'Very sad': Fire tears through the late Princess Diana's historic family estate in suspected arson attack
A suspected act of vandalism has left Earl Charles Spencer "stunned" after a farmhouse on the historic Althorp Estate, Princess Diana's childhood home and final resting place, was destroyed in a late-night blaze.
The 61-year-old author and younger brother of the late Princess took to social media on Wednesday to reveal the fire broke out at about 1.30am, engulfing a remote farmhouse on the Northamptonshire property.
"Stunned to learn that one of @AlthorpHouse's farmhouses- fortunately, unoccupied at the time- was apparently burnt down by vandals last night," Spencer wrote on X.
"With thanks to @northantsfire for doing their very best. So very sad that anyone would think this a fun thing to do."
Just hours earlier, Spencer had hosted a barbecue for the Northamptonshire Steelbacks cricket team on the estate, which has been in the Spencer family since 1508.
"Last night, we were delighted to host @northantsccc for a relaxed dinner with their players, coaches, girlfriends and wives," the official Althorp House Instagram account shared.
"The Spencer family has proudly supported the club for the last 120 years, with @charles.earl.spencer serving as Patron."
It is unclear when the event concluded, but firefighters were called shortly after midnight to respond to the fire, which had broken out in the two-storey farmhouse located roughly eight kilometres from the grade I-listed main house.
"At the height of the fire, four crews from across the service wearing breathing apparatus used hose-reel jets to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading further," Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue said in a statement.
"One crew remained on the scene into this afternoon with a water bowser to continue dampening down any remaining hotspots, and then returned to their station shortly before 1pm."
While police have not officially declared the fire a criminal offence, they told the BBC the incident could be upgraded if evidence supports it being deliberately lit.
But Althorp's head gamekeeper, Adey Greeno, who has worked on the estate for over three decades, was unequivocal in his belief that the fire was started intentionally.
"The farmhouse that we lost to a deliberate act of vandalism last night has now had to be razed to the ground for safety reasons," he posted on X.
"So sad. The world we live in."
The Althorp Estate is not only steeped in centuries of aristocratic history, but is also the childhood home of Princess Diana, and the place where she was laid to rest following her tragic death in 1997.
The 13,000-acre estate is open to the public during the summer months and in recent years has become a site of major archaeological interest.
In May 2023, Earl Spencer announced he had been excavating the remains of a Roman villa believed to date back to around 100 AD.
He was joined on the dig by Norwegian archaeologist Professor Cat Jarman, who would later become his girlfriend.
The following year, the father-of-seven confirmed his separation from his third wife, Countess Karen Spencer, after 13 years of marriage.
It is understood that the breakdown coincided with the writing of his memoir, A Very Private School, which explores the trauma he experienced during his boarding school years.
Countess Spencer, who has an 11-year-old daughter named Charlotte Diana with the Earl, announced her departure from Althorp House in February.
"Well…at long last, three weeks ago, we finally moved into our temporary new home," the 52-year-old Canadian entrepreneur shared on social media.
"...This new chapter is already taking shape."
