Who Will Inherit Princess Diana's Childhood Home? Not Prince William, Harry
Instead, the sprawling 13,000-acre estate in Northamptonshire, which has been in the Spencer family since 1508, will go to Diana's nephew, Louis, Viscount Althorp, the son of her brother Charles Spencer, the current Earl Spencer.
Though Princess Diana is buried on the Althorp estate, the property follows the rules of primogeniture, an age-old system in which the eldest male inherits family titles and land, regardless of birth order.
Louis has three older sisters, Lady Kitty, Lady Eliza, and Lady Amelia, but tradition dictates the estate will pass to him.
Charles Spencer addressed this earlier, saying, "If I chose Kitty, it would be against all the tradition that goes with Althorp. It's just the way it is. I get the problems with it as a concept. I also get the strengths of it having worked to date."
Lady Kitty told Tatler magazine, "I'm totally pro-gender equality. But I'm quite happy that that's [going to be] my brother's responsibility. I just think it's the correct way."
"I like that the house stays within the same family, with the same surname. I wouldn't want it any other way for the Spencers. And I just know my brother is going to do an impeccable job."
Princess Diana is buried on a small island in the middle of the Oval Lake at Althorp. The burial site is closed to the public, a decision Charles said was intentional, both for security and peace.
When Princess Diana died, her estate was left primarily to her sons. It was split equally between the two. The funds were placed in trusts and invested, allowing each son to inherit roughly 10 million pounds by the time they reached their 30s.
Prince William and Harry were also given personal items belonging to their mother. These included iconic keepsakes such as her wedding dress, a silk taffeta gown with a 25-foot train, as well as dozens of dresses, designer outfits, and two diamond tiaras. The brothers were each allowed to choose a specific item from Diana's jewellery collection: William chose her Cartier watch, while Harry initially chose her sapphire and diamond engagement ring.
Years later, Harry reportedly gave the ring to William, who used it to propose to Kate Middleton.
The brothers also inherited sentimental items. Among them were handwritten letters, photographs, and the original lyrics and score to 'Candle in the Wind,' Elton John's tribute song performed at Diana's funeral.
Prince Harry later revealed that the inheritance he received from Diana helped him and his wife, Meghan Markle, move to California in 2020 after stepping back from royal duties. "I brought what my mom left me," he told Oprah Winfrey in their 2021 interview. "And without that, we would not have been able to do this... I think she saw it coming. I certainly felt her presence throughout this whole process."
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NDTV
10 hours ago
- NDTV
Who Will Inherit Princess Diana's Childhood Home? Not Prince William, Harry
Princess Diana's sons, Prince William and Harry, inherited many of her belongings and financial assets after her death in 1997. But her childhood home, the Althorp estate, will not pass to either of them. Instead, the sprawling 13,000-acre estate in Northamptonshire, which has been in the Spencer family since 1508, will go to Diana's nephew, Louis, Viscount Althorp, the son of her brother Charles Spencer, the current Earl Spencer. Though Princess Diana is buried on the Althorp estate, the property follows the rules of primogeniture, an age-old system in which the eldest male inherits family titles and land, regardless of birth order. Louis has three older sisters, Lady Kitty, Lady Eliza, and Lady Amelia, but tradition dictates the estate will pass to him. Charles Spencer addressed this earlier, saying, "If I chose Kitty, it would be against all the tradition that goes with Althorp. It's just the way it is. I get the problems with it as a concept. I also get the strengths of it having worked to date." Lady Kitty told Tatler magazine, "I'm totally pro-gender equality. But I'm quite happy that that's [going to be] my brother's responsibility. I just think it's the correct way." "I like that the house stays within the same family, with the same surname. I wouldn't want it any other way for the Spencers. And I just know my brother is going to do an impeccable job." Princess Diana is buried on a small island in the middle of the Oval Lake at Althorp. The burial site is closed to the public, a decision Charles said was intentional, both for security and peace. When Princess Diana died, her estate was left primarily to her sons. It was split equally between the two. The funds were placed in trusts and invested, allowing each son to inherit roughly 10 million pounds by the time they reached their 30s. Prince William and Harry were also given personal items belonging to their mother. These included iconic keepsakes such as her wedding dress, a silk taffeta gown with a 25-foot train, as well as dozens of dresses, designer outfits, and two diamond tiaras. The brothers were each allowed to choose a specific item from Diana's jewellery collection: William chose her Cartier watch, while Harry initially chose her sapphire and diamond engagement ring. Years later, Harry reportedly gave the ring to William, who used it to propose to Kate Middleton. The brothers also inherited sentimental items. Among them were handwritten letters, photographs, and the original lyrics and score to 'Candle in the Wind,' Elton John's tribute song performed at Diana's funeral. Prince Harry later revealed that the inheritance he received from Diana helped him and his wife, Meghan Markle, move to California in 2020 after stepping back from royal duties. "I brought what my mom left me," he told Oprah Winfrey in their 2021 interview. "And without that, we would not have been able to do this... I think she saw it coming. I certainly felt her presence throughout this whole process."
