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Princess Diana's childhood home up for rent

<p>The house Princess Diana spent her childhood and teenage years in is now available for the public to rent. </p> <p>Althorp House, located in West Northamptonshire in England, is owned by Diana's brother Earl Spencer, who has lived on the sprawling property as custodian of the estate since 1992. </p> <p>The expansive property has been listed for royal fans with deep pockets to rent on <a href="https://www.elysian-estates.co.uk/althorp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elysian Estates</a>, an upmarket equivalent of Airbnb.</p> <p>Althorp House, which is a 90 minute drive out of London, was built in 1508 and has been in the Spencer family for 19 generations.</p> <p>Lady Diana lived in the 90-room stately home for most of her childhood and teenage years, before she married the then-Prince Charles in 1981.</p> <p>Not just one grand property, the estate covers 13,000 acres of countryside as it encompasses cottages, farms, woodlands and villages, which are open to visitors but only at certain times of the year.</p> <p>Now, the home is once again available to rent via Elysian Estates.</p> <p>"Althorp offers unparalleled levels of service, privacy and luxury to rival the finest properties anywhere in the world; yet retains the truly welcoming and homely feel that makes Althorp so special," the listing says.</p> <p>"Walk in the footsteps of kings and queens, feast or celebrate in spectacular surroundings, marvel at the sense of history and artwork, and slumber in pure luxury."</p> <p>In the main house, there are six state bedrooms to choose from offering "a level of opulence befitting royalty, with these very rooms playing as much a part of English history as any royal palace".</p> <p>Prices for the rental are not yet publicly available as an enquiry must be sent to reserve the opulent property.</p> <p>The listing stated that the stay includes "butler service, a team of private chefs and housekeeping, with a dedicated concierge service".</p> <p>Althorp is today most famous for being the final resting place of Princess Diana following her death in Paris.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Instagram</em></p>

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"Those Spencer eyes": Princess Di's brother shares rare 120-year-old family photo

<p>Princess Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, has shared a sentimental photo of their grandfather and his siblings in 1902.</p> <p>Charles shared the picture on Twitter and fans of the royal family were quick to note the striking resemblance between Charles’ grandfather and his own nephew, Prince William.</p> <p>“Your Grandfather, Prince William and Prince George look a lot alike! A really charming photo,” wrote a fan, extending their take to Prince William’s nine-year-old son, Prince George.</p> <p>The black-and-white image shows Charles’ grandfather, Albert Edward John Spencer, alongside his great-aunt Lavinia and great-uncle Cecil, dressed up in period suits and a frilly dress for a fancy-dress party. Charles, who lives at Althorp House with his wife Karen and daughter Charlotte, captioned the image, “Love the family photographs I find here at Althorp”.</p> <p>Fans praised Charles for the rare insight into the family, with one tweeting, “wonderful memories to cherish. Thank you for sharing”.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Love the family photographs I find here at Althorp. My grandfather (left), my great-aunt Lavinia (middle) and my great-uncle Cecil, about to set off for a fancy dress party in c.1902. <a href="https://t.co/pwQ9NVIt75">pic.twitter.com/pwQ9NVIt75</a></p> <p>— Charles Spencer (@cspencer1508) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspencer1508/status/1613987380591038464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>Many were amazed at the similarities to be found between Albert and Prince William, but the fun didn’t stop there, with some even likening Lavinia to the late Diana, Princess of Wales.</p> <p>“Lavinia; I can see Diana in her expression. Great photos! Treasured memories,” wrote one supporter.</p> <p>“Those Spencer eyes,” wrote another, ending their message for the royals with a red heart emoji, a sentiment shared by many.</p> <p>The 9th Earl of Spencer is well known for his Instagram, where he regularly uploads rare pictures of his family and views of his home and its stunning surroundings in Northamptonshire. In an upcoming series helmed by Charles’ wife Karen, on the upkeep and experience of being lady of the house, she joined fans in praising his “ability to tell the history of the family".</p> <p>“Fabulous that you are creating an online journey with your photography finds!!” Praised one fan.</p> <p>“The quality is so good, normally in these old photos they are all cracked and you can’t see the faces very well. Thanks for sharing it’s like taking a step back in history - love it,” said another.</p> <p>The latest snap comes in the wake of Harry’s memoir release and subsequent TV interviews, at a time when fans of the family are more than eager for some positive news, with many sharing their gratitude to Charles for the change in pace.</p> <p><em>Image: Twitter</em></p> <p> </p>

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Princess Diana's childhood home catches fire

