The Althorp Estate has been in the Spencer family for more than five centuries and is where Diana, Princess of Wales grew up – but it will not be inherited by Prince William or Prince Harry

Actor Louis Spencer is poised to inherit the childhood home of the late Princess Diana, Althorpe Estate in Northamptonshire, bypassing Princes William and Harry.

The sprawling estate, which covers over 13,000 acres, has been the Spencer family’s ancestral home for more than five centuries. This is why the property will pass to their cousin Louis, the son of Earl Spencer, Diana’s brother. Despite having three older sisters, 30-year-old Louis, as Viscount Althorp, will inherit the estate due to the aristocracy’s system of primogeniture, where titles are passed down to the eldest son rather than the firstborn child.

Althorp Estate, where Diana spent her childhood and now rests in peace, has been carefully preserved over the years as a testament to the Spencer family’s legacy. Born in 1994, Louis is the eldest son of Charles Spencer and his first wife, Victoria Lockwood.

Louis – also an actor – is reported to keep a relatively low profile ( 
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As the heir apparent, he is set to become the 10th Earl Spencer, a title that comes with the duty of overseeing the Althorp Estate. Although born in London, Louis was raised in Cape Town, South Africa, following his parents’ separation, where he reportedly attended one of the city’s most expensive private schools – Diocesan College.

Louis Spencer, the reserved Viscount Althorp, has maintained a more private existence compared to his renowned family members. Opting for education at the University of Edinburgh before sharpening his thespian talents at a drama college in Chiswick, London, he’s now on the books at Tavistock Wood talent agency, reports the Express.

A source divulged to 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.”

The grand estate spans over 13,000 acres ( 
Image:
Getty)His sister Kitty Spencer has mentioned their brother’s future as the estate heir saying, “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.”

According to OK!, Louis is already participating in Trustee meetings ahead of inheriting the historic Althorp Estate, which will see him become the Earl Spencer tasked with stewarding one of the UK’s most illustrious estates. It was here that Diana, the late Princess of Wales, enjoyed bucolic childhood days amidst Northamptonshire’s serene landscapes, communing with nature alongside her siblings.

The brother princes are not on speaking terms ( 
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Available for public admiration during specific periods, Althorp Estate invites guests to traverse its magnificent house and gardens, delving into the Spencer lineage’s opulent narrative.