Hindustan Times
15 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Actor Sheena Chohan's mom gave her wings to fly and touch the sky
What does a dear friend's daughter mean to a woman? It is indeed a cherished connection evoking affection and hope that her talent touches great heights. So it is for me with Sheena Chohan, daughter of my dear friend from college days, Harry Bains, who was to marry a dusky handsome Punjabi charmer of a well known family of transporters with roots in Bathinda but settled in Kolkata in the well-established business of the Chohan Transport. Over the years one has noted with interest Sheena's journey from theatre to web series and now a break to the admiration of a large audience. It also takes one back to one's own college days in the swinging 70s and our own young dreams. Of course, some dreams came true and some did not and we hoped that our daughters would fulfil them in their own wacky way. Sweet and sour memories of youth flood in as one looks back at those days when one felt that and we would go our way. Although the International Women's Day had been declared by the United Nations in the sweet 70s and there was talk of women's liberation, yet things were somewhat conservative in Chandigarh and more so in Punjab. For the plain ones like me, it had to be masters in English literature and then the job of a college lecturer well-draped in a saree, holding an attendance register till a suitable match could be arranged. For the more comely ones, it sufficed that they be married to rich and handsome young men and live happily ever after. Then and now: Young Sheena Chohan with her mother, Harry. (Sheena Chohan) Yet we dreamt of love, adventure and work. For the few who had come from convents and public schools it was important to be part of the smart english-speaking gang and sadly some labelled many bright ones who had studied in Hindi or Punjabi medium schools as 'Bhenjis'. It was important to wear smart western apparel on the first day of college. For someone like me, with a widowed mother, dependent on sons for the monthly allowance, it wasn't that easy. Of course, the stamp of Loreto Convent Shillong was there and a bright result card. My mother made it up by buying me a pink khadi pant-suit, which in present-day lingo could be called co-ords, to the GCW (Government College for Women, Sector 11). Those days girls who had stepped into their 17th year were considered women and much later W was substituted with G for girls! I made it a point to be with the smart set which was made of the tall beauty Harry, fresh from the Lawrence School Sanawar, petite and pretty Simran Singh from Chelsea, Convent of Jesus and Mary, Shimla, Silky haired Sunita Laal who drove to the college in a sleek long white car. Our main concern was that the seniors should rag us, as that meant acceptance. Sure enough, it happened that rainy day and they made us sit in puddles, so much so for my pink khadi pants. But we were happy that we had attracted notice. Harry those days lived in Sector 27 and I half a kilometre away in Sector 19 and got to see more of each other. In the second year of college we made a pact to lose weight and started walking a long distance to college. Sure enough it happened and my kind friend would try to include me in her activities and made an effort to get me into the grand college fashion show called 'The Sunflower' but I did not have the right twirl in my walk. However, I was overjoyed to see Harry walk the ramp with aplomb in a stylish red coat. A film offer was to follow for her but, of course, that was a no-no for her family. In the final year, Harry did get me into a fashion photography shoot for the Eves Weekly and wasn't I, thrilled? Then came her marriage and a shift to Kolkata two children, daughter Sheena and Sunny. With the passing away of her husband, she showed business acumen while raising her kids. While I had met her once with little Sheena, still a kid in Chandigarh, it was much later during a visit to Kolkata I saw her blooming into a beautiful young girl with stars in her eyes and already in the world of modelling and theatre. I recall the mother telling me, 'I was not allowed to do anything that I wanted to but I let Sheena do whatever she desired.' The gen-next had less taboos in following their dreams. Before losing myself in the nostalgia, let me get to the heart of the matter here and now. Journey of the star When asked how it was to play the role of Avali opposite a seasoned actor like Subodh Bhave? the actor replies: 'In creating a person we already know through legend, one has to first remember that she is human like you and me. So I worked very closely with director Aditya, making myself a