Round Oval. On your left hand side, you can see the late Princess Diana’s grave.
It is on an island in the middle of the pond and we, ordinary people can’t approach there.
When Mr. Nelson Mandela visited there, a temporary bridge was put up.

The house from an anterior view. There is the hall, long isles, galleries, some bed rooms, the drawing room, and the library. All of the rooms are decorated with paintings and furnishings.

The building included the cafe, the shop. The exhibition rooms were also there. Many goods which remind us of the late Princess Diana are displayed. It used to be the stable.

In recent years, I have thought that I would visit Althorp if I have a chance. However, the tour to Althorp is limited to the summer season, so I couldn’t visit there because I traveled to England at other seasons during which the travel fee was cheap.
In 2006, I firstly planed to travel to England in the middle of June with my friend, but I couldn’t because of my job. Finally, I traveled alone from the end of June. Partly, it was lucky for me because I could join a tour to Althorp. A tour with Japanese guide used to be held by My Bus, but when I searched by the Internet, I couldn’t find any. Instead, I found a tour by Golden Tours. It cost £51 including the admission fee and a cup of tea per adult. It was held on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday from July to August. I tried to sign up through the Internet, but I couldn’t because the message said that my credit card number was wrong. Therefore, I went to the office in Victoria to book the tour on the day I arrived in London.
When I asked to book a tour to Althorp, the receptionist said that firstly, he must checked if the number of people who booked the tour exceeded the minimum number. He found out a few people had booked, so I could book.
I thought, “There may not be any tour to Althorp by My Bus. People may forget the late Princess Diana.” However, when I went to the assembly point 15 minutes before the appointed time, I found more than twenty people. There were three young ladies from Chicago, four middle-aged women from South Africa, and some oriental people ; they weren’t Japanese, probably Chinese of Korean.

Finally, there may have been 30 to 40 people. Therefore, it was supposed to be a tour without a guide, but a guide came with us. Lucky!!
The tour planed to start at 11 o’clock and end at around 18:30^*.

^* On the return trip, there was a little traffic congestion and the bus stopped wherever every passenger asked. Finally, the bus came back to Victoria at around 19:30.

On the way to Althorp, the bus driver got lost. It reminded me of a bus driver who got lost when I joined a tour to Hever Castle, but we arrived at Althorp safely.
The guide said that we would have some free time until 4:30. From 2:15, Earl Spencer would come to the shop in commemoration of publishing his book. I didn’t want to buy his book, but I wanted to see him.
After seeing the house, I went to the building including the cafe and the shop. I had sandwiches and a cup of tea and was waiting for him. About five minutes before his autograph session, there were many people in front of the shop. I thought I couldn’t peek into the shop, so I almost gave up seeing him. However, I had a second thought ; he would probably come from the house to the shop ; so I went to the back of the shop and was waiting. Then, soon, some women said in small voices, “It must be him!”
He wore a shirt and a pair of half-length trousers, so firstly I didn't recognize him. However, it was definitely Earl Spencer ; the late Princess Diana's brother. He was walking from the house slowly.

Earl Spencer who was walking from the house.

After that, I went to the Round Oval where the late Princess Diana's grave was. When I was walking around the beautiful pond, I begant to feel calm.

Left three photos : the Round Oval, On the edje, there was the late Princess Diana's memorial. Two messages were there. One message was Diana's and the other was Earl Spencer's. In her message, she said that she never felt more joy than helping poor people or people in trouble.
Right photo : On the day, specially, "Midsummer Night's Dream" in the field.

After coming back, I had a little more time, so I went and saw the house again, and walked in the field. I was satisfied with the tour.

At the back of the old stable building, there were some white roses.
An old woman said, "They are probably......" and took a photo. I heard her words and took a photo too.

(2007.2.4)

to Kensington Palace

to Spencer House

To the Top

Trip to England