<p dir="ltr">Soaring temperatures in the UK have caused fires to spark across the nation - with London’s firefighters recording their busiest day since WWII - with one of the many homes at risk including at Althorp House, the childhood home of Princess Diana.</p> <p dir="ltr">The home is now owned by Earl Charles Spencer, Diana’s brother. His wife, Karen Spencer, shared the news of the blaze on social media.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Fire in one of our fields today,” Countess Spencer wrote in an Instagram story on Tuesday.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-bc80c0bc-7fff-87a4-506b-d99e4e28410d"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">She later shared a follow-up video reassuring followers the situation was “under control” thanks to the “amazing” local fire department and team at Althorp.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/diana-fire2.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Karen Spencer documented the fire that sparked at Althorp House and praised the “amazing” work of firefighters in quenching it. Images: Instagram</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Later that day, Earl Spencer posted a photo on his Instagram page of the home after it began to rain.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-c3f339c8-7fff-b093-203d-d766ca2603ec"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“Althorp enjoying a few drops of rain tonight that follow the hottest recorded day England has ever had,” he captioned the shot.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CgNO32OsTdC/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CgNO32OsTdC/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Charles Spencer (@charles.earl.spencer)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The country experienced temperatures of 40.3 C in Coningsby on Tuesday, breaking 2019’s record by 1.6 degrees.</p> <p dir="ltr">The heat was followed by a welcome downpour that brought temperatures down to 19 C overnight in London.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, told Sky News it prompted a huge surge in calls to the city’s emergency services.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Yesterday was the busiest day for the fire services in London since the Second World War,” he told the program on Wednesday.</p> <p dir="ltr">The fire service received more than 2,600 calls - significantly higher than its usual 350-600 a day - with 41 properties destroyed and 16 firefighters injured.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The challenge in London is we have a lot of grass, a lot of green spaces and a lot of that impinges on properties. And when you have not had rain for a long period, when the grass is incredibly dry, fires can start very quickly and spread even faster because of wind and that leads to properties being destroyed,” Khan said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“A lot of the problems we have here today are a direct consequence of climate change, excess death because of the heat wave.</p> <p dir="ltr">“A lot of these problems can be solved by tackling climate change expediently, rather than kicking the can down the road.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Though the heat is expected to continue over the next couple weeks, the 14-day forecast has predicted significantly lower temperatures with tops of 28 C.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f7476775-7fff-f53f-ed8c-ed22aadd874a"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty Images / Instagram</em></p>

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Why Princess Diana's niece Lady Kitty Spencer could lose her inheritance

<p>Princess Diana’s younger brother Charles Spencer has revealed he will be planning to follow a long-kept tradition in his family by leaving the Spencer family estate to his son despite having an older daughter. </p> <p>The father-of-seven admitted to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/" target="_blank"><em>The Sunday Telegraph</em></a> he wishes to leave Althorp Estate to his eldest son Viscount Louis Spencer, 25, instead of his eldest child, Lady Kitty Spencer, 28. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7829293/diana-4.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/2b3611d3e9e74027b1c6d49cdc372959" />Charles Spencer and Princess Diana.</em></p> <p>The 9th Earl Spencer says he sees no issues with the decision, which is tied to the archaic tradition of male primogeniture where the eldest son inherits property, titles and fortunes. </p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7829294/diana-5.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/a93e86f0fbe441b4a343cccb52badd98" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Victoria Aitken, Lady Kitty Spencer and Viscount Althorp. </em></p> <p>“Is it any fairer that the eldest child gets it instead of the eldest male? Whatever you say is a selection,” he said. </p> <p>Charles inherited the estate over his eldest sisters, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, Jane Fellowes, Baroness Fellowes and Princess Diana.</p> <p>The Althorp Estate was the home of Princess Diana before she married into the royal family and it is located in the district of Daventry in Northamptonshire. </p> <p>The estate includes a Grade I listed stately home, along with 50 square kilometres of cottages, woodland and farms.</p> <p>Princess Diana’s grave can be found in the middle of an ornamental lake on the state – a location chosen to defend the royal’s remains from ghouls. </p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7829296/diana-6.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/950a5d30f14349b397267b2e3830d08c" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Charles Spencer and his wife Victoria Aitken (m. 1989-1997) with their 3 daughters : Kitty Eleanor, Eliza Victoria and Katya Amelia, attending a horse show at Althorp house, Northamptonshire.</em></p> <p>A memorial for visitors is available for those wishing to pay their respects to the beloved princess. </p> <p>The home recently became available to rent, however, it does come at a hefty price – just one night's stay will set you back a staggering NZD$46,000.</p>

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Stay at childhood home of Princess Diana

<p>You can now experience an intimate part of Princess Diana’s life, with Althorp Estate welcoming guests to stay in the beloved royal’s cherished childhood home.</p> <p>But the experience doesn’t come cheap. A weekend on the grounds costs $40,000 for a couple or a whopping $250,000 for a group of 18.</p> <p>That being said, if you’ve got some particularly deep pockets, the property is really something else, with a whopping 90 rooms including a chapel and a library and a world-class art collection to admire.</p> <p>Diana’s brother Earl Charles Spencer, and his American wife, Countess Karen Spencer, came up with the idea as a fundraising opportunity for her charity, Whole Child, which benefits orphaned children around the world.</p> <p>The Earl explained, "I've always thought of this house as contributing. It's not just a little bastion or fortress of privilege."</p> <p>To see the photos of the incredible property scroll through the gallery above. Doesn’t it look like an incredible place to live (or spend a weekend)!</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/news/news/2016/05/duke-and-duchess-of-cambridge-pet-names/"><em><strong>Revealed: the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s nicknames for each other</strong></em></a></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/news/news/2016/05/what-you-didnt-notice-about-this-royal-photo/"><em><strong>The one thing no one noticed about this royal photo</strong></em></a></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2016/05/10-photos-of-the-royal-family-at-the-chelsea-flower-show/">10 best photos of the Royal Family at the 2016 Chelsea Flower Show</a></strong></em></span></p>

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