Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, to visit Althorp House in the UK during a recent European summer vacation. The family visited the childhood home and burial site of Diana, Princess of Wales, as revealed in a series of Instagram photos shared by the Duchess of Sussex.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex documented their travels through a collection of images captioned Summer Holiday,
which showcased the family spending time in Portugal and the United Kingdom. Among the photos, several images show the family exploring the grounds of Althorp House, the historic Northamptonshire estate belonging to the Spencer family, which has been owned by the family for more than 500 years.
The Visit to Althorp House and Oval Lake
The photos reveal Prince Harry, 41, and 7-year-old Prince Archie walking down a tree-lined path, while both carry large bouquets of flowers. Another image depicts Archie walking barefoot across the estate at sunset.
While not explicitly confirmed by the couple, the presence of the flowers has led to reports that the family visited the burial site of Princess Diana. The grave is located on a secluded island in the middle of the estate’s Oval Lake. Princess Diana, who died in a 1997 car crash in Paris, is buried on this island within the estate.
The Sussexes stayed at Althorp as guests of Harry’s uncle, Earl Spencer. Another snap from the trip appears to show Cat Jarman, the new wife of Diana’s brother Charles Spencer.
Privacy and Access to the Burial Site
Princess Diana’s grave is not accessible to the public, though Althorp maintains a separate memorial on the grounds for visitors. Charles Spencer previously explained that the decision to bury his sister at the center of the ornamental lake provided a buffer against public intrusion.
There was such a whipped-up feeling of emotion everywhere that I was very worried about where we could safely bury her.
— Charles Spencer
Despite the general restriction on public access, the Earl of Spencer previously told People magazine that Prince William and Prince Harry can visit the site whenever they wish, noting that it is very tranquil there.
Family Reunions and UK Security
The visit to Althorp was part of a broader trip to the UK, which included a reunion with King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House, a country estate west of London. This meeting marked the first time Archie and Lilibet had seen their grandfather since Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022.
The trip occurred as Harry visited the UK.
The reunion with the King took place on the same afternoon that Prince William attended a charity polo match at Windsor, a detail noted as highlighting the continued rift between the two brothers and the strained relationship Harry has with relatives including King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Catherine, Princess of Wales.
European Vacation Highlights
Before arriving in the UK, the family vacationed in Portugal, where they enjoyed idyllic scenes on the beach.
- Prince Harry throwing Princess Lilibet into a swimming pool.
- The family taking strolls and hitting the waves at a beach.
- Meghan, 44, reclining on a sun lounger next to the pool, cuddling and gazing at the family’s Beagle, Mamma Mia, who is thought to have traveled to Europe with them.
- Prince Archie sitting in the cockpit of a plane surrounded by pilots.
- The Duke and Duchess laughing together at a dinner table.
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