed “Harry lite” due to his looks, prefers to keep a low profile. He currently lives in London, has studied drama and is now pursuing a career as an actor. He’s only had smaller roles so far, but do look out in the future for Louis Lyons, as that’s the name he goes by on stage. Louis is signed with London-based talent agency Tavistock Wood, which represents Rebel Wilson, Dustin Hoffman and Dominic West, among others. A friend describes him as “super private,” “a very talented actor” and “very low-key and genuine, decent and kind.”
Can you visit Althorp House?
Yes, you can! Althorp House is open to the public during July and August every year, allowing royal fans a peek into the private lives of the Spencer family. Visitors can take a self-guided tour through some of the most impressive rooms in the house, check out one of Europe’s finest private collections of furniture, paintings and ceramics inside, and visit the horse stables.
However, don’t expect to see everything during your visit! Althorp House is a huge complex with a main house (90 rooms spread over 100,000 square feet), gardens, forests, a lake and several sports grounds. It measures 13,500 acres—almost the size of Manhattan!
If you need more time and have some extra cash, you can rent Althorp House for events, weddings or a (very) exclusive weekend break. There are six State Bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and 20 regular bedrooms, several dining rooms, an optional marquee for up to 1,000 guests and helicopter service. It’s almost needless to say that the rent includes butler service, several private chefs and a concierge.
Where is Diana buried on the property?
Princess Diana is buried in the middle of a lake on a small island known as The Oval in the Park’s Pleasure Garden on Althorp Estate. The grave is marked with a white memorial plinth, and the island itself is only accessible by boat—the only bridge was removed after the private funeral. Diana’s brother later said this had been done to give Diana “privacy.” He described her final resting place as “a tranquil haven” and “a very peaceful scene.” Diana’s grave is off limits to the public. However, there’s a separate memorial site nearby on Althorp Estate, where fans of the late princess are welcome to pay their respects and lay down flowers during their visit.
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