Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly considering staying at Princess Diana's ancestral home, Althorp House, during their upcoming visit to the United Kingdom with their two children. This would mark the first time the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have returned to Britain with Archie and Lilibet in four years.
The couple is expected to travel to the U.K. in July 2026 for celebrations marking the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027. Althorp House, located about an hour from Birmingham, is scheduled to be closed to visitors on July 10 and 11, coinciding with the Sussexes' expected dates in the country.
Experts suggest that a stay at Althorp would offer Prince Harry a private connection to his mother's legacy. "Harry can engage with his mother's story on his own terms, without the royal household's protocol," said British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard. "Althorp offers privacy, seclusion and a direct connection to his mother's memory, something Buckingham Palace, as a working royal landmark with a huge office complex, cannot provide."
Chard added that the estate provides a comfortable and private setting for the family. "It's also exactly the comfy luxury Meghan prefers, and a place Harry feels closest to his mum. The Sussexes can call the shots. Harry has spoken often about wanting Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet to know Diana's story."
Althorp is where Diana is buried, away from the public eye. The visit would occur shortly after the late Princess of Wales' July 1 birthday. For Lilibet, 5, whose middle name honors her grandmother, it could be a significant introduction to Diana's story.
Royal commentator Amanda Matta told Fox News Digital that choosing Althorp over a royal property would send a message. "Staying at Althorp instead of a royal property would definitely send a message that Harry is prioritizing a connection to Diana and his family's privacy over institutional alignment right now," Matta said.
King Charles III had previously offered the Sussexes accommodations on a royal estate, but there has been no public response to the offer. It was also reported that the monarch previously offered Harry a stay at Buckingham Palace, which he declined.
Matta noted that Althorp would be a suitable setting for Archie and Lilibet to learn about their grandmother. "It also allows for a private introduction to that side of the family without the pressure of official royal protocol and the need to navigate frosty Spencer-Windsor relations."
Hilary Fordwich, a British royal expert, commented that staying at Althorp could benefit the King. "It would be far better for them to stay at Althorp than at Buckingham Palace," she said. "Althorp would be preferred because any question of taxpayer funding is removed. The king can save face. The Sussexes would also be well away from Prince William, who is said to want nothing to do with them."
Prince Harry has stayed at Althorp previously, which is owned by his uncle, Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer.
The couple lost their taxpayer-funded police protection when they stepped back as senior working royals in 2020. Harry has challenged that decision in court, citing safety concerns for his wife and children.
While Harry's desire to connect with his late mother's memory is seen as genuine, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams suggested the Sussexes might also leverage the "Diana effect" to improve their image in Britain. "How the Sussexes handle this visit, if it occurs, will be pivotal in assessing their intentions," he said. "They haven’t succeeded in Hollywood, but they intend to turn the huge interest of the world’s media in their visit to their advantage."