A farmhouse on the Althorp Estate — the ancestral home where Princess Diana spent her childhood — has been destroyed in a suspected arson attack, according to her brother, Charles Spencer.
In a statement shared on social media, Earl Spencer expressed shock and sadness:
“Stunned to learn that one of Althorp House’s farmhouses — fortunately unoccupied at the time — was apparently burnt down by vandals last night. With thanks to @northantsfire for doing their very best. So very sad that anyone would think this a fun thing to do.”
The fire broke out in the early hours of May 28 on Mill Lane in Kingsthorpe, Northampton. Emergency services were called at approximately 1:30 a.m. and arrived to find the two-storey building fully engulfed in flames. The structure, part of the wider Althorp estate grounds, was not inhabited at the time.
Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service deployed four crews to the scene. Firefighters in breathing apparatus worked through the night using hose-reel jets to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings. As of this morning, one crew remains at the site with a water bowser to extinguish lingering hotspots.
Althorp House remains home to Charles Spencer and is the final resting place of Princess Diana, whose grave lies on a private island on the estate.
The motive behind the suspected arson is unclear. Authorities have not confirmed whether a criminal investigation has been launched, but the incident has prompted concern over security and vandalism targeting heritage properties.
This attack on such a historic and personally significant estate adds a somber note to a place long associated with remembrance and royal legacy.