A fresh photo taken at Princess Diana’s childhood home, Althorp, which is also her final resting place, has revealed a stern message to visitors and passers-by. An image shows a sign which reads: “Warning 24-hour security,” and the protection of this poignant site is something Diana’s brother, Earl Charles Spencer, takes very seriously.
The Earl is now the custodian of the sprawling estate, and he opens it once each year, for two months, for visitors to come and explore the fascinating property and grounds. While members of the public are unable to access the Oval Lake, which is where Diana’s body has been buried, they can pay their respects at a dedicated temple on the mainland.
A security sign is pictured on a wall on the grounds of Althorp House, in West Northamptonshire, taken on August 20, 2026. (@ AFP via Getty Images)
The extreme measure to ‘keep intruders away’
After Diana’s coffin was transported to the lake, the Earl decided to remove the bridge leading to it to enhance its security. Now, he and other members of the family must use a boat to access the sacred spot. Prince Harry revealed all in his memoir Spare, writing: “The bridge had been removed, to give my mother privacy, to keep intruders away.”
The Spencer family seat where Princess Diana spent her childhood (@ WireImage)
The 550-acre Northamptonshire estate is so picturesque and the 90-room property equally so. Charles often shares snaps from inside the residence online, showing off breathtaking spaces like his absolute favourite room – the sprawling, book-lined library complete with palatial chandeliers and a photograph of Diana proudly displayed on his desk. As well as the magnificent Saloon with its grand sweeping staircase and the beautiful Wootton Hall where a young Diana used to practice her tap dancing.
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The Princess has been laid to rest on a private island in the centre of an oval lake (@ Getty Images)
Althorp closed its doors to the public on 31 August, poignantly marking the exact date of the Princess’ passing. During the summer this year, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made an emotional visit to the grounds to lay flowers at her incredibly private island resting place, along with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Charles’ new book
Swan Song: Diana My Sister by Charles Spencer will be published in September
It has been 29 years since Princess Diana tragically died in Paris, and only now has Charles Spencer decided to properly pen his own words about his sister, with a brand-new book. Swan Song: Diana, My Sister will hit shelves this month, and there’s no doubt that Diana fans will be keen to read. In a deeply moving announcement, Charles revealed he is putting pen to paper to “tell the truth” about his iconic sibling from a breathtakingly intimate perspective, aiming to set the record straight once and for all against the untruths that have circulated for nearly three decades.