Why Prince Harry and Prince William Won’t Inherit Princess Diana’s Childhood Home
When Princess Diana died in 1997, Princes William and Harry inherited most of her £13 million fortune, including money, jewelry, and personal belongings. The amount grew to over £20 million through investments.
However, they will not inherit Diana’s childhood home, the Althorp Estate in Northamptonshire, where she grew up and is buried. Instead, the estate—worth an estimated £100 million—will go to their cousin Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp, the son of Diana’s brother Charles Spencer.
This is due to the tradition of male primogeniture, which dictates that titles and estates are inherited by the eldest male heir, regardless of birth order or gender. Louis has three older sisters, including Lady Kitty Spencer, but the estate will still pass to him.
Earl Spencer has said he understands the issues with the tradition but believes it helps keep estates like Althorp intact across generations.
Despite this, the Spencer siblings remain close. Louis even walked his sister Kitty down the aisle at her wedding, as their father did not attend.
Princess Diana’s grave lies on a private island at Althorp. Prince Harry visited the site in 2022 with Meghan, marking the 25th anniversary of Diana’s death, and described the visit in his memoir Spare.
Harry has also credited his inheritance from Diana as helping him and Meghan transition to life in California after stepping back from royal duties.
Earl Spencer remains a supporter of Harry and has publicly defended him. The Spencer family continues to share strong ties, despite royal tensions.