Summer is the season that reminds us Lady Diana. The princess of the people, in fact, was born on 1 July 1961 and died on August 31, 1997. The month of August, in particular, is the one that we are most associated with its brief existence, since in those a few weeks of 28 years ago the final act of the history of this unforgettable icon was consumed. The epilogue, for some mysterious and disturbing, of an intense and painful life. In recent years, however, a new theory has developed and strengthened that does not concern the death of Lady D, but its tomb, which according to some would not be in the place indicated by the Spencer family.
From Kensington Palace to Althorp
Almost three decades have passed since the accident in Alma tunnel In which Lady Diana, boyfriend Dodi Al-Fayed and driver Henri-Paul died their life. The investigations concluded that the tragedy was caused by the latter, they have a completely drunk guide. In 2006 the BBC reported that the alcoholic rate in the driver’s blood was three times higher than the limit allowed by law. In addition, the Mercedes-Benz S280 on which the princess was traveled to more than 100 km/h (many speculations on the exact speed have been made).
Not everyone, however, believe in the official version. For 28 years, more or less credible conspiracy theories have been circulating. According to the most famous Lady Diana, he was killed by order of the Royal Family British, who in this way would get rid of a scandalous and uncomfortable character (for someone, in fact, at the time of death Diana would have been pregnant with Al-Fayed, hypothesis never demonstrated). A popular woman all over the world, able to obscure the crown with her magnetic charm. Nobody has ever found convincing evidence that could rewrite the end of Lady D. in 2019, then, the mystery moved from the drama of the alma tunnel to the burial of the princess.
Although the past years are vivid in the collective memory, the images of Diana’s funeral, which took place on September 6, 1997 at the Abbey of Westminster: the funeral procession started by Kensington Palace, the coffin covered by the royal banner of Ermellino with the letter written by Prince Harry above the letter, the then Prince Carlo, the Prince Consorte Filippo, the maternal uncle Charles Spencer and the sons of Diana. to the coffin, the bow of the Regina Elisabetta At the passage of the procession, the tide of flowers and tickets left by people in front of Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace.
After the ceremony, broadcast live all over the world and, as the Rai Teche site recalled, seen by more than two billion people, the spotlights moved away. The coffin of the princess He made his last trip to the small island in the center of the Oval Lake, in the residence of the Spencer family, in Althorp, Northamptonshire (where Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer) lives today). Not everyone, however, are convinced that Lady D’s remains are truly in that place of peace, immersed in nature and silence.
The “secret” burial
According to a bizarre theory reported by the Daily Star and Mirror in 2019 (but in circulation since 2017), Lady Diana would not have been buried in Althorp, but in the Spencer family chapellocated in St. Mary’s Church a Great Brington (always in Northamptonshire). In this crypt, nineteen generations of the Diana dynasty were buried, specified the Britain Express site, including her father, Edward John Spencer, who died in 1992.
The supporters of this hypothesis point out the presence, in front of the chapel, of a gate of about 1.80 cm to which chains and padlocks have been applied and a alarm with movement sensors, reported with a sign. Furthermore, there would still be traces of cement At the point where the crypt would have been opened to lay Diana’s coffin and then closed forever.
According to conspiracy theory the journey of the coffin from the abbey of Westminster ad Althorp Houseon September 6, 1997, would have been a sort of staging: the Spencer family would have gone to bring the coffin to St. Mary’s Church at night, although the reason for the alleged movement, nor of all this secrecy, is not clear. In truth, the whole story appears rather confused and enigmatic. According to what reported by the Daily Star, Sun and Hello after the accident in the Alma tunnel the Count Charles Spencer He thought of organizing his sister’s burial in the family crypt, St. Mary’s Church. A team of workers would even have received the order to dig an opening in the sepulcher floor, so that the coffin can be fallen.
A few days later, however, Charles Spencer suddenly changed his mind, choosing Althorp as the last home of the princess. In a public declaration, as Mirror and Daily Star recalled, the aristocrat explained that he had made this decision to prevent Great Brington, a village then inhabited by about 200 people, was overwhelmed by the intrusion of the media and admirers of Diana.
Thus, on September 4, 1997, the count would have made the chapel seal and the following evening, less than 24 hours after the sister’s funeral, announced that the burial would take place in the family estate. The conspiracy theorists, however, are sure that the crypt has not been closed. Some do not exclude that it was subsequently reopened to bring the remains of Lady d.
