The childhood home of Princess Diana, Althorp is a Grade I listed stately home owned by the Spencer family since 1688.
While the Althorp estate dates to an even earlier time, it was mainly made up of grassland and woodland which was used for sheep grazing.
- It was the past home of Diana, Princess of Wales and where an 18-year-old Queen Victoria learnt she was queen
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A house was later built on the estate, which was visited by King Charles I, but Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland, built the current house that stands today.
Where is Althorp?
Althorp is in West Northamptonshire, inbetween Great Brington and Harlestone.
Who owns Althorp?
Althorp has been the ancestral home of 19 generations of Spencers, including Georgina Cavendish (the Duchess of Devonshire who later became mistress of Chatsworth) and much later Edward John, 18th Earl Spencer, who served as Equerry to King George VI and to Queen Elizabeth II.
His daughter, Diana Spencer, would later go on to marry the future king Prince Charles. The current owner is Charles Spencer, Princess Diana's brother.
Is Diana buried at Althorp?
Diana, Princess of Wales, was laid to rest in the middle of an ornamental lake in the grounds. A temple inscribed with her name can be found across from the lake, where visitors can lay down floral tributes.
After Diana’s death, the estate’s stable block was converted into a public exhibition that commemorates her and was open from 1998.
The estate and house are open to the public during the summer, although the exhibition about Diana in the stable block was closed in 2013.
Is Althorp haunted?
While Althorp’s current owner, Charles Spencer, has never claimed to see a ghost at the estate, numerous sightings of ghosts have been reported by overnight guests.
Top image: an aerial view of Althrop. Credit: Getty
