PRINCE Harry has visited the UK a number of times since quitting royal life and he’s said to have found his “UK haven” for his trips.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, finds refuge at Althorp – the 13,000-acre Grade 1 listed estate in West Northamptonshire – and is “likely” to be back there in April.
Prince Harry is said to have found a ‘UK haven’ for his stays when he comes to visit[/caption]
The Duke of Sussex has stayed at his late mother’s childhood home, Althorp[/caption]
Prince Harry has been invited to stay during UK visits by his uncle Charles, Earl Spencer[/caption]
This comes as Prince Harry remains distant from older brother Prince William, following his bombshell Spare memoir and tell-all Netflix documentary.
Royal author Phil Dampier told Fabulous: “Althorp now seems to be Prince Harry’s go to place to stay when he is in the UK.
“Althorp is far enough from London to give Harry a sense of freedom away from the spotlight, and he can hide away behind closed gates.
“It’s quite likely Harry will stay there when he is next in the UK for his court cases.”
The expert said Harry will likely base himself at Althorp for the Invictus Games in 2027, which are to be held in Birmingham and are a “striking distance” away.
This follows the Sussexes vacating Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, where they lived in the UK before they relocated to California.
Althorp was the family home of the late Princess Diana, and has been in the Spencer family for over 500 years.
Phil continued: “Obviously Harry feels close to his mother Princess Diana who is buried on the island in the grounds.
“I’m sure he’s spent many reflective hours there just being near her, bringing back so many memories and feelings for him.”
Currently the home and estate is run by Princess Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, and it will one day be passed to Prince Harry’s lookalike cousin, Louis, 31, whose title is Viscount Althorp.
The royal author continued: “Harry’s relationship with his uncle Earl Spencer, Diana’s brother, is also very important to him.
“He famously said he would look after Harry and William as part of their ‘blood family’ in his eulogy at Diana’s funeral.
“At the time some found that a controversial thing to say bearing in mind the Princes still had a father.
Althorp is far enough from London to give Harry a sense of freedom away from the spotlight, and he can hide away behind closed gates
Phil Dampier
“But as time has gone on, and with Harry estranged from both his brother and father, his relationship with Charles Spencer has become more important to him.
“Earl Spencer has supported and praised Harry for the Invictus Games, and he has reportedly told Harry and Meghan they can stay with him at any time and even make Althorp their UK base.”
Phil claimed that Prince William has also maintained a good relationship with his uncle and his aunts, Diana’s sisters.
However, he added: “But you get the impression Harry is much closer to Earl Spencer now than William is.
“To be brutally honest I think William would prefer Harry to stay at Althorp rather than in a royal palace.
“It makes it less complicated for him and easier for the King and all concerned.
“Eyebrows would be raised if a suite of rooms in Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle was opened up just for the Sussexes, such is their unpopularity with the general public.
“So although it doesn’t help to heal their rift, William is probably happier for Harry to be at arm’s length staying in Northamptonshire.”
Charles, centre, walked alongside William and Harry at Diana’s funeral in 1997[/caption]
The burial site of Princess Diana lies on a lake at Althorp[/caption]
Phil claims that Earl Spencer can “identify” with Prince Harry’s recent post-royal dramas, due to his own “tangled private life” hitting headlines.
In October, Charles confirmed that he is in a relationship with Norwegian archaeologist Cat Jarman, who is his podcast co-host.
The Earl has been married three times and has seven children from his marriages.
He revealed last June that he was divorcing his third wife Countess Karen Spencer, who he married in 2011 and shares daughter Lady Charlotte Diana Spencer with.
Charles has four children with first wife Victoria Lockwood, Lady Kitty Spencer, twins Lady Eliza Spencer and Lady Amelia Spencer and son Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp.
The Earl also has two children – The Hon. Edmund Spencer and Lady Lara Spencer – with second wife Caroline Freud.
Harry’s family feud
Princes William and Harry have not been in direct communication since the release of Harry’s controversial memoir, Spare, in January 2023.
Their last reported interaction was during the funeral of their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022, but conversations were said to be brief.
The feuding brothers reportedly did not speak to each other despite standing “virtually back to back” among mourners at their uncle’s memorial service last August.
The Duke of Sussex and his brother did not exchange a word at the memorial in Snettisham, Norfolk – and Harry stayed at Althorp during the UK stay.
One mourner said: “They were only five yards from each other.”
The brothers have been at loggerheads since Harry and wife Meghan quit royal duty in 2020 for a new life in the US, where they have launched a succession of barbs at the Royal Family.
Where is Princess Diana’s final resting place?
THE People’s Princess tragically died in a car crash on August 31, 1997, and her peaceful final resting place is at her childhood home.
Her grave is nestled on an island in the beautiful Oval Lake at Althorp House, Northampton.
Understandably, the grave holds great significance for her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.
Thousands of fans flock to the location each year to pay their respects to the late royal, and Meghan Markle has also visited.
Harry revealed in his memoir Spare that he took his wife to his mother’s final resting place in 2022, where they each had a private moment.
He wrote: “I was finally bringing the girl of my dreams home so she would meet my mother.”