blank page for his vision, yet trying to see everything through her eyes, so that I can bring forth Avali's inner world with emotion.' Indeed, she captured the emotional world of the character not just with words but eyes and expressions. The actor says 'Eyes are the windows of the soul and the eyes do speak volumes and never lie. If you go beneath the Wikipedia entry and put yourself in Avali's place faced with choices and challenges then her eyes become yours.' She adds, 'When the truth of the character sprang alive in me, I became the vessel by which she communicated.' It did not happen in a day Let the readers not be mistaken that Sheena achieved this miracle in a day. Behind the skilled portrayal of Avali there has been a decade of sheer hard work with the young actor winning several accolades for her performances. She has played the lead in seven feature films, collaborating with three of India's most celebrated directors. After five years of theatre in Delhi, Sheena was launched in the South, opposite megastar Mammootty in an action film. Sheena's breakout international recognition came when a feature film, 'Ant Story', she headlined was acquired by Netflix, leading to Best Actress nominations at the prestigious Dubai and Shanghai International Film Festivals. Her first steps into the OTT field saw her star in The Fame Game, opposite Madhuri Dixit on Netflix, The Trial, opposite Kajol on Disney Hotstar. Sheena first lead role on OTT space was her standout performance in the hit series EX-Mates, where she won Best Actress – Comedy as well as the Best Actress Award, solidifying her position as a rising force in Indian entertainment. That same year, she was honored with the Most Promising Rising Star in Bollywood award. Looking ahead to 2025, after Sant Tukaram, Sheena's slate is more exciting than ever. She also takes on the role of Lilith, a mystical and seductive she-devil, in a gripping upcoming series that explores myth, power, and dark femininity. 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Scroll.in
16 hours ago
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‘The Silversmith's Puzzle': An action-packed, colourful murder mystery set in 19th-century Bombay
Detectives come with many a quirk, but they invariably share something in common: they are all outsiders, marked by certain kinks and eccentricities. Holmes played his violin and 'smoked recreationally', among other things, whenever he put his mind to work. Poirot's grey cells remain equally famous, as his fussiness about dressing and perfectionism for other sundry matters. Miss Marple knitted and nothing that happened in the village St Mary Mead ever missed her eye; Inspector Morse loved the opera, Philip Marlowe remained perpetually taciturn and quite a loner, while Nero Wolfe, Rex Stout's fictional armchair detective, grew orchids and was fond of his gourmet meals. And what of Captain Jim Agnihotri, soldier turned detective who has just made his fourth appearance in writer Nev March's new detective novel, The Silversmith's Puzzle, set in Bombay of 1894? Jim Agnihotri is Anglo-Indian, born of an Indian mother, and left orphaned quite young. He has never quite fit in but his in-between status and good, undefinable looks give him the flexibility to slide into any situation, sometimes in disguise, in a manner like his idol, Sherlock Holmes. Back to Bombay As Jim and his wife, Diana (née Framji), embark on their newest adventure, Conan Doyle's The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1893–1894) has just been published. Jim, gifted the book by his wife, faithfully travels with it to India, reading it whenever he can get away from the mystery that soon consumes him as well as the family he has married into, the Framjis. Holmes' words of caution, his methods come in handy every time Jim finds himself in a sticky situation or has to unentangle himself from the unexpected and precarious. Having solved a mystery on board the ship enroute from Boston to Liverpool – the third Nev March book, The Spanish Diplomat's Secret – Jim and Diana are right away thrust into the next one by the sudden and unexpected arrival of Diana's brother Adi, a fact unknown to the police on his trail all the way from Bombay to London. Jim, who became a sensation with his very first case, Murder in Old Bombay (2020), when he solved the murder of two young Parsi women – Adi's wife and sister – also caused a scandal when he fell in love with his associate in the case, Adi's sister, Diana. This novel won March – a writer of Indian origin, and a Parsi herself – the Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Award; it was also nominated for an Edgar Award for best debut crime novel. Parsi