All of Princess Diana's homes
Throughout her lifetime, Princess Diana lived in some pretty spectacular houses. Growing up between the stately Althorp Estate in Northamptonshire – her father's family seat – and Park House on the Queen's Sandringham Estate must have set her up well for what was to follow once she entered into the Royal Family. Though she only lived in six houses in total, they were all quite wonderful so we take a tour from her flat in Earl's Court to Highgrove.
1/6Park House
Diana was born at Park House on the Sandringham Estate, as was her mother. It's where a young Diana spent much of her childhood, as well as at the family seat on her father's side, Althorp Estate. Ten years after Diana's death, her former nanny Inge Crane gave an exclusive interview to CNN, in which she said "There's always been something special about Park House. It's difficult to put a finger on what it is". Now, Park House is a hotel, having been gifted to Leonard Cheshire Disability by the Queen in 1983.
2/6Althorp
Fans of The Crown will know Princess Diana's childhood home, Althorp Estate, from the scene where Prince Charles meets Diana for the first time, as she creeps across a grand, empty hall dressed as a wood nymph. It is the family seat of the Spencers and has been since 1508, hosting many royal family members over the ensuing centuries. Diana grew up on the estate, learning to tap dance in Wootton Hall and spending her formative years in the gilded interiors, which has has one of Europe’s finest private collections of furniture, paintings and ceramics. She is now buried on the estate, on the island in the middle of Althorp's lake.
Getty Images3/6Coleherne Court
At the tender age of 18, the same age at which she met her future husband and king-in-waiting, Diana's mother bought her a flat in Earl's Court for her birthday. It was here that Princess Diana lived during the courtship phase with Prince Charles, hounded by the press every time she stepped out the door. Coleherne Court is a classic red brick mansion block and flat 60 was Diana's, where she lived with three friends. It was reputedly bought for her for £50,000 and now, a similar flat in the block is worth nearly £2.5 million.
Getty Images4/6Clarence House
Built by John Nash, the same architect as Buckingham Palace, Clarence House is a famous royal residence a short distance from the Palace. Following Princess Diana's engagement to Charles, the Royal Family moved her into a flat there, where the Queen Mother also lived at the time. It afforded Diana more privacy from the media than her Earls Court abode could, as well as some of the finest classical interiors Britain has to offer. Now, Clarence House is a base for Princes Charles and Camilla.
Getty Images5/6Kensington Palace
Following their wedding, Prince Charles and the new Princess moved into apartments in Kensington Palace, which Diana then set about decorating with the help of Dudley Poplak. In the Kensington Palace apartments, a youthful take – Diana was 20 at the time – of a chintzy country-house look prevailed. The rooms in the images very much speak of their moment in time, with ruffles, frills and wallpaper borders combined in a manner that is uniquely Eighties. Princess Diana's interiors style was fashionable, comfortable and as informal as the rooms of a palace, packed with important pieces of art and furniture, can be. Diana stayed on at Kensington Palace after her divorce.
Getty Images6/6Highgrove
As well as moving into Kensington Palace, Diana also took on Prince Charles' beloved country house Highgrove once they were married. Set in the idyllic Gloucestershire countryside, it is now decorated by legendary Robert Kime but during her time, Diana worked with Dudley Poplak once again, who described it as “the most important assignment I have ever had." Diana was reputedly not fond of Highgrove, preferring time spent in the London apartments at Kensington Palace. However, they visited often on weekends and Princes William and Harry spent a lot of their childhoods at the Gloucestershire house.
