Princess Diana's brother Charles, 9th Earl Spencer never shies away from sharing the history behind their family seat, Althorp House.
In his latest update, Charles shared a picture of the Oval Lake on the estate's 13,000-acre grounds, where his late sister was laid to rest following her death in 1997. The black-and-white snap was taken "approximately 150 years ago", according to Charles, and showed large trees surrounding the tranquil water.
The "Admiralty Summer House", as it was described in the handwritten note, was visible across the lake, but it has now been turned into a memorial where guests can leave flowers and remember the late People's Princess during the summer opening months.
Charles is preparing to close the estate again for winter, having opened the doors on 1 July, which was Diana's birthday, until 31 August, the anniversary of her death.
The Earl also recently announced his new memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, which will be released in September ahead of the 30th anniversary of her death to "tell the truth" about her life.
© InstagramPrincess Diana's tranquil final place of rest
Princess Diana was originally meant to be buried in the family vault in the nearby village of Great Brington, following the tradition of 20 generations of Spencers over five hundred years.
© GettyHowever, Charles said he had fears over her security, prompting him to change location to an island in the centre of the Oval Lake near an arboretum containing trees planted by her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.
© GettyIt was fitting considering Althorp had acted as Diana's childhood home, where she lived with her four siblings and where she met then-Prince Charles, who visited the estate while dating Diana's sister Lady Sarah Spencer in 1977.
In 1998, Charles reflected on the private location, which was only accessible for family via boat. He said the island would "act as a buffer against the interventions of the insane and ghoulish, the thick mud presenting a further line of defence. We all agreed that, with its beauty and tranquillity, this was the place for Diana to be."
© InstagramPrince Harry's private visits to his mother's grave
Prince Harry opened up about his wife Meghan Markle's first visit to his mother's final resting place in his memoir, Spare. He wrote: "I led Meg up the path, around a hedge, through the labyrinth. There it was, looming: the greyish white oval stone. No visit to this place was ever easy, but this one... Twenty-fifth anniversary. And Meg's first time. At long last I was bringing the girl of my dreams home to meet mum.
© Instagram"We hesitated, hugging, and then I went first. I placed flowers on the grave. Meg gave me a moment, and I spoke to my mother in my head, told her I missed her, asked her for guidance and clarity. Feeling that Meg might also want a moment, I went around the hedge, scanned the pond. When I came back, Meg was kneeling, eyes shut, palms against the stone. I asked, as we walked back to the boat, what she’d prayed for. Clarity, she said. And guidance."
The Sussexes recently returned in the summer of 2026, with photos showing them walking with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, and holding floral tributes.
