Charles Spencer's wife Karen shares rare glimpse of Princess Diana's resting place – and it's so tranquil

Close-up of Princess Diana in 1988
Diana invited Ingrid Seward to the palace (Getty)

Charles Spencer's wife Karen regularly posts stunning glimpses of the family home where she lives with her husband and their daughter, Charlotte Diana.

The spacious estate, Althorp House, which has been in the Spencer family for more than 500 years, is also where Charles' sister Princess Diana was laid to rest.

Karen took to her Instagram Stories on Sunday, where she shared a serene image of the Oval Lake, close to where the late Princess of Wales is buried.

According to the BBC, the Earl was the one who decided his sister should be buried at the grounds of his home, which is where they both grew up.

The initial plan was reportedly for Diana to be buried in the family vault at the local church, but due to security and privacy concerns, Charles instead decided instead to lay her to rest on an island at the centre of the property's oval lake – a view which the family has long kept private.

Karen Spencer shared a dusk photo of the Oval Lake at Althorp House
Karen shared the serene photo online (Instagram)

While members of the public can visit the property when it is open in the summer, they are unable to gain entrance to the island.

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The decision came following the family's horror at the press intrusion experienced by Princess Diana, with Charles movingly calling his sister "the most hunted person of the modern age" in a gut-wrenching eulogy at her September 1997 funeral.

Prince William, Prince Harry, and then Prince Charles at Princess Diana's funeral service on 6 September 1997
Charles with his nephews at Princess Diana's funeral (Getty)

Charles also paid tribute to his beloved late sister as the "very essence of compassion, of duty, of style, of beauty," and summed up the nation's horror at her tragic death when he called himself: "the representative of a family in grief, in a country in mourning, before a world in shock".

On the most recent anniversary of her death, he posted a picture on his Instagram account that showed a young Diana standing with her arm around Charles' shoulder, as he smiled up at the camera. He didn't add a caption, allowing the image to speak for itself.

Aerial view of Althorp, this grade 1 listed stately home was the home of Lady Diana Spencer who later became the Princess of Wales, it is located on the Harlestone Road between the villages of Great Brington and Harlestone, 5 miles north west of Northampton.
Althorp House is set in stunning surroundings (David Goddard)

In Prince Harry's tell-all book Spare, he detailed how he and his wife Meghan Markle took a boat trip to pay their respects to his late mother.

All didn't go as planned during the secret visit however, as the small vessel apparently got stuck in the mud but luckily Diana's brother was on hand to give them "a little push" so they could make it to the land in the centre of the lake.

Charles Spencer and Karen Spencer at Ascot
Charles with his wife Karen (Max Mumby/Indigo)

Prince Harry also explained that he had wished to be buried alongside his mother on the island of the lake but that was not deemed possible.

Prince Harry looking emotional
Prince Harry originally planned to be laid to rest alongside his mother (Getty)

Instead, the Prince has chosen to have his body laid to rest at Frogmore House, which is where he celebrated his wedding to Meghan.

Charles and his wife Karen often share updates from the iconic residence and the Lady of the House even has a weekly newsletter where she updates fans on renovations at the historical home. Recently, Karen revealed they have made an exciting discovery at the lake – uncovering the footings for an old boat house underneath the mesmerising water.

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