Diana's niece reveals she is pleased her younger brother will inherit the Althorp Estate as it means it will stay in the family name

  • Lady Kitty Spencer has spoken about ancient custom of primogeniture
  • Spencer's vast estate in Northamptonshire will go to her younger brother
  • However, she is happy with that as it keeps the home 'in the family name'
  • Added that she believes viscount brother Louis will do 'an impeccable job' 

By Euan McLelland For MailOnline

Published: 00:10 EST, 26 October 2015 | Updated: 07:18 EST, 26 October 2015

Princess Diana's niece Lady Kitty Spencer has said she's pleased her family's stately home will be passed on to your younger brother as she would hate for it to lose the Spencer name.

The 24-year-old - who describes herself as 'pro gender equality' - has no qualms about being overlooked when it comes to Althorp House being handed over as she firmly believes primogeniture is the 'correct way'.

Her viscount brother Louis will inherit the vast Northamptonshire estate, which has been in the Spencer family for centuries, despite being three years younger.

Lady Kitty Spencer (pictured), Princess Diana's niece, is pleased her family's stately home is being passed on to her younger brother

Lady Kitty Spencer (pictured), Princess Diana's niece, is pleased her family's stately home is being passed on to her younger brother

Lady Kitty Spencer
Viscount Louis Spencer

Lady Spencer (pictured left) is pleased Althorp House will be passed on to Louis (pictured right) as she would hate for it to lose the Spencer name

The 24-year-old has no qualms about being overlooked when it comes to Althorp House (pictured), in Northamptonshire, being handed over as she firmly believes primogeniture is the 'correct way'

Father Charles Spencer has insisted he is 'totally relaxed' about the prospect of his eldest daughter taking over the deeds to the property and its associated land, but referenced the ancient traditions tied to the home.

And despite being given her father's blessing to take it over, Lady Kitty is more than happy to abide by the custom of the firstborn male child inheriting the estate.

Speaking to Tatler magazine, she said: 'In general, I'm totally pro gender equality. But I'm quite happy that that's [going to be] my brother's responsibility. I just think it's the correct way.

'I like that the house stays within the same family with the same surname. I wouldn't want it any other way for the Spencers. And I just know my brother is going to do an impeccable job'. 

Her father said in May this year: 'That was the structure written by the person who first built this place.

The Tatler interview also chose to scrutinise Lady Kitty's family's decision to move to South Africa when she was young was done so to escape public duty here in Britain

The Tatler interview also chose to scrutinise Lady Kitty's family's decision to move to South Africa when she was young was done so to escape public duty here in Britain

Kitty was a straight-A student at Reddam House, a private school for South Africa's elite but is back on UK soil and attending the glitziest of parties 

Kitty was a straight-A student at Reddam House, a private school for South Africa's elite but is back on UK soil and attending the glitziest of parties 

'If I chose Kitty it would be against all the tradition that goes with Althorp. It's just the way it is. I get the problems with it as a concept. I also get the strengths of it having worked to date.'

Several notable names in the British aristocracy have spoken publicly against primogeniture of late.

The interview with Lady Spencer is in the new edition of Tatler

The interview with Lady Spencer is in the new edition of Tatler

The insinuation, they say, is that women are incapable of managing their family's fortune - even with an age advantage.

Lady Kinvara Balfour - daughter of Roderick Balfour, 5th Earl of Balfour - branded the custom 'archaic, mad, absolutely mad', saying it suggested that a 'daughter is a disappointment' and women are 'second best'.

The Tatler interview also chose to scrutinise Lady Kitty's family's decision to move to South Africa when she was young was done so to escape public duty here in Britain.

She responded: 'I am sure that was a factor, but it was more that we went for my birthday for a holiday and we ended up sort of staying. We just all really suited that lifestyle.

Asked about Diana, who was killed in 1997 when Lady Kitty was aged just six, she responded: 'Sadly, I have very few memories of my aunt. I was so young when she died'.

She also revealed she has had only 'a couple' of boyfriends, 'and they are still two of my best friends', and at this point remains single. 

Comments (137)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

 View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now