The Spencer family, shattered after learning what just happened with Lady Di

A regrettable piece of news has shaken the Spencer family and those who admire Diana of Wales. The Althorp House estate, home to the family for more than 500 years, has suffered a devastating fire that has reduced one of its farms to ashes. Although it hasn't yet been officially confirmed whether it was intentional, suspicions point to an act of vandalism.

Charles Spencer's voice and the scale of the disaster

Charles Spencer, Diana's brother and current earl, was the one who reported the fire through his social media, showing great dismay. He described the event as a "vandalic act" and thanked the Northamptonshire firefighters for their effort to control the fire. "I was stunned to learn that one of the cottages was set on fire by vandals," the earl stated, who also shared heartbreaking images of the before and after of the tragedy.

The photos show how the flames consumed the structure and, in a later image, only the charred foundations remain. Although fortunately the estate was unoccupied at that time, the material and symbolic damage is immense. The farm is part of the family's historical legacy and is closely linked to the memory of Diana of Wales, whose grave is located on these grounds.

The firefighters' response and local testimonies

The Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that they received the alert around 1:30 p.m. (13:30) on Wednesday on Mill Lane. When they arrived, they found a two-story property in flames. Four teams used hoses and self-contained breathing apparatus to control the fire and prevent it from spreading.

In the morning, a team remained at the site to extinguish the last hotspots. Adey Greeno, the estate's ranger, indicated that the house was demolished for safety and stated that the fire was "a deliberate act of vandalism." "How sad, the world we live in," he lamented with sorrow.

Althorp House: a symbol of Diana of Wales's history

Althorp is much more than a rural property; it's an emblem for understanding Diana's life. The majestic estate was her home since 1975, when she moved in with her family after her grandfather's death. Although the residence has 90 rooms distributed over two stories, the princess especially enjoyed the room known as Night Nursery.

Among the most notable spaces are the Queen Mary, India Silk, and The Oak rooms, and the Marlborough room, which can accommodate 54 people and is adorned with works by well-known artists. The princess rests on a small island in the Round Oval lake, within the estate's grounds.

Althorp, with its 19 sq. mi. (50 km²), has been in the hands of the 9th Earl Spencer since 1992 and is part of the United Kingdom's Historic Houses Association. This fire represents a painful loss for the family and for all who remember Diana of Wales.