Princess Diana‘s brother, Earl Charles Spencer, is proving that he’s as despicably greedy as he was portrayed in the tabloids. According to the Sunday People, Charles is renting out the estate that Diana used to live in and was buried at [the Althorp estate in Northamptonshire, England] for a ridiculous $40,175.
According to travel magazine Conde Nast, approximately fifty people can stay at residence at the same time, and the report claims, “It does not get much grander than this. Seat of the Spencer family and childhood home of Diana, Princess of Wales, the property has a series of staterooms, a library and a picture gallery that can seat 200 for dinner. Sleeps 50, from £10,000 per week.”
Initially, Althorp was closed to the public because Charles reportedly didn’t want to ‘exploit’ his sister’s memory, but it’s now clear that he was just waiting for the right monetary incentives. A friend of the late Princess criticized Charles to the Sunday People, explaining, “The earl closed Althorp to the public because he didn’t want to exploit his sister’s memory but he’s doing much the same by renting out rooms. By staying there, people are simply helping him make money.”
No, duh. I understand that it’s been a while since Diana died, but this is her brother, her own flesh and blood. It just goes to show you that when it comes to money, even family can’t be trusted to uphold your legacy. Whatever Charles uses as an excuse for doing this, I’m surprised that Prince William and Prince Harry are letting him get away with this. However, they might not be able to do much legally to shut this down, especially since it’s already in operation.
What do you guys think? Do you think it’s alright that Charles is taking advantage of his sister’s name to make money? Or do you think it’s greedy and disgusting? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
UPDATE: The Althorp Estate has politely requested that CDL publish their response the story above:
“1976 was the first year that Althorp was actively and publicly marketed for commercial visits, with overnight paying guests in all available and suitable bedrooms, by an agent. This business has therefore been on-going for 37 years.
There was coverage of this new development, back then, in the British press, including a photocall and interview with the Late Earl Spencer at Althorp.
Althorp has been available on the same basis ever since, through various agents, who have advertised such availability as they see fit – through literature, at trade fairs, and on the internet (since it became a common marketing tool – i.e. in the last few years).
This form of client access is accepted practice for many owners of Britain’s historic houses, who do their best to maintain the nation’s and their family heritage, as you can see from the websites of many of those homes, and the agencies that represent them.
For example, Belvoir Castle (owned by The Duke and Duchess of Rutland), Knowsley Hall (owned by The Earl and Countess of Derby), and Sudeley Castle (owned by Lord and Lady Ashcombe) are all available for similar bookings. There are many dozens of other privately-owned, historic, houses that offer this service – but not many of them, of course, have done so for as long as Althorp.
Earl Spencer and the Spencer Family’s Trustees reserve all their legal rights.”
A Spokesperson for The Althorp Estate
Libby Perry
Media and Literary Festival Manager, Althorp