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Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Sky News AU
'Very sad': Fire tears through the late Princess Diana's historic family estate in suspected arson attack
A suspected act of vandalism has left Earl Charles Spencer "stunned" after a farmhouse on the historic Althorp Estate, Princess Diana's childhood home and final resting place, was destroyed in a late-night blaze. The 61-year-old author and younger brother of the late Princess took to social media on Wednesday to reveal the fire broke out at about 1.30am, engulfing a remote farmhouse on the Northamptonshire property. "Stunned to learn that one of @AlthorpHouse's farmhouses- fortunately, unoccupied at the time- was apparently burnt down by vandals last night," Spencer wrote on X. "With thanks to @northantsfire for doing their very best. So very sad that anyone would think this a fun thing to do." Just hours earlier, Spencer had hosted a barbecue for the Northamptonshire Steelbacks cricket team on the estate, which has been in the Spencer family since 1508. "Last night, we were delighted to host @northantsccc for a relaxed dinner with their players, coaches, girlfriends and wives," the official Althorp House Instagram account shared. "The Spencer family has proudly supported the club for the last 120 years, with @ serving as Patron." It is unclear when the event concluded, but firefighters were called shortly after midnight to respond to the fire, which had broken out in the two-storey farmhouse located roughly eight kilometres from the grade I-listed main house. "At the height of the fire, four crews from across the service wearing breathing apparatus used hose-reel jets to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading further," Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue said in a statement. "One crew remained on the scene into this afternoon with a water bowser to continue dampening down any remaining hotspots, and then returned to their station shortly before 1pm." While police have not officially declared the fire a criminal offence, they told the BBC the incident could be upgraded if evidence supports it being deliberately lit. But Althorp's head gamekeeper, Adey Greeno, who has worked on the estate for over three decades, was unequivocal in his belief that the fire was started intentionally. "The farmhouse that we lost to a deliberate act of vandalism last night has now had to be razed to the ground for safety reasons," he posted on X. "So sad. The world we live in." The Althorp Estate is not only steeped in centuries of aristocratic history, but is also the childhood home of Princess Diana, and the place where she was laid to rest following her tragic death in 1997. The 13,000-acre estate is open to the public during the summer months and in recent years has become a site of major archaeological interest. In May 2023, Earl Spencer announced he had been excavating the remains of a Roman villa believed to date back to around 100 AD. He was joined on the dig by Norwegian archaeologist Professor Cat Jarman, who would later become his girlfriend. The following year, the father-of-seven confirmed his separation from his third wife, Countess Karen Spencer, after 13 years of marriage. It is understood that the breakdown coincided with the writing of his memoir, A Very Private School, which explores the trauma he experienced during his boarding school years. Countess Spencer, who has an 11-year-old daughter named Charlotte Diana with the Earl, announced her departure from Althorp House in February. "Well…at long last, three weeks ago, we finally moved into our temporary new home," the 52-year-old Canadian entrepreneur shared on social media. "...This new chapter is already taking shape."
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
Man who faked marriage denies election death threats
A chicken shop owner has denied threatening to kill a federal election candidate as questions are raised about why the man remains in Australia. Over a decade ago, Musher Saleh had his permanent residency revoked after immigration officials uncovered false marriage claims. The 43-year-old is now accused of sending death threats to Australian Migrants candidate Jamal Daoud at his Liverpool office in Sydney's southwest on May 1 and 2. The Merrylands man appeared before Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday where he pleaded not guilty to one count of using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend. "I didn't," he told reporters outside court when asked whether he had made death threats. "I never do that." Mr Daoud told AAP that his office had been called repeatedly by someone speaking in Arabic in the final days of the election. The migration agent claimed Saleh told him something like "I know where you are, I will come and get you and I will show you what I can do to you". "In Arabic, 'I will get you' in this way - it is a death threat," Mr Daoud told AAP. He said he would send a letter to Immigration Minister Tony Burke to see why Saleh still remained in Australia despite his past. Entering Australia on a business visa in 2001, Saleh was granted permanent residency in May 2013, according to a 2018 decision from the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. The Palestinian man had his permanent residency revoked in August 2017 after immigration officials learned he had supplied false details about a claimed ongoing marriage to an Australian citizen. Two months later, he purchased a fried chicken shop in Auburn in Sydney's west and was promoting it on social media until 2024. Saleh failed to notify immigration that his marriage had broken down before being granted residency and that he had formed a new relationship with a Norwegian national instead, the tribunal found. In upholding the decision to revoke his permanent residency, the tribunal found Saleh had "consistently been untruthful" and made "deliberate falsehoods" to gain Australian citizenship. "The applicant's interactions with the department have been dictated by what he desired to gain and not by what his obligations