Meghan Markle's Althorp Photo Backlash Prompts a Surprising Move from an Unlikely Family Member
The family member appears to have quietly stepped in after Meghan Markle found herself at the center of fresh controversy.
Princess Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, appears to have quietly stepped in after Meghan Markle found herself at the center of fresh controversy over photos from her family's visit to Althorp House. It is the Spencer family's historic estate and Diana's final resting place. Just like Markle's every other move, her recent visit to Diana's grave was not without its own controversies, but the Earl has seemingly made his stance clear over the entire fiasco.
The debate began after Markle shared a series of pictures from the Sussex family's "Summer Holiday" on Instagram on July 23. Among the images were touching moments of Prince Harry, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet walking through the grounds of Althorp carrying flowers. The family reportedly visited Diana's grave, where Harry's late mother has been buried since her death in 1997. While many royal fans praised the tribute as a heartfelt way for Harry to introduce his children to their grandmother's legacy, others criticized his wife for sharing such personal moments publicly.
The photos quickly sparked backlash online, with some accusing the Duchess of Sussex of using Diana's memory for publicity. Reports also claimed that King Charles and Prince William were unhappy with the images, although neither Buckingham Palace nor Kensington Palace has commented on those claims. Now, Diana's brother, Spencer, seems to have offered a subtle response.
Shortly after Markle's post, the Earl's wife, Dr. Cat Jarman, shared photos from another deeply personal Spencer family gravesite on social media, and this time, reportedly with her husband's agreement. Instead of Diana's grave, the images showed the resting place of John Spencer, Charles and Diana's older brother, who died shortly after birth in January 1960. Sharing the photos she added, "Today, @charles.earl.spencer took me to see the grave of his brother, John Spencer, who died just after birth on January 12th 1960."
Jarman continued, "He was buried in a quiet corner of the church of St Mary Magdalen, Sandringham, next to their grandfather. A few years ago, Charles had John’s headstone restored." Sharing more about the family's connection to the area, the professor added, "The church is right next to Park House, where Charles and his siblings grew up. I loved seeing these parts of Norfolk where he had what sounds like a gloriously happy childhood!"
The gesture has fueled speculation that Spencer does not share the criticism directed at Markle over the Althorp photos. While Spencer has not publicly commented on her Instagram post, his family's latest social media activity has only added to speculation that he sees no issue with sharing respectful moments connected to the Spencer family's history and Diana's enduring legacy.
While not directly, this was indeed a truce of support for the Sussexes. Spencer has long been one of Harry's strongest supporters, and over the years, has remained close to him and Markle, even as relations between the Sussexes and the Royal Family have become increasingly strained.
