The Spencers

[Honnish]

Wow those are really great photos Tatty!  It's so lavishly furnished!

I think it's one of the few remaining aristocratic London houses. Others have already been demolished. I don't think the Spencers use it anymore though 

I saw a doco about Althorp and the days they open it so people can view Diana's resting place, and it was losing money, until the Earl had an offer from Japan asking that the entire collection of Diana's things be taken there lock stock and barrel for public viewing. It made a lot of money and was a success, but I wonder if it is still happening 

I think they should follow the examples of Chatsworth, Arundel Castle etc and open it all year round (with only about 2-3 months of respite) and watch the £££ pour in. I'm sure they could arrange to have a private side of the house and a public one for the tourists. 

[SalannB]

I believe they do open Althorp during the summer and close it right before the anniversary of Diana's death.

[PeDe]

I found some pics, I haven't seen before










more here > > http://www.flickr.com/pho...5415405580/detail/?page=6

[editorathome]

Thanks for the photos, Peeds   Poor Victoria looks like she's 12 yrs old

[sleepyvalentina]

Thanks for the photos, Peeds   Poor Victoria looks like she's 12 yrs old

I thought the same thing.

[StephanieDesiree]

I found some pics, I haven't seen before










more here > > http://www.flickr.com/pho...5415405580/detail/?page=6

I confess, I loved her wedding gown.  So different and original.  A shame about the groom.


And My God, Diana's mother! 

She must have been one of the most beautiful women in the world!

I wonder what her wedding day looked like???

[PeDe]

you're welcome, edit 

who is the elder lady sitting next to Diana. The grandmother of the bride, perhaps?

[Lady Adelaide]

Diana's parents:

John Spencer, Viscount Althorp (8th Earl Spencer) married Francis Ruth Roche on 1 June 1954.

Wedding reception was held at St. James's Palace.

[editorathome]

you're welcome, edit 

who is the elder lady sitting next to Diana. The grandmother of the bride, perhaps?

That's my guess, Peeds.   It's not Diana's mother, even tho there's a resemblance to Diana and Frances.

[tigerben]

She reminds me of Athina onassis in this picture.

The lady next to Diana is Ruth Lady Fermoy I think, The queen mothers best friend and the one who sided with the Earl during the divorce so that he kept custody of Diana and Charles .the two older girls were in boarding school.

[editorathome]

She reminds me of Athina onassis in this picture.

The lady next to Diana is Ruth Lady Fermoy I think, The queen mothers best friend and the one who sided with the Earl during the divorce so that he kept custody of Diana and Charles .the two older girls were in boarding school.

Tiger, ITA with you about Athina Onassis--there's a strong resemblance!
At first, I also thought it was Ruth Fermoy, but the photos I found of her on Google look very different from this lady (altho as I said above, I think this lady does look like Diana and Frances).

[Barrie]

Love that old ivory colour for the little bridesmaids dresses. They little girl in front makes me smile.

[Lady Alice]

I found some pics, I haven't seen before

I'd forgotten how ill-looking Victoria was - she must have already had her eating disorders, and his was before having the three girls before the heir.

Frances Roche was a lovely woman - you can see where Diana is a cross of her and Diana's Spencer grandmother, Lady Cynthia Hamilton.

[Rescue]

I think Victoria Lockwood looked awful on her wedding day.
I remember that after I watched the video footage from before and after the church service I thought she looked positively like corpse bride.
But as you say Lady Alice she was probably already suffering from eading disorders.

[bumbershoot]

weren't there some drug-abuse issues, too?