Photo: Alamy
Countess Karen Spencer is opening the doors of Althorp House.
On Tuesday, the CEO of Whole Child International and wife ofCharles, 9th Earl Spencerannounced the launch of a special new series highlighting the ancestral home of the Spencer family in Northamptonshire, England, wherePrincess Dianagrew up. InSpencer 1508, Karen, 50, will take viewers into the 500-year-old estate and the historic treasure trove of artifacts inside.
“Living here has just been one discovery after the next,” Karen said in a snippet shared onsocial media, which showed her unboxing an earl’s coronet, a hundred-year-old document and more. “Every day holds a new adventure, sometimes when I least expect it. Everywhere you turn, it’s just one incredible thing after the next.”
As the camera panned through Althorp — showing a storage room, dining area and portrait-laden staircase — Karen admitted that her fascination with the estate was gradual.
“If I’m honest, I initially sort of rejected the full-time nature of this role,” she said of the role of chatelaine. “I thought that this whole house was lovely, but that wasn’t going to take up very much of my time. I will confess that it has sucked me in,” she added with a smile.
Althorp House.Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
“I’m excited to bring everyone on the journey that I’m on,” she said in the clip. “Whether it be the walled garden, the restoration of some of the bedrooms, or understanding how the parkland works…I really want to leave this house and parkland in a better place than when I arrived.”
Karen, originally from Canada, has been married to Charles since 2011, and they share daughter Charlotte Diana, 10.
Over the weekend, Charles, 58, posted a photo of the “beautiful autumn colors” that surround thetemple dedicatedto his elder sister Princess Diana at Althorp, along with a bit of the building’s history.
Can’t get enough ofPEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates onKate Middleton,Meghan Markleand more!
Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
Family members can privately visit her gravesite, which is off-limits to the public. Visitors to the park, however, are welcome to pay their respects at a memorial site located on the grounds.
According to the estate’swebsite, Althorp is currently closed with plans to reopen next year.
New episodes of the series will be released each Friday.
source: people.com
