Princess Diana’s brother Charles Spencer shares photos of her childhood home Althorp

Princess Diana‘s brother Charles Spencer has shared a rare glimpse into the late royal’s childhood home.

Taking to Instagram, Earl Spencer, 56, shared a snap of the grand staircase at the Spencer family home, Althorp, in Northamptonshire.

Atop the split staircase is five family portraits including a painting of Princess Diana, her father John Spencer, and his father Albert Spencer, who was known affectionately as ‘Jack’.

Princess Diana’s brother Charles Spencer has shared a rare glimpse into the late royal’s childhood home. Taking to Instagram, Earl Spencer, 56, shared a snap of the grand staircase at the Spencer family home, Althorp, in Northamptonshire

Also pictured is Charles, the current Earl Spencer, and central to it all is his third and current wife  Karen Spencer, in a portrait taken in the outfit she was wearing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding in 2018.

Sitting on the staircase is one of his beloved cats.

‘Blending in. #rodentpatrol,’ Charles captioned the image.

Charles said in the comments there are also portraits at Althorp of his other two sisters, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, 65,  and Baroness Jane Fellowes, 64.

Pictured: 1. Charles Spencer, Princess Diana's brother, 2. Karen Spencer, Charles' third and current wife pictured and Harry and Meghan's wedding. 3. Princess Diana. 4. Albert Spencer, known as Jack, Diana's grandfather. 5. John Spencer, Diana's father

Pictured: 1. Charles Spencer, Princess Diana’s brother, 2. Karen Spencer, Charles’ third and current wife pictured and Harry and Meghan’s wedding. 3. Princess Diana. 4. Albert Spencer, known as Jack, Diana’s grandfather. 5. John Spencer, Diana’s father 

He added that both his wife and Diana were ‘very beautiful ladies’. 

Charles unveiled the portrait of his wife in 2019 saying it captures Lady Spencer’s ‘beauty poise and strength’. 

The portrait was painted by Argentine artist Fabian Perez,

 Earl Spencer married Canadian-born Karen Villeneuve at the Spencer’s Northamptonshire estate in 2011 after separating from second wife Caroline Freud in 2007. He was married to first wife Victoria Lockwood from 1989 to 1997.

Announcing the unveiling, Earl Spencer tweeted: ‘Standing beside the glorious portrait of my wife Karen – ⁦@KarenSpencerWCI⁩ – by the artist Fabian Perez, after its unveiling today at ⁦@AlthorpHouse⁩. 

Earl Spencer has unveiled a portrait of his third wife at the family seat of Althorp House in 2019

Earl Spencer has unveiled a portrait of his third wife at the family seat of Althorp House in 2019 

‘Fabian chose the photographs he worked from for this piece. He’s captured her beauty, poise & strength with aplomb.

Charles, the only surviving son of France Shand Kidd and John Spencer is custodian of Althorp. 

Diana had an older brother, John Spencer, died within ten hours of his birth on 12 January 1960.

Charles has been married three times, firstly to Victoria Lockwood,  with whom he has Lady Kitty Spencer, 30,  twins Lady Eliza Spencer and , Lady Amelia Spencer, 28 and Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp, 26.

The portrait depicts Lady Spencer in the vibrant purple ensemble she wore to the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in May last year, pictured

The portrait depicts Lady Spencer in the vibrant purple ensemble she wore to the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in May last year, pictured

Princess Diana's brother Charles Spencer has shared a rare picture of their mum to celebrate Mother's Day

Princess Diana’s brother Charles Spencer has shared a rare picture of their mum to celebrate Mother’s Day

He also has Edmund Spencer, 17, and Lady Lara Spencer, 15, from second wife Caroline Freud, who was previously married to PR guru Matthew Freud. 

With Karen he has one daughter, Charlotte Diana Spencer, eight.  

It comes days after he shared a photo of his mother Frances Shand Kydd to mark Mothers’ Day.

 In the image, which was taken when Charles was less than a week old, Frances, who died in 2004, sports a double breasted jacket and string of pearls, while baby Charles is wrapped up in a blanket.

Earlier this year, Earl Spencer unveiled a rare painting of their mother with fans pointing out the uncanny resemblance to the late royal.

Princess Diana's brother Earl Spencer, 56, who lives in Althorp House, has unveiled a rare painting of their mother - and fans have gone wild for the family resemblance

Princess Diana’s brother Earl Spencer, 56, who lives in Althorp House, has unveiled a rare painting of their mother – and fans have gone wild for the family resemblance

Charles stunned royal fans after sharing a portrait of his mother to mark her birthday in January, with many saying she is the ‘double’ of Princess Diana.

Posting the image on Instagram, he said the image was hung in the library at his home, explaining: ‘My mother – on this, her 85th birthday. She was born in Sandringham, Norfolk, on the very same day that King George V died – in the same parish.’ 

Frances was just 18 when she married Princess Diana’s father the 8th Earl Spencer Johnnie in 1954, when he was 30.

The couple divorced in 1969, with Frances losing custody of Diana, Charles and their sisters Jane and Sarah.

She tried to regain custody again in 1971 of Johnnie Spencer, but lost  a second time.

Frances then remarried Peter Shand Kydd and went to live with her new husband in Scotland which earned her the nickname ‘the bolter’.    

When Diana died in 1997, the staunch Catholic turned to her faith for solace when forced to grieve in the glare of a media frenzy as millions mourned the Princess.