Earl Charles Spencer recently showcased a refreshed staircase at Althorp House, the grand estate where he and his sister, Princess Diana, spent their childhood. On March 25, the 61-year-old earl shared an image on Instagram highlighting the new handwoven carpet installed on the main stairs in the Saloon, the central hall.
“New midsection to the carpet on the main stairs in the Saloon at Althorp House. Handwoven and hopefully set to last for a century,” Spencer captioned the post. “The Spencer ‘S’ holding it all together nicely, I hope.” The carpet features vibrant crimson and navy tones with an intricate pattern, accented by a gold-embroidered ‘S’ symbolizing the family’s heritage.
Rich History of Althorp House
The Spencer family acquired the 13,000-acre estate in 1508 for £800, thanks to wealth from sheep farming. In the 18th century, the 1st Earl Spencer and his daughter, Lady Georgiana Spencer—later the Duchess of Devonshire—hosted extravagant gatherings there.
Open to visitors each July and August, Althorp House boasts a collection of over 100,000 books and walls lined with notable artworks, including Anthony Van Dyck’s War and Peace and a portrait of King James I by John de Critz. The Saloon staircase stands out as a highlight, once the setting for a 1986 photograph of Spencer’s father, John Spencer, the 8th Earl, and his stepmother, Raine, Countess Spencer.
A Lasting Family Legacy
Spencer views his role at Althorp as temporary. In a 2015 interview, he remarked, “I’m very conscious always that I’m just passing through.” He added a lighthearted note about his children: “I’ve still got little children ’cause I’ve got quite a range of kids. But they go down the main staircase on trays, you know, like breakfast trays, really fast. And I just think that’s great. You gotta enjoy the place!”
He shares seven children across three marriages: Lady Kitty (35), twins Lady Eliza and Lady Amelia (33), and Louis (32) from his first marriage to Victoria Aitken; Edmund (22) and Lara (20) from his second to Caroline Freud; and Lady Charlotte Diana (13) from his third to Countess Karen Spencer, from whom he recently separated.
Princess Diana’s Memorial
Althorp House holds special significance as the resting place of Princess Diana, mother of Princes William and Harry, who passed away in 1997. Her grave lies on a secluded, tree-shaded island amid the grounds. Earlier this month, a 14-foot magnolia tree was planted near the oval lake’s edge.
