A bitter legal dispute over the multi-million pound inheritance of the late Princess Diana has taken a bizarre and dramatic turn, with her brother, Charles Spencer, making an extraordinary claim in court.
The 9th Earl Spencer alleges that crucial financial documents, which could shed light on the whereabouts of his sister's missing fortune, were destroyed by 'acid rain'. This shocking revelation has been presented as part of a High Court battle against his former stepmother.
The Core of the Controversy
At the heart of the feud is a complex trust fund established by their father, Earl John Spencer, in 1994. Charles Spencer contends that his stepmother, Countess Raine Spencer, and her financial advisor, John Pike, mismanaged the trust, leading to significant financial losses from the Althorp estate's estate.
The Spencer family's sprawling Northamptonshire estate, Althorp, is the ancestral home and final resting place of Princess Diana. Its management and the funds within the trust are central to the case.
The 'Acid Rain' Explanation
In a startling submission, lawyers for Earl Spencer stated that a chest containing vital papers was left in the open at the Althorp estate. They claim that the contents were subsequently ruined by acid rain, rendering them illegible and therefore unavailable for the court proceedings.
This explanation has raised eyebrows, with the opposing counsel for Countess Spencer questioning the veracity of the claim, suggesting it is an attempt to explain the absence of key evidence.
A Long-Standing Family Rift
The current lawsuit is the latest chapter in a long and very public family disagreement. Charles Spencer has previously been critical of his stepmother's influence on the family's affairs. The case underscores the deep and lingering tensions within one of Britain's most famous aristocratic families, even decades after the People's Princess's tragic death.
The outcome of this High Court battle could finally determine the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of millions of pounds from Princess Diana's legacy.