society, otherwise so dominant and forward-looking in cosmopolitan Bombay of the 1890s, is quite conservative where family law and customs are concerned, and Jim and Diana's marriage caused shock and considerable embarrassment. To spare the Framjis' opprobrium from their peers, the couple leave for the United States, where Jim finds employment with the Dupree Detective Agency. But Adi's mysterious arrival comes with a summons and a piquant situation for Jim and Diana. They must return forthwith to Bombay, for Adi is the prime suspect in the murder of his colleague, Satya Rastogi. Jim's work is cut out: the family wants him to clear Adi of any blame, and so, as Jim understands for himself, he has to find the real killer/s. Methods and mayhem Adi and Satya have been in the business of making surgical scalpels and other medical equipment for only some months now, but unravelling who Satya, the murdered man, actually is, soon takes on a complexity that often stumps Jim. Is Satya only a victim or a villain in part? Satya's hereditary occupation is that of a goldsmith but he has been excommunicated for one reason or another, all of which unfold in the course of this novel. Jim stalks his many suspects, he moves around in disguise, he engages witnesses, he calls in favours, and sometimes he succeeds, sometimes he doesn't, and on occasion he lands in jail. Diana, for the most part, plays a very distant assistant – though she comes up with a brilliant idea once, and proves an effective shot as well – but maybe one can forgive her, and her distractions here. She's back home after two years, after a very controversial marriage to a non-Parsi, and has to catch up with one too many things. The mystery of the silversmith's murder (or actually that of a renegade goldsmith) is soon linked to another – one with ramifications for the British Empire itself – as this involves the theft of 'gold bullion' from carriages carrying the treasure from the Mint in Bombay to ships anchored at to transfer this 'drain of wealth' to Britain. The novel at this juncture takes on convoluted, pacy turns, as the action moves street to street, house to house, and Jim, as he rushes from the Framji mansion to his secret hideaway at Dockyard Road, and once finds himself in jail too, always invokes Sherlock Holmes for inspiration, and company. Here is Holmes turning up with ready advice, especially when Jim finds his optimism flagging, or he needs to think differently and urgently. 'I chose a tan suit to work on my new case: to determine how someone had stolen bullion from the mint, one I needed to solve without attracting official attention. How would the redoubtable Mr Sherlock Holmes do it? No doubt he'd smoke a pipe or play his violin at odd hours of the night to produce a flash of inspiration. When explained to the modest Dr Watson, his observations and deductions seemed reasonable, even obvious. Cause and effect. Everyday occurrences developed special significance when placed in the framework of human motives. Trouble was, I was awash in minutiae, with a threadbare theory to sew together the scraps.' Personal matters A third mystery, poignant in part and inseparable from the others, exists too, and it is for Jim, intensely personal. It is not just about restoring the fortune lost by his father-in-law, Burjor (via trade slumps and a forgery) but Jim is also determined to recover the lost goodwill the Framji family once had, and a restoration of their old pre-eminent status in the community. Tucked away in some pages is also a revelation relating to Jim's parentage, but here March flashes only part of a tantalising secret, and a short conversation, which means, of course, more will be revealed soon, in the next Diana and Jim Agnihotri book. Jim is earnest and vulnerable and tireless. He has a penchant for breaking into houses, not to steal but simply to wait for his quarry, after finding himself a comfortable chair first. He also isn't above attempting a Bollywood-style escape when he slips away from his captors by easing himself off his ropes and clambering onto the rooftop. There is a breakneck chase that follows the theft of the 'disguised' bullion, a race through the streets of south Bombay, and a 'dog riot' with the cream of society taking on an unabashed role. All of which makes for very pacy reading – certainly in these action scenes – and lots of cinematic revelation. Soon after I finished reading, I spent nice long moments thinking about which Bollywood hero might play Jim Agnihotri. Always a good thing to do after one has read an enjoyable novel, full of colour and lovely detail. Follow this up with anticipation, like looking forward to the next Nev March novel featuring Jim and Diana.
