Prince Harry and Prince William inherited a lot of their mother’s belongings when she sadly died in a car crash, but there’s one thing the pair will never inherit. Princess Diana was killed in a fatal crash in Paris on August 31, 1997, while her driver Henri Paul was fleeing the paparazzi. Henri and Diana’s boyfriend Dodi Fayed were also killed in the crash.
Harry and William received the bulk of Diana’s £13million fortune when she died as well as a lot of her jewellery. However, the brothers won’t be inheriting their mother’s childhood home, Althorp Estate, as it will instead be handed down to an actor. The property, which has been in the Spencer family since 1508, will be inherited by Harry and William’s cousin Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp. Louis is the son of Diana’s brother Earl Charles Spencer.
Louis has three older sisters, but he will be the one to inherit the estate due to the aristocracy’s system of primogeniture, where titles are passed down to the oldest boy. The Althorp Estate is where Diana grew up and also where she was laid to rest. The huge estate opens its doors to visitors every summer. Louis studied at the University of Edinburgh before starting his acting career at a drama school in Chiswick, London. He’s now represented by Tavistock Wood talent agency.
A source previously told The Telegraph: “He’s super private and gets on quietly with his thing. He’s a very talented actor and, I think, will be a brilliant one. You’d like him. He’s very low-key and genuine, decent and kind and tall.”
With Louis set to one day inherit Althorp Estate, the 30-year-old has already been attending Trustee meetings. His older sister Kitty Spencer has previously spoken about her feelings on Louis inheriting the property instead of her.
She told Town and Country magazine: “Primogeniture can be a tricky topic, because as times are changing, attitudes are as well. We’ve grown up understanding that it’s Louis to inherit, and Louis will do an incredible job.”