required him to do," tribunal senior member Kira Raif wrote. "The applicant appears to have very little remorse about his actions." Ms Raif agreed that the Merrylands man would experience hardship if his visa was revoked and he returned to Gaza, but noted that he could apply to live in Norway as his partner had citizenship there. On Wednesday, Mr Burke did not respond by deadline to AAP's questions about why Saleh still resided in Australia. Mr Daoud ran for independent party Australian Migrants in Werriwa, Sydney during the 2025 federal election after standing for Clive Palmer's United Australia Party at the 2022 election. A chicken shop owner has denied threatening to kill a federal election candidate as questions are raised about why the man remains in Australia. Over a decade ago, Musher Saleh had his permanent residency revoked after immigration officials uncovered false marriage claims. The 43-year-old is now accused of sending death threats to Australian Migrants candidate Jamal Daoud at his Liverpool office in Sydney's southwest on May 1 and 2. The Merrylands man appeared before Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday where he pleaded not guilty to one count of using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend. "I didn't," he told reporters outside court when asked whether he had made death threats. "I never do that." Mr Daoud told AAP that his office had been called repeatedly by someone speaking in Arabic in the final days of the election. The migration agent claimed Saleh told him something like "I know where you are, I will come and get you and I will show you what I can do to you". "In Arabic, 'I will get you' in this way - it is a death threat," Mr Daoud told AAP. He said he would send a letter to Immigration Minister Tony Burke to see why Saleh still remained in Australia despite his past. Entering Australia on a business visa in 2001, Saleh was granted permanent residency in May 2013, according to a 2018 decision from the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. The Palestinian man had his permanent residency revoked in August 2017 after immigration officials learned he had supplied false details about a claimed ongoing marriage to an Australian citizen. Two months later, he purchased a fried chicken shop in Auburn in Sydney's west and was promoting it on social media until 2024. Saleh failed to notify immigration that his marriage had broken down before being granted residency and that he had formed a new relationship with a Norwegian national instead, the tribunal found. In upholding the decision to revoke his permanent residency, the tribunal found Saleh had "consistently been untruthful" and made "deliberate falsehoods" to gain Australian citizenship. "The applicant's interactions with the department have been dictated by what he desired to gain and not by what his obligations required him to do," tribunal senior member Kira Raif wrote. "The applicant appears to have very little remorse about his actions." Ms Raif agreed that the Merrylands man would experience hardship if his visa was revoked and he returned to Gaza, but noted that he could apply to live in Norway as his partner had citizenship there. On Wednesday, Mr Burke did not respond by deadline to AAP's questions about why Saleh still resided in Australia. Mr Daoud ran for independent party Australian Migrants in Werriwa, Sydney during the 2025 federal election after standing for Clive Palmer's United Australia Party at the 2022 election. A chicken shop owner has denied threatening to kill a federal election candidate as questions are raised about why the man remains in Australia. Over a decade ago, Musher Saleh had his permanent residency revoked after immigration officials uncovered false marriage claims. The 43-year-old is now accused of sending death threats to Australian Migrants candidate Jamal Daoud at his Liverpool office in Sydney's southwest on May 1 and 2. The Merrylands man appeared before Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday where he pleaded not guilty to one count of using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend. "I didn't," he told reporters outside court when asked whether he had made death threats. "I never do that." Mr Daoud told AAP that his office had been called repeatedly by someone speaking in Arabic in the final days of the election. The migration agent claimed Saleh told him something like "I know where you are, I will come and get you and I will show you what I can do to you". "In Arabic, 'I will get you' in this way - it is a death threat," Mr Daoud told AAP. He said he would send a letter to Immigration Minister Tony Burke to see why Saleh still remained in Australia despite his past. Entering Australia on a business visa in 2001, Saleh was granted permanent residency in May 2013, according to a 2018 decision from the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. The Palestinian man had his permanent residency revoked in August 2017 after immigration officials learned he had supplied false details about a claimed ongoing marriage to an Australian citizen. Two months later, he purchased a fried chicken shop in Auburn in Sydney's west and was promoting it on social media until 2024. Saleh failed to notify immigration that his marriage had broken down before being granted residency and that he had formed a new relationship with a Norwegian national instead, the tribunal found. In upholding the decision to revoke his permanent residency, the tribunal found Saleh had "consistently been untruthful" and made "deliberate falsehoods" to gain Australian citizenship. "The applicant's interactions with the department have been dictated by what he desired to gain and not by what his obligations required him to do," tribunal senior member Kira Raif wrote. "The applicant appears to have very little remorse about his actions." Ms Raif agreed that the Merrylands man would experience hardship if his visa was revoked and he returned to Gaza, but noted that he could apply to live in Norway as his partner had citizenship there. On Wednesday, Mr Burke did not respond by deadline