The grand double oak doors of Althorp House remained firmly shut as Meghan Markle stood on the gravel driveway, gazing up at the elegant Georgian manor that had been Princess Diana's family home for many years.
This was not the homecoming she had envisioned. Just weeks after being asked by King Charles III to vacate their grace-and-favor residence at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, Meghan had hoped to secure an invitation to a private gathering at Althorp. She intended to plead her case to the Spencer family for a more permanent connection to her late mother-in-law's legacy. However, that request was firmly denied.
Meghan was quite insistent that she and Harry be allowed to attend the meeting at Althorp, where she planned to discuss the possibility of Charles granting them Althorp House or at least allowing them to use the Spencer name.
A source close to the Sussexes informed this reporter that Meghan felt that with their eviction from Frogmore, this would be the perfect opportunity to mend their ties to Diana's side of the family. But the Spencers were having none of it. Indeed, Earl Charles Spencer, Diana's younger brother and the current custodian of the Althorp estate, made it clear that the Sussexes are not welcome on the property. In a recent interview, he bluntly stated, "Meghan's request to be adopted into the Spencer family and use our name for her and Harry's commercial ventures was sternly rejected. We have no desire to be exploited in that way."
The rift between the Sussexes and the royal family has been well documented, with tensions escalating ever since Harry and Meghan's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021. The couple's decision to step back from their royal duties and relocate to California has only widened the divide, and the recent eviction from Frogmore Cottage appears to have dealt a fresh blow.
"Harry and Meghan were devastated when they received the news that they had to vacate Frogmore," the source continued. "That property held such deep significance for them, and they were hoping it would remain a sanctuary even as they established their lives in the U.S. To be told they had to leave, essentially at the King's command, was a real punch to the gut."
The decision to reclaim Frogmore Cottage was seen by many as a strategic move by the palace, denying the Sussexes a foothold in the UK and further distancing them from the royal family. With the doors to Althorp now firmly closed, it seems the couple's attempts to maintain strong ties to Diana's legacy have been thwarted. "There's a real sense that Harry and Meghan are being systematically cut off from the trappings of the royal family," said royal commentator Nigel Patson. "First they lose their HRH titles, then they're forced out of Frogmore, and now they're being denied access to Althorp. It's as if the Crown is trying to erase their connection to the Windsor legacy altogether."
For their part, the Sussexes have remained relatively tight-lipped on the latest developments, issuing only a brief statement acknowledging their departure from Frogmore Cottage. However, sources close to the couple suggest they are deeply hurt by the rejections they have faced from both the royal family and the Spencer clan. "Harry and Meghan were hoping that aligning themselves more closely with Diana's side of the family would provide them with a sense of belonging and purpose, especially as they've been so thoroughly cut off from the Windsors," the source revealed. "The idea of living at Althorp, or at least being welcomed there, was a comforting one. To have that door slammed in their face has been a real blow."
The tension between the Sussexes and the Spencers has also raised questions about the couple's future plans. There had been speculation that they might seek to formally adopt the Spencer name to strengthen their ties to Diana's legacy and potentially capitalize on the brand recognition. However, Earl Spencer's firm rejection of Meghan's request appears to have put an end to that idea. "The Spencers have made it crystal clear that they have no interest in the Sussexes using their name or their family home for any commercial or personal gain," Patson said. "They've drawn a very firm line in the sand, and it seems unlikely that Harry and Meghan will be able to breach it anytime soon."
As the Sussexes continue to navigate the turbulent waters of their post-royal lives, the closure of the doors at Althorp House serves as a stark reminder of the challenges they face in maintaining their connection to the Windsor and Spencer legacies. With the King unwilling to grant them further concessions and the Spencer family equally unwilling to embrace them, Harry and Meghan may find themselves increasingly isolated from the very institutions they once hoped to be a part of. Only time will tell how the Sussexes choose to respond to these latest setbacks, but one thing is clear: the rift between them and the British royal family shows no signs of healing anytime soon.
