Prince Harry and his family stayed at Princess Diana's ancestral home, Althorp Estate, during a recent visit to the United Kingdom, a decision that royal experts suggest underscores a strained relationship with the Royal Family. Meghan Markle shared images of their stay, including their children, Archie and Lilibet, visiting Diana's burial site on the estate.
This choice of accommodation, after being unable to secure a stay at Buckingham Palace, indicates a growing reliance on Diana's family for support, according to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams. "The Windsors and the Spencers have a superficially polite relationship. If you look deeper, there is clearly no love lost," Fitzwilliams told The Daily Mail. He added that the Spencers appear to be closer to Harry than his brother, Prince William, and that Earl Spencer serves as an "ally" for the Sussexes.
The visit provided Harry and Meghan's children an opportunity to connect with a place tied to their late grandmother. Lilibet was photographed walking through the estate's grounds near the island where Diana is buried, with Harry, Archie, and bouquets of flowers. This visit also offered a poignant reminder of Harry's complex relationship with the Royal Family.
Fitzwilliams suggested that Harry's closeness with the Spencers could cause concern for the Royal Family, noting that the Sussexes have been notably silent since meeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla. He also pointed to Prince William's public polo match attendance with Catherine on the day of the meeting with their father as a potential signal of disapproval regarding the King's decision to meet with his grandchildren.
During previous visits, Harry has also opted to stay with Earl Spencer, including in 2024 for the funeral of Diana's brother-in-law, Lord Robert Fellowes, after reportedly declining an offer of accommodation at Buckingham Palace. This pattern reinforces the perception of a significant breakdown in relations with both his brother and his father.
The deep bond between Harry and Earl Spencer is further evidenced by Harry's past consideration of changing his family name to Spencer. While legal hurdles made the proposal unfeasible, the fact that he consulted his uncle highlights the extent of his estrangement from the Windsor family. Harry also expressed gratitude for Earl Spencer's support in the acknowledgements of his memoir, Spare.
According to former BBC royal correspondent Michel Cole, there has historically been a degree of distance between the Spencer and Windsor families. He recalled an instance at Princess Diana's 1997 funeral when Earl Spencer replaced the flag covering Diana's coffin with the Spencer standard, a symbolic act that underscored the separation between the two families.
The Sussexes' UK visit was preceded by a chaotic situation regarding accommodation, with an invitation to stay at Buckingham Palace being withdrawn. Meghan and the children entered the UK separately and discreetly due to security concerns. Following their European trip, Harry, Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet had a private meeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove, the King's private estate. This was reportedly the first time Charles had seen his daughter-in-law and grandchildren since 2022. Highgrove holds significant childhood memories for Harry.
Althorp Estate, with its 13,000 acres, holds particular significance for Harry as the childhood home of Diana and her siblings. In his memoir, Harry described Meghan visiting Diana's grave at Althorp in 2017 to seek clarity and guidance. The estate continues to be a place of reflection and connection to his late mother for Harry and his family.