Prince Harry visited Althorp recently (Image: Getty)
Princess Diana’s childhood home came back into the spotlight this week after Prince Harry’s visit. The Duke of Sussex was seen leaving Althorp House in Northamptonshire on Saturday morning, hours after he had a meeting with his father, the King and Queen Camilla, as well as Meghan Markle and Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Althorp House is nestled within the vast Althorp Estate and is where the late Princess of Wales lived as a child with her siblings, including her brother, Earl Spencer. Charles, the 9th Earl Spencer, is the current occupant of Althorp House. However, instead of passing the home to his nephew one day, the 62-year-old wants to hand it to his eldest son, Louis, Viscount Althorp.
Althorp House is located within the Althorp Estate (Image: Getty)
Louis Spencer (left) will inherit Althorp House (Image: Getty)
Louis, 32, may have three older sisters, Lady Kitty, Lady Eliza and Lady Amelia, but under primogeniture rules, which dictate that the eldest male in a family inherits titles and property, he is set to inherit Diana’s childhood home.
In 2015, the earl spoke about how he would feel if his eldest daughter got the estate instead of Louis.
He told the Mail on Sunday, “If I chose Kitty, it would be against all the tradition that goes with Althorp. It’s just the way it is. I get the problems with it as a concept. I also get the strengths of it, having worked to date.”
In the December 2015 issue of Tatler, Kitty, 34, said: “I’m totally pro-gender equality. But I’m quite happy that that’s [going to be] my brother’s responsibility. I just think it’s the correct way.
“I like that the house stays within the same family, with the same surname. I wouldn’t want it any other way for the Spencers. And I just know my brother is going to do an impeccable job.”
Althorp, which has been the ancestral seat of the Spencer family since 1508, also serves as Princess Diana’s resting place.
The late Princess of Wales was laid to rest on a small island in the ornamental lake known as The Round Oval, which is located within Althorp Park’s gardens.
Leading to the Oval is a path consisting of thirty-six oak trees, marking each year of her life.
Originally, Prince William and Prince Harry’s mother was meant to get buried in the Spencer family vault; however, the plan was rejected over safety concerns.
Althorp House, which covers 100,000 square feet, boasts 30 luxurious bedrooms – as well as a number of stunning features.