Althorp: A Royal Residence

Althorp was thrust into the media spotlight by the sudden, shocking death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Her brother, the Earl Spencer, was determined that Diana should be buried as a Spencer and not in a royal cemetery. After a flurry of often acrimonious behind the scenes negotiations, he got his way and on 6^th September 1997 Diana’s coffin was ‘brought home’ to Althorp. Experts and historians reveal the secrets behind what is one of Britain’s grandest and most controversial stately homes.

From humble beginnings as 15^th century sheep farmers, the Spencers grew into an incredibly prosperous and influential family with Althorp as their family seat. The house was dedicated to impressing and entertaining royalty as well as the great and the good of British society. At the 1755 birthday party of one future Earl, some 11,000 pints of beer were consumed whilst the birthday boy crept off to get secretly married!

Over the years, VIPS such as Winston Churchill, movie stars and Nelson Mandela have all visited Althorp – some for the grand social events held there, others – like Harry and Megan- have come to pay homage at the grave of Diana.