An early morning fire that destroyed a farmhouse on Princess Diana’s childhood estate is suspected to be arson.
The brick structure at the family’s ancestral Althorp estate was unoccupied when it was allegedly burned down by vandals, according to Diana’s younger brother, Charles Spencer.
Spencer posted photos of the blaze and its smoky aftermath on social media.
Stunned to learn that one of @AlthorpHouse’s farmhouses – fortunately, unoccupied at the time – was apparently burnt down by vandals last night. With thanks to @northantsfire for doing their very best.
So very sad that anyone would think this a fun thing to do. pic.twitter.com/lYyvkzJLnA— Charles Spencer (@cspencer1508) May 28, 2025
Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service said it received a call around 1:30 a.m. and that “crews arrived to find an unoccupied two-story property fully on fire.” The building was also described as “derelict.”
Several crews worked to prevent the fire from spreading from the 18th-century building. The flames were doused but a crew remained on the scene until early Wednesday afternoon dampening down hotspots.
No injuries were reported.
Adey Greeno, the estate’s conservation manager, agreed with Spencer that arson was the cause.
“The farmhouse that we lost to a deliberate act of vandalism last night has now had to be razed to the ground for safety reasons,” Greeno wrote on social media. “So sad. The world we live in.”
The Northamptonshire Police have not officially described the blaze as a crime but an investigation is underway, according to the BBC.
Diana, along with her partner Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul, died on Aug. 31, 1997 following a car crash in a Paris tunnel. She was 36 years old. Her grave is located at Althrop on an island in the middle of a secluded lake.
The main part of the estate, where Charles Spencer lives, is a 100,000-square-foot home with 31 bedrooms. The property has belonged to the Spencer family since 1508.
