Prince William and Prince Harry may always have a special connection to Princess Diana’s childhood home, but neither son will inherit the historic estate where their mother was laid to rest.

Althorp, the Spencer family’s ancestral home in Northamptonshire, has belonged to the family for more than 500 years. Diana lived there from the age of 14 after her father, John Spencer, became the 8th Earl Spencer and inherited the estate.

The property later became even more closely linked to Diana’s legacy after her death in 1997, when she was buried on a private island in the middle of Althorp’s Oval Lake.

Despite that connection, the estate will remain with the Spencer family line rather than passing to Diana’s sons.

Who Will Inherit Althorp?

Althorp is currently owned by Diana’s younger brother, Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer.

When Charles dies, the estate is expected to pass to his son, Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp, who will become the next Earl Spencer.

That means Diana’s sons, William and Harry, will not inherit the property, even though their mother spent part of her childhood there and is buried on the estate.

The same succession applies to the famous Spencer tiara, which Diana wore at her 1981 wedding to then-Prince Charles. The family heirloom is also expected to eventually pass to Louis.

The tradition goes back generations. Charles himself inherited Althorp from his father, Earl Johnnie Spencer, despite having three older sisters, including Diana.

Charles’ eldest daughter, Lady Kitty Spencer, previously acknowledged the tradition, saying she was comfortable with her brother eventually taking responsibility for the family estate.

Why Is Princess Diana Buried At Althorp?

After Diana died in a Paris car crash on August 31, 1997, Charles Spencer decided to have his sister buried on Oval Island, surrounded by the lake at Althorp.

The location was deliberately chosen to give Diana a quiet and private resting place.

Charles later explained that there was intense public emotion surrounding Diana’s death, and he was concerned about finding a location where she could be buried safely and peacefully.

In his book Althorp: The Story of an English House, Charles described the island’s remote setting as an important layer of protection around his sister’s grave.

Diana’s final resting place is accessible only by boat, making it far more private than a public memorial.

William And Harry Can Still Visit Their Mother

Although William and Harry will not inherit Althorp, Charles has made it clear that his nephews can visit Diana’s grave whenever they want.

He previously said it was important to him that the brothers have a peaceful place where they could spend time with their mother.

“It is, luckily, very tranquil here, and they can come and go as they wish whenever they want,” Charles said.

He has also spoken about visiting Diana’s gravesite himself, describing the location as a peaceful and secure place for his sister.

Diana Once Hoped To Live At Althorp

There is another emotional connection between Diana and the estate.

After her divorce from then-Prince Charles was finalized in 1996, Diana reportedly hoped she might be able to live a more normal life at Althorp.

Her brother said she had her heart set on a three-bedroom house on the estate. However, security concerns made the property unsuitable, and Charles said he offered her other options on the estate instead.

Just over a year after her divorce was finalized, Diana died.

In the end, she did return to Althorp, but not in the way she had once imagined.

Today, her grave remains on the estate, while the Spencer family home is set to pass to the next generation of the Spencer family through Louis Spencer.

For William and Harry, Althorp will therefore remain their mother’s final resting place rather than an inheritance they will one day own.