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British Royals

Where is Diana, Princess of Wales buried?

The final resting place of Diana, Princess of Wales is nestled at the heart of a home she called her own. Diana’s coffin was famously followed on its last journey all the way to the gates of Althorp House in Northamptonshire, the family seats of the Spencers. Her burial took place privately and over two decades on, only those closest to the princess can stand at the side of her grave.

Diana was laid to rest on an island in the Oval Lake at Althorp. The Bishop of Peterborough consecrated the ground ahead of the burial which took place on September 6th 1997 following her funeral at Westminster Abbey.

The simple ceremony was attended by just a few people including Prince William and Prince Harry and their father, the Prince of Wales. Diana’s mother, Frances Shand Kydd, along with her sisters, Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale, and her brother, Earl Spencer, were also among those present.

A path of thirty six trees now leads the way to the Oval Island, each marking one year of Diana’s life. A summerhouse has also been placed on the island as a memorial for Diana. However, access to the island is restricted with no public visits allowed. The closest anyone else can get to Diana’s grave is the grounds of Althorp from where they can look across the lake to the island where she is buried.

However, an unexpected newspaper headline in the summer of 2020 led to fresh exposure for a theory that has done the rounds several times since Diana died. It has been claimed over the past two decades that the princess was actually laid to rest in the Spencer family vault at St. Mary’s Church at Great Brington, alongside her beloved father who passed away in 1992. In July 2020, the Star on Sunday ran a front page claiming images showing Diana’s ghost in the church confirmed that is where she is buried.

Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, said in 1997 that any plans to lay Diana to rest alongside their father at Great Brington were changed when it was realised the huge interest there would be in visiting her grave. Instead, the Oval was chosen to allow Diana to rest in peace and to ensure her grave was a peaceful place for her sons to visit without intrusion.

The most famous princess of the 20th century is buried at the heart of the home belonging to the family she made world famous.

About author

Lydia Starbuck is Jubilee and Associate Editor at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.