Princess Diana’s Brother Shares a Glimpse of Their Childhood Home You Can Visit

You’ve heard of Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the British monarchy since 1887. You’ve probably read a headline referencing Windsor Castle here or there—the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world, and another gem in the monarchy’s crown. And maybe even Sandringham House, the royal family’s country Christmas retreat, rings a bell. But there is surprisingly—at least to foreigners—plenty more castle-like estates throughout England with rich heritages and historical significance. One of these is Althorp House, the childhood home, and final resting place, of Princess Diana. And her younger brother, Charles Spencer, aka the 9th Earl Spencer, just posted a behind-the-scenes peek into the ancestral home.

The caption reads: “The chandeliers in the Saloon at @althorphouse – lowered for cleaning. Behind the scene footage of how we keep things clean.” The Earl includes the hashtags referencing the once-a-year polishing and cleaning, so we can infer that deep-cleaning the chandeliers is an annual affair. (Thank goodness, because it’s no small feat!)

Althorp House, the Spencer family estate, has been their ancestral home for over 500 years and spans 100,000 square feet—that’s a lot of chandeliers to clean. It’s no surprise then that the upkeep of Althorp is a massive undertaking, requiring a dedicated team of staff to maintain its pristine condition.

There are approximately 50 staff members who work behind the scenes to make sure the estate runs smoothly, including gardeners, housekeepers, tour guides, and administrative folks, as Althorp is actually open to the public. In fact, the grand estate opens its doors from July through August 29. Book tickets online to visit, pack a picnic to enjoy on the grounds, or even hit up the Stables Café, located, you guessed it, in the Stables block, built in 1733.

Andrew Parsons – PA Images/Getty Images

So if you do happen to stop by the Northamptonshire estate, make sure to look up, because those chandeliers don’t clean themselves!