The Spencer Family and Ancestry (inc. Althorp Estate)

[Zonk]

I think there were a couple of reasons why the children disliked Raine [just my opinion and no particular order]

they resented a new woman in their father's life, she wasn't their mother and she convinced her husband to sell heirlooms [paintings, furniture, etc] to help ease the financial burden of Althrop.

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if the late Earl had passed prior to Charles coming of age, I would imagine he would have had picked a responsible person as executor to manage the estate until Charles had come of age. It definitely would not have been Frances, I don't think they had friendly relations even for the sake of the children after the divorce. I don't think he would have picked Sarah either. ...maybe Jane and someone else [another peer, lawyer, banker, etc.].

[Tilia C.]

I agree with you, Zonk. There must have been a will that settled the management of the estate in case that the Earl died while Charles was under age. Maybe even more than one person were named for the task, to make sure that no single person could make fatal decisions that were not in the best interest of the heir. But we will never know who these persons would have been, because of the privacy with which such a will would have been handled.

[Duch_Luver_4ever]

I dont know if this ever was in the museum or exhibit, and the auctions dealt mostly with the posh dresses, but what ever happened to the purple ensemble( in my avatar) she wore working at young england , with the infamous sun behind her pics?

While maybe not worthy of Christie's, it was an iconic outfit and pics, many of my favorite ones are in that set. She looked so adorable and innocent in it, I hope it was preserved for posterity.

[Roslyn]

I would be absolutely delighted to see that outfit turn up in an exhibition, but I suspect that when Diana moved out of her home when the engagement announcement was made, and made the transition from Sloane Ranger to fiancée of the Prince of Wales, none of her old clothing would have made the move with her. I doubt anyone in the BRF or their retainers would have thought it worth preserving for posterity, and I can't imagine her own family rushing to save it.

[Mermaid1962]

I'd think that she'd probably have moved some of her clothes with her after she got engaged, because she didn't have her whole new wardrobe put together right away. Probably her regular working clothes gradually got given away and/or thrown out, depending on their condition.

[Duch_Luver_4ever]

Originally Posted by Roslyn

I would be absolutely delighted to see that outfit turn up in an exhibition, but I suspect that when Diana moved out of her home when the engagement announcement was made, and made the transition from Sloane Ranger to fiancée of the Prince of Wales, none of her old clothing would have made the move with her. I doubt anyone in the BRF or their retainers would have thought it worth preserving for posterity, and I can't imagine her own family rushing to save it.

Agreed, she was probably happy to be rid of them, starting a new life and all. They were probably binned or given to the salvation army. Shame though, that one and her blue sweater and grey skirt are some of my fav outfits and pics of her. Most people went gaga over the clothes and jewels but her sloane ranger look was all I ever needed.

[Dman]

Inside Look at Althorp:
NBC On Assignment Airs Sunday, May 27th at 7/6c-
On Assignment: Heir B&B - NBC News

Princess Diana's childhood home Althorp opens to overnight guests | Daily Mail Online

[Rudolph]

The Vatican has taken a key step along the road to declaring an English aristocrat related to Princes William and Harry to be a saint

A 20-year investigation into the life and works of Fr Ignatius Spencer has been approved by Vatican historians, it emerged yesterday.

The document, known as a positio, has now been passed over to theologians of the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Sainthood.

If they decide there is “evidence of sanctity”, they will then ask Pope Francis to declare the Victorian Passionist priest as “Venerable”.

Read more: Relation to Princess Diana on road to becoming a saint – CatholicHerald.co.uk

[Benjamin]

Raine Spencer has died at the age of 87.

She was the stepmother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

Princess Diana's stepmother Raine Spencer dies at 87 - BBC News

[Dman]

My condolences to the Spencer family and the family of the late Countess.

[wyevale]

RIP 'Acid' Raine Dartmouth/Spencer,/de Chambrun. The 'wicked Stepmother' in that 80s Fairytale 'Charles & Diana'.

I well remember 'Private Eye's' spoof of her ticket to St Paul's Cathedral, that memorable day.

'Raine, Countess Spencer- Seat 87,Row Z [restricted view]'

[Moonmaiden23]

I was stunned years ago when I read about the cruel, clever but hilarious nickname the Spencer children gave to the stepmother they loathed...ACID RAINE.

One of Diana's biographers wrote that the Spencer children "had a capacity for hatred that was frightening" but I was relieved to know that the late Princess of Wales had forged a bond with Raine before her death in 1997.

I wonder if Earl Spencer and and his two surviving sisters ever did?

RIP Raine.

[Mirabel]

Originally Posted by wyevale

RIP 'Acid' Raine Dartmouth/Spencer,/de Chambrun. The 'wicked Stepmother' in that 80s Fairytale 'Charles & Diana'.

I well remember 'Private Eye's' spoof of her ticket to St Paul's Cathedral, that memorable day.

'Raine, Countess Spencer- Seat 87,Row Z [restricted view]'

I never understood why the Spencer children loathed Raine so much.

What did she do? Was it personal, or would they simply have detested any woman their father chose to marry?

[Dman]

Originally Posted by Mirabel

I never understood why the Spencer children loathed Raine so much.

What did she do? Was it personal, or would they simply have detested any woman their father chose to marry?

Normal stepmom and step kids drama.

[Queen Claude]

I am pretty sure that Raine was flawed and made mistakes but it seemed to me that a lot of the anger she got from her step-children was misplaced, and that their issues should have been with their father.

[Pranter]

Well from what I read one of the biggest issues was that she came in and started (not that she didn't have authority from the Earl) paintings etc etc in order to do repairs needed and pay debts etc. Also I have gotten the impression they weren't so happy with having a 'layer' between them and their father.


LaRae

[Duke of Marmalade]

Princess Diana’s stepmother Raine Spencer dies at the age of 87 | Daily Mail Online

[Countessmeout]

RIP countess spencer. And my condolences to William, Rupert, Henry and Charlotte and their kids on the loss of their mother/grandmother

As for her stepchildren, one could hope they found some peace with her. She after all nursed their father through years of illness though at the time if his death his don and Raine were on bad terms. They may not have liked her style, but much of what she did was needed repairs to their home and covering debt. Sad to think the wicked stepmother attitude can still be held by adults.

[Moonmaiden23]

Charles Spencer is said to have been upset by the renovations to Althorp House that Raine undertook during her marriage to Johnny. She apparently sold off ancient treasures that had been part of the Spencer heritage for 400 years. She did so to make the place solvent and I commend her for that, but I also understand Charles and his siblings being appalled at having their inheritance sold out from under them by their step-mother.

Charles and his sisters felt that Althorp looked tacky, nouveau riche and gaudy after Raine's "improvements".

Raine allegedly used the ancient Chapel at Althorp as a storage room, something Charles found particularly offensive.(I don't blame him for that!) One of his first actions when he came to the earldom was to restore the Chapel to it's intended use as a place of worship.

[Countessmeout]

As I understand althorp wasn't simply redecorated, it needed major repairs. She didn't sell their inheritance from under them. She saved it, by repairing a very old house that needed it, and paying off heavy debts the family had. Perhaps her style was not gaudy but Charles harps a fine house over his head not falling down and didn't inherit a huge debt because rain fun what needs to be fine. Though one could wish she hired a decorator. But do agree on chapel.