Lady Diana’s childhood estate set on fire: damage to Althorp House

Vandalism at the historic Spencer mansion in Northamptonshire: one of the farms destroyed. The princess is buried on the estate, a symbol of her childhood

A serious act of vandalism has hit the historic Althorp House estate in Northamptonshire, the Spencer family’s residence since the 16th century and Princess Diana’s childhood home. According to Charles Spencer, brother of the former Princess of Wales, one of the estate’s farmhouses was set on fire by unknown assailants during the night. The building was fortunately empty at the time of the fire.

Denunciation by Charles Spencer: ‘A shocking act’.
Charles Spencer himself made the incident known via a post on X, in which he shared pictures of the damage caused by the flames. ‘I was stunned to learn that one of the farms in Althorp was apparently burnt down by vandals. It is really sad that anyone would think this is a fun thing to do,’ he commented, thanking the fire brigade for their timely intervention.

Adey Greeno, the estate’s long-time gamekeeper, also confirmed the arson motive for the fire, pointing out that the building will have to be demolished for safety reasons. ‘How sad, the world we live in,’ he wrote.

A symbolic place linked to the memory of Diana
Althorp House is the place where Diana lived as a child, together with her brother Charles and sisters Jane Fellowes and Sarah McCorquodale, after their parents separated. The princess remained on the estate until her marriage to Charles, then Prince of Wales, in 1981.

Within the vast 5,665-hectare estate is also Diana’s tomb, located on a small island in the middle of Lake Oval, which is not accessible to the public. However, those who wish to pay tribute to her can visit the memorial called the Temple, which opened in July 1998 and is open to some 150,000 visitors annually.

A tribute to her memory in the heart of the estate
The path leading to the lake where the princess is buried is adorned with 36 oak trees, planted to represent each year of her life. The area is also adorned with hundreds of white water lilies and roses, symbols of purity and remembrance.

The fire that hit Althorp did not directly affect the main residence or the burial site, but it represents a severe blow to a site rich in personal and historical significance, linked to the figure of Diana and the mourning still alive in the collective memory.

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(Photo: © AndKronos)