Snubbed By Royals, Prince Harry Stays at Princess Diana’s Childhood Home During UK Visit
Prince Harry stayed at Princess Diana’s childhood home, Althorp, on August 29 while visiting the UK for a memorial honoring his late uncle on the Spencer side of his family, Lord Robert Fellowes. He reportedly did not visit with any royal family members. He also sat separately from his brother, Prince William, during the service.
Prince Harry stayed at Princess Diana’s childhood home while visiting the UK
People Magazine reported that Prince Harry stayed with his uncle Charles Spencer at Althorp House on August 29 when visiting the UK for a memorial service for his uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes. Lord Robert Fellowes was married to Lady Jane Spencer, Princess Diana’s sister, for more than 40 years.
Lady Jane Spencer is one of Princess Diana’s two sisters. The other is Lady Sarah McCorquodale. Diana and her brother Charles were the youngest siblings in their family.
Since the couple exited their roles as senior royals in 2020, Harry has visited the United Kingdom alone a handful of times without his wife, Meghan Markle. However, he and Meghan no longer live at Frogmore House. Therefore, Harry stays in hotels and is reportedly not been invited to at any royal residence when he is in the UK.
People reported that Prince Harry was not expected to attend the service. But due to his close relationship with Princess Diana’s family he paid his respects. However, his stay at Althorp House was unsurprising.
Prince Harry and Prince William attended the memorial but reportedly did not speak
People Magazine reports that the memorial for Lord Robert Fellowes was held at St. Mary’s Church in Snettisham, Norfolk. The outlet writes that the brothers, who remain estranged, sat separately with different members of the Spencer family.
People reported on commentary from one of the memorial’s attendees. They stated, “Most people were astounded that Harry came. He was on remarkably good form — and you could tell he was very pleased to see everybody. And he was very pleased that he had come over.”
The last time the pair were together was for the King’s Coronation in May 2023. However, they sat separately. The last time William and Harry were photographed together was at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in September 2022.
The Spencer family continues to hold Prince Harry under their wing
Upon Princess Diana’s 1997 death, the Spencer family vowed to remain an integral part of Prince Harry and Prince William’s lives. During a speech at his sister’s funeral, Charles Spencer famously said that the princes’ “blood family” would continue “the imaginative, loving way in which you were steering these two exceptional young men.”
While privately, it is unclear how much contact the Spencer family had with William and Harry after their sister’s death, there have been public moments that show the ties between them remain. Charles, Lady Jane, and Lady Sarah attended Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011 and Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle seven years later.
Jane even gave a reading during Meghan and Harry’s nuptials. Jane and Sarah also attended the christening of Harry’s first child, Prince Archie.
Harry discussed bringing Meghan Markle to Althrop to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Diana’s death. He wrote in his autobiography Spare, “I was bringing the girl of my dreams home to meet Mum.”
Princess Diana is buried in the middle of a tree-covered island at Althorp Estate, known as Oval Lake Grave. It is only accessible by boat, and the grave is unmarked. Charles honored his sister’s death anniversary with an Instagram tribute on August 31.
Most recently, Jane, Charles, and several other Spencer family members attended a service for Prince Harry’s Invictus Games at St. Paul’s Cathedral in May. No royal family members were present at that event.
