King Charles Accused of 'Disrespecting' Diana's Legacy After What Happened To Her Childhood Home

King Charles is being accused of disrespecting the legacy of his late wife, Princess Diana, whose childhood home reportedly lies in ruins. The deteriorating condition of the estate has sparked outrage among the public, as the property neighbors Charles' lavish Sandringham Estate.

In 1961, Diana was born at Park House, a Norfolk estate, where she spent the first 14 years of her life. The once beautiful home now lies abandoned— its lawn overtaken by weeds, window frames flaking with old paint, and bricks darkened by years of rain and neglect. In light of the same, a neighbor, Selina Raines, said, “It’s heartbreaking to learn how the house has been left. If locals were aware, they would be shocked. But you can’t see it [the house] from the road, so very few know how it’s been left. It’s really sad.” As reported by The Mirror, another woman echoed, “It’s disrespectful. The house should be restored to how it was. The Estate houses that are hidden from public view don’t get what they need.” The 16-bedroom mansion has been empty since May 2021, when it was returned to the Norfolk Estate after the pandemic, as reported by the Daily Star.

Reflecting on the magnificence of the mansion, a source said, "It was marvellous. It's very sad [that it has been left to rot]. Everything was beautiful, all the equipment was new, and they had waiting lists. I would like to see it returned to what it was like back then, but I don't think with the health service we've got at the moment that it's going to happen." Another source took a dig at Charles and said, "King Charles has money to put into his caravan site but not to put into the house Diana grew up in."

The neglected home is just a 500-meter walk from Charles’ perfectly maintained Sandringham House. It also neighbors the historic St. Mary Magdalene Church. For more than 30 years, the abandoned property was under the care of the Leonard Cheshire charity. But today, it stands deserted, with rising expenses cited for its shutdown.

For decades, the royal family has resided in Sandringham’s grand main house while they were in town, and the surrounding homes were rented out to other families. That’s how Diana’s father came to lease Park House—an aristocrat, but not quite royalty. Growing up in the neighborhood, Diana often mingled with the royal family, especially Prince Andrew. That’s how she crossed paths with Charles, despite being closer in age to his siblings, as reported by Cosmopolitan. Diana’s family left Park House in 1975, and nearly a decade later, in 1983, Queen Elizabeth handed over the house to a charity.