to AAP's questions about why Saleh still resided in Australia. Mr Daoud ran for independent party Australian Migrants in Werriwa, Sydney during the 2025 federal election after standing for Clive Palmer's United Australia Party at the 2022 election. A chicken shop owner has denied threatening to kill a federal election candidate as questions are raised about why the man remains in Australia. Over a decade ago, Musher Saleh had his permanent residency revoked after immigration officials uncovered false marriage claims. The 43-year-old is now accused of sending death threats to Australian Migrants candidate Jamal Daoud at his Liverpool office in Sydney's southwest on May 1 and 2. The Merrylands man appeared before Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday where he pleaded not guilty to one count of using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend. "I didn't," he told reporters outside court when asked whether he had made death threats. "I never do that." Mr Daoud told AAP that his office had been called repeatedly by someone speaking in Arabic in the final days of the election. The migration agent claimed Saleh told him something like "I know where you are, I will come and get you and I will show you what I can do to you". "In Arabic, 'I will get you' in this way - it is a death threat," Mr Daoud told AAP. He said he would send a letter to Immigration Minister Tony Burke to see why Saleh still remained in Australia despite his past. Entering Australia on a business visa in 2001, Saleh was granted permanent residency in May 2013, according to a 2018 decision from the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. The Palestinian man had his permanent residency revoked in August 2017 after immigration officials learned he had supplied false details about a claimed ongoing marriage to an Australian citizen. Two months later, he purchased a fried chicken shop in Auburn in Sydney's west and was promoting it on social media until 2024. Saleh failed to notify immigration that his marriage had broken down before being granted residency and that he had formed a new relationship with a Norwegian national instead, the tribunal found. In upholding the decision to revoke his permanent residency, the tribunal found Saleh had "consistently been untruthful" and made "deliberate falsehoods" to gain Australian citizenship. "The applicant's interactions with the department have been dictated by what he desired to gain and not by what his obligations required him to do," tribunal senior member Kira Raif wrote. "The applicant appears to have very little remorse about his actions." Ms Raif agreed that the Merrylands man would experience hardship if his visa was revoked and he returned to Gaza, but noted that he could apply to live in Norway as his partner had citizenship there. On Wednesday, Mr Burke did not respond by deadline to AAP's questions about why Saleh still resided in Australia. Mr Daoud ran for independent party Australian Migrants in Werriwa, Sydney during the 2025 federal election after standing for Clive Palmer's United Australia Party at the 2022 election.
West Australian
2 days ago
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Man who faked marriage denies election death threats
A chicken shop owner has denied threatening to kill a federal election candidate as questions are raised about why the man remains in Australia. Over a decade ago, Musher Saleh had his permanent residency revoked after immigration officials uncovered false marriage claims. The 43-year-old is now accused of sending death threats to Australian Migrants candidate Jamal Daoud at his Liverpool office in Sydney's southwest on May 1 and 2. The Merrylands man appeared before Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday where he pleaded not guilty to one count of using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend. "I didn't," he told reporters outside court when asked whether he had made death threats. "I never do that." Mr Daoud told AAP that his office had been called repeatedly by someone speaking in Arabic in the final days of the election. The migration agent claimed Saleh told him something like "I know where you are, I will come and get you and I will show you what I can do to you". "In Arabic, 'I will get you' in this way - it is a death threat," Mr Daoud told AAP. He said he would send a letter to Immigration Minister Tony Burke to see why Saleh still remained in Australia despite his past. Entering Australia on a business visa in 2001, Saleh was granted permanent residency in May 2013, according to a 2018 decision from the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. The Palestinian man had his permanent residency revoked in August 2017 after immigration officials learned he had supplied false details about a claimed ongoing marriage to an Australian citizen. Two months later, he purchased a fried chicken shop in Auburn in Sydney's west and was promoting it on social media until 2024. Saleh failed to notify immigration that his marriage had broken down before being granted residency and that he had formed a new relationship with a Norwegian national instead, the tribunal found. In upholding the decision to revoke his permanent residency, the tribunal found Saleh had "consistently been untruthful" and made "deliberate falsehoods" to gain Australian citizenship. "The applicant's interactions with the department have been dictated by what he desired to gain and not by what his obligations required him to do," tribunal senior member Kira Raif wrote. "The applicant appears to have very little remorse about his actions." Ms Raif agreed that the Merrylands man would experience hardship if his visa was revoked and he returned to Gaza, but noted that he could apply to live in Norway as his partner had citizenship there. On Wednesday, Mr Burke did not respond by deadline to AAP's questions about why Saleh still resided in Australia. Mr Daoud ran for independent party Australian Migrants in Werriwa, Sydney during the 2025 federal election after standing for Clive Palmer's United Australia Party at the 2022 election.
