Prince Harry unlikely to inherit Princess Diana's childhood home Althorp House

Sophia Papamavroudi, Hollie Beale Sun, July 19, 2026 at 2:49 AM UTC

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Prince Harry visited Althorp recently (Image: Getty)

Princess Diana's childhood residence returned to public attention this week following Prince Harry's visit.

The Duke of Sussex was spotted departing Althorp House in Northamptonshire on Saturday morning, following a meeting with his father, the King, and Queen Camilla, alongside Meghan Markle and Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Althorp House sits within the expansive Althorp Estate and served as the late Princess of Wales' childhood residence, where she grew up with her siblings, including her brother, Earl Spencer.

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Charles, the 9th Earl Spencer, currently resides at Althorp House.

Rather than bequeathing the property to his nephew in the future, the 62-year-old intends to transfer it to his eldest son, Louis, Viscount Althorp.

Louis Spencer (left) will inherit Althorp House (Image: Getty)

Louis, 32, has three older sisters, Lady Kitty, Lady Eliza, and Lady Amelia, yet under primogeniture laws, which stipulate that the eldest male inherits titles and estates, he is positioned to inherit Diana's childhood residence.

In 2015, the earl discussed his feelings about potentially passing the estate to his eldest daughter rather than 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."

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Althorp House is located within the Althorp Estate (Image: Getty)

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 served as the Spencer family's ancestral home since 1508, is also significant as the final resting place of Princess Diana.

The beloved Princess of Wales was interred on a small island within the ornamental lake known as The Round Oval, situated in the grounds of Althorp Park.

A pathway lined with thirty-six oak trees, each representing a year of her life, leads visitors to the Oval.

While Prince William and Prince Harry's mother was originally intended to be buried in the Spencer family vault, those plans were ultimately abandoned due to safety concerns.

The sprawling Althorp House, spanning 100,000 square feet, features 30 lavish bedrooms and a host of other remarkable features.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”