Charles Spencer has unveiled a new feature at Althorp House, the impressive stately home where he grew up with his sister, Princess Diana. Taking to Instagram on 25 March, Earl Spencer, 61, revealed a staircase which had been adorned with fresh carpet.
"New midsection to the carpet on the main stairs in the Saloon (central hall) at Althorp House. Handwoven and hopefully set to last for a century," he penned, captioning the post. "The Spencer 'S' holding it all together nicely, I hope."
Charles, who is three years younger than the late Princess of Wales, shared a photo of the carpet, which came in hues of crimson and navy and featured a busy pattern. As he points out, a gold 'S' was embroidered in a nod to the ancestry of the property.
The history of the Spencers at Althorp House
Althorp House was bought by the Spencer family back in 1508 for just £800. The 13,000-acre estate was purchased after Charles' ancestors made great wealth from sheep farming. It was here that the 1st Earl and his daughter, Lady Georgiana Spencer, the future Duchess of Devonshire, threw lavish parties in the 18th century.
The house, which is open to the public annually in July and August, has become a cultural hub as it is home to over 100,000 books, and the walls are adorned with artwork, including Anthony Van Dyck's War and Peace, a portrait of King James I by John de Critz.
© Alamy Stock PhotoThe saloon staircase is certainly one of the most impressive areas of the house and is where Charles Spencer's father, John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, and stepmother Raine, Countess Spencer, posed for a professional photograph in December 1986.
A family home
When it comes to Charles' occupancy of Althorp House, he has previously commented on the legacy of the residence that will outlive him. "I'm very conscious always that I'm just passing through," he told CBS in 2015 while offering the American network a tour of the property.
© Getty Images"I've still got little children 'cause I've got quite a range of kids. But they go down the main staircase on trays, you know, like breakfast trays, really fast. And I just think that's great. You gotta enjoy the place!"
© Getty ImagesHe is a father to Lady Kitty, 35, twins Lady Eliza and Lady Amelia, 33, and Louis, 32, with his first wife, model Victoria Aitken; Edmund, 22, and Lara, 20, with his second wife, Caroline Freud; and 13-year-old Lady Charlotte Diana with his third wife, Countess Karen Spencer, whom he recently divorced.
Princess Diana's resting place
The most poignant feature at Althorp House is the memorial for Princess Diana. The mother of Princes William and Harry, who tragically died in 1997, is laid to rest on a private tree-covered island in the grounds.
© Getty ImagesA new 14-foot magnolia was planted by the perimeter of an oval lake earlier this month.
