Royal Snub? Prince William and Prince Harry Reportedly Excluded from Princess Diana’s Cherished Childhood Estate…See More

Royal Snub? Prince William and Prince Harry Reportedly Excluded from Princess Diana’s Cherished Childhood Estate…See More

Prince William and Prince Harry will not inherit their late mother Princess Diana’s cherished childhood estate, Althorp,
Princess Diana’s cherished childhood estate, Althorp, despite the property’s powerful personal connection to the royal brothers.

The grand Northamptonshire estate, set on 13,000 acres, has been in the Spencer family for more than five centuries.
While Diana’s childhood memories-and ultimately, her final resting place-are rooted on the grounds, legal and family tradition have determined that neither of her sons will become its next custodian.

Currently, Althorp belongs to Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer. In keeping with Spencer family tradition, the title and estate will pass not to his eldest child, but to his only son, Louis, Viscount Althorp, even though Louis has three older sisters.

This outcome is the result of a primogeniture tradition that favors male heirs. Lady Kitty, Lady Eliza, and Lady Amelia Spencer will not inherit the property, a detail that has at times stirred debate. Charles Spencer himself once acknowledged the tension, admitting he understood both the criticisms and the logic of the system. “It’s just the way it is,” he said in a past interview. “I get the problems with it as a concept. I also get the strengths of it, having worked to date.”

His eldest daughter, Lady Kitty Spencer, has publicly expressed her support for the arrangement, despite her belief in gender equality. “I like that the house stays within the same family, with the same surname,” she told Tatler
The estate’s significance goes far beyond its architecture and history. Althorp is the site of Princess Diana’s grave, set on a secluded island in the middle of Oval Lake. The location was chosen to offer privacy and protection, as well as a sense of peace for the family.

For Prince William and Prince Harry, this privacy is especially meaningful. Their uncle, Charles, has said the lake acts “as a buffer against the interventions of the insane and ghoulish,” allowing Diana’s sons to visit their mother’s resting place without public scrutiny. “It is, luckily, very tranquil here, and [William and Harry] can come and go as they wish whenever they want,” Charles Spencer explained.

Harry reflected on this experience in his memoir “Spare,” recalling how he and Meghan Markle visited Althorp on the 25th anniversary of Diana’s passing. “At long last, I was bringing the girl of my dreams home to meet mom,” he wrote.

While the Spencer tradition means the estate will remain with Diana’s brother’s line, the memories and legacy of the princess continue to bind her sons to Althorp in a way that transcends inheritance.