Neither Prince Harry Nor Prince William to Inherit Princess Diana’s House — But Here's Who Will
Though the latter is next in line for the throne, unfortunately, Prince Harry and Prince William will never get their mother Princess Diana's childhood home. Instead, Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp, the nephew of Diana and Charles, will inherit the Althorp Estate, which has been in the Spencer family since 1508. As reported by the Irish Star, the Viscount, 30, is the heir apparent to the estate as a result of the primogeniture system used by the nobility, even though he has three elder sisters.; the oldest son, and not the firstborn, receives the titles.
Primogeniture law in UK determines that Louis Spencer, the Viscount Althorp will inherit the estate.
— Bree Robertson (@BreeRob54165494) September 7, 2024
Diana spent her youth on the expansive 13,500-acre estate, and it is also the site of her funeral following her untimely death in 1997. Careful preservation efforts throughout the years have ensured that Althorp will always stand as a symbol of the Spencer family's heritage. Today, however, it welcomes guests each summer.
Furthermore, Tatler named Louis, an actor who prefers to stay out of the spotlight, one of their 'top eligible bachelors' for 2019. Earl Spencer, Diana's brother, and his first wife, Victoria Lockwood, are the parents of Louis Frederick John Spencer, who was born on March 14, 1994. The Mirror states that this makes him the nephew of Lady Sarah McCorquodale, Baroness Jane Fellowes, and the late Diana.
Although Louis was born in London, his childhood took a picturesque turn when, after his parents' divorce, the family relocated to Cape Town, South Africa. He allegedly went to one of the most expensive private institutions in town: the illustrious Diocesan College. After finishing high school, Louis moved back to the UK to attend the University of Edinburgh and sharpen his acting chops at a Chiswick, London, theatre school.
75 miles from London is Althorp, a Grade I stately home and estate which was the childhood home & final resting place of Princess Diana. Althorp has been owned by the Spencer family for over 500 years and sits on 13,000 acres of land, whilst the house has over 90 rooms pic.twitter.com/RnG8X8Fnf5
— MAXIMILIAN KILWORTH (@MaxKilworth) August 8, 2023
According to a source who spoke with The Telegraph, the young man is supposedly contracted to the Tavistock Wood talent agency. The source spilled, "He's super private and gets on quietly with his thing. He's a very talented actor and, I think, will be a brilliant one. You'd like him. He's very low-key and genuine, decent and kind – and tall."
Although they do not legally own the property, William and Harry have deep roots in Althorp; in 2011, William even paid a visit to his mother's tomb before marrying Kate Middleton. Harry also took his future wife Meghan Markle to see Diana's tomb on oval lake; he wrote about the event in his book Spare, which became a bestseller.
At the back of the park at @AlthorpHouse - this is where the ancient settlement of “Ulla’s Drop” was, that gave “Althorp” it’s name. It was apparently wiped out in the 1340s, by the Black Death. You can see shapes on the ground where the medieval houses once stood. pic.twitter.com/B3rn41m8c6
— Charles Spencer (@cspencer1508) July 23, 2020
Nevertheless, famous socialite and model Kitty Spencer, who is older than Louis, has spoken out against the primogeniture practice that guarantees Louis the family fortune. She said, "Primogeniture can be a tricky topic, because as times are changing, attitudes are as well. We've grown up understanding that it's Louis to inherit, and Louis will do an incredible job."
Meetings of the Trustee for the enormous and historically significant estate that Louis will inherit are already taking place. On the other hand, the primogeniture isn't a deciding factor for the nobility anymore. The late Queen's strong support for the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 guaranteed that the line of succession for any Royal offspring born does not take gender into consideration.