Channel 5 presents “Althorp House: A Royal Residence,” the first documentary in a trilogy exploring three former royal residences and their hidden stories. This episode, airing on Saturday, 21 September 2024, at 9:25 PM, shines a spotlight on Althorp, the ancestral home of the aristocratic Spencer family.
The programme reveals the secrets within Althorp’s walls and its significance to the royals who resided there. It explores the architecture, the expansive grounds, and the rich history of the building. Presenting a colourful narrative, the documentary also uncovers intriguing tales involving royals, celebrities, and eye-opening historical moments. Through the insights of royal commentators, historians, and experts, the story of Althorp and its unique connection to royalty is brought to life.
Althorp gained international attention following the sudden and tragic death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Her brother, the Earl Spencer, was adamant that Diana should be buried as a Spencer, rather than in a royal cemetery. After negotiations, it was agreed that she would find her final resting place at Althorp. On 6 September 1997, Diana’s coffin was brought to her ancestral home.
Paul Burrell, Princess Diana’s private butler and confidante, joins other experts in shedding light on the secrets of Althorp, one of Britain’s grandest stately homes. The Spencer family’s journey from 15th-century sheep farmers to becoming an incredibly prosperous and influential family with Althorp as their seat of power is a remarkable one. The house served as a venue to impress and entertain royalty and the elite of British society. A notable example was the 1755 birthday celebration of a future earl, where an astonishing 11,000 pints of beer were consumed, and the birthday boy quietly slipped away to get married!
Althorp has welcomed VIP guests such as Winston Churchill, movie stars, and Nelson Mandela, some attracted by its grand social events, while others, like Harry and Meghan, came to pay their respects at Princess Diana’s grave.
Historians, royal watchers, and friends of the Princess delve into the history of this grand home, its architecture, interiors, and gardens. They also uncover the close ties between the Spencers and generations of royalty. The bond was so strong that when Queen Elizabeth II learned of Charles’ proposal to Diana, she exclaimed, “The Spencers? Well, Diana’s one of Us.” Althorp was also the setting for the Prince of Wales’ first meeting with Diana—an encounter that would forever alter the course of the monarchy.
Althorp House: A Royal Residence airs on Channel 5 at 9:25 PM on Saturday, 21 September 2024.