A year after the tragedy in Paris, the Daily Star, a spokesman for the bishop of Peterborough, was still recalled, whose diocese extends to Great Brington, would assure that the crypt it would have been closed “A few days after the funeral”. Despite this, the bishop would have made public the certificate relating to the inhumation of Lady D, in which it is specified that the princess does not rest in the chapel, but in Althorp. The document was not enough to calm the spirits of those who believe, still today, in the thesis of burial “secret”.
The suspicions of these people are also fueled by the testimonies of some inhabitants of the village of Great Brigton, who would have told of a blackout and strange noises of heavy machinery on the night of the alleged burial in the chapel, immediately after the funeral. To try to understand something more the Daily Star asked the Western Power Distribution, that is, the local electricity company, which replied, in a rather laconic way, that “It cannot be excluded” an interruption of electricity for that night.
Question of safety
The main conspiracy theory on the burial of Lady Diana therefore claims that the coffin would have been brought byWestminster abbey In Althorp, where he would remain for an indefinite period and then back to the Chapel of St. Mary’s Church again. But why would Charles Spencer hid the sister of his sister? Perhaps for security issues or to make them, at least as a dead, that peace that has not had in life? It sounds little credible, above all because Althorp’s tomb is not accessible to the public, he pointed out the people: tourists who visit the home during opening periods can only glimpse the island from afar, according to the lake bank and offer their tributes in front of the memorial not far away, a Doric -style temple built at the end of the nineteenth century and dedicated to Lady Diana in July 1998, Washington Post.
Not only that: in the Memoir Spare the Prince Harry He clarified that in the past it was possible to get to the Oval Lake through a bridge, then removed, it seems, precisely for safety issues. Today the only way to access the island would be via lake. Count Spencer then returned several times to the topic relating to the choice of Diana’s burial place. After the Alma accident, he explained, cited by People, the personal reasons that had prompted him to choose Althorp as the final destination of his sister’s earthly journey: “It was decided to bury Diana, princess of Wales, in the lands of Althorp Park, where her family can adequately take care of her tomb and her children can visit her privately”.
For William And Harryin fact, the estate is easier to reach than Great Brington. This could perhaps be one of the main reasons why the conspiracy theory is not reliable. In this regard, Spencer reiterated to the People: “I believe his very important for (the children of Diana) being there with her. Fortunately it is a quiet place and they can go and go as they want and when they want. For me it is very nice to know this”. In an interview with the 2017 BBC Charles Spencer highlighted, however, the aspects related to the protection of the tomb: “There was such a strong emotion everywhere that I was very worried about the place where we could bury (Diana) safely”.
Not only that: in his book “Althorp. The story of an English family” (1998) the count He wrote: “We all agreed that, for its beauty and tranquility, this was the right place for Diana”. In the work Charles also said he had carefully selected it: the presence of the lake, in fact, acted “Cut”from a natural barrier “Against the actions of crazy and morbid people …”.
The island, therefore, would already be an excellent protection for the Tomb of Lady D. In 2017 the princess brother, quoted by Hello, added 4’s TODAY to Radio: “We have undergone four attempts to intrusion … In the last 20 years. I am all blocked. There are strange people out there. Althorp is the safest place to keep (Diana’s remains)”. There would have been no need to bring it to the family chapel also because a possible movement, albeit secret, would not have brought any guarantee of safety In addition.
As for the alarm system at the entrance of the crypt of Spencerin the church of St. Mary, there would be nothing to be surprised, nor do that make you think of who knows what intrigue: it is a family famous on a planetary level thanks to Diana. Consequently, it is not at all strange that Charles Spencer wants to protect and preserve a private space from indiscreet looks, the place where its ancestors rest for eternity (for example, usually, the chapels in cemeteries are also closed. Little does not host that they do not host illustrious characters. The Spencer dynasty is popular, but not all its members have been public personalities. In any case, the eventual opening to the It is a decision that belongs only to the count)
A cemetery for animals
In 2023 the Sun revealed the Royal Family and the Spencer Vollero planted 36 oaks, one for each year of life of the princess, on the path around the Oval Lake. According to the Independent to donate the majestic trees, William, Harry, among others, were among others Charles IIIQueen Elizabeth and Queen Mother.
Then there is another small mystery reported by the Chicago Tribune and the Washington Post: it seems that the island in which Lady D was buried was, in the past, the animal cemetery of the Spencer family. The princess’s favorite cat, Marmalade, would be buried there.
There is no reason to believe that Diana does not rest in what was her home. Far from the media clamor that surrounded her and sometimes persecuted when she was alive. Finally in peace, we hope, forever.