Almost three decades have passed since Princess Diana’s tragic death, and now her former Cape Town retreat is on the market.
A Preserved Legacy
Nestled within the Tarrystone Estate in Constantia, a desirable suburb of Cape Town, lies the property where Diana once stayed. This expansive estate, covering two acres, boasts a thatched-roof mansion, two guest cottages, a tennis court, swimming pool, beautifully landscaped gardens, and a vineyard. The cottage that was Diana’s temporary home has remained largely unchanged, retaining its original furnishings and decor. As described in a sales brochure, the cottage remains “exactly as she left it.” Its layout features an open-plan living area, dining space, and kitchen on the ground floor, accompanied by a bedroom with a dressing room and ensuite. The upper floor houses a second bedroom, complete with its own bathroom, kitchenette, and deck.
The Tarrystone Estate, including the guesthouse where Diana resided, has been listed for sale at a price of approximately £7 million ($13.59m), as reported by The Telegraph UK. Previously, the estate was owned by Earl Spencer, Diana’s younger brother, who sold it to a French company in 2012. Its current owner is understood to be a French entrepreneur and collector of African art. This untouched time capsule of Diana’s final months is now available for purchase as part of the estate.
A Personal Journey
In March 1997, Diana visited the property to celebrate the third birthday of her nephew, Louis, the son of Earl Spencer. During this trip, she also had the opportunity to meet with then-South African president Nelson Mandela. However, as revealed in Earl Spencer’s memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, Diana’s visit was motivated by a more personal reason. At the time, she was secretly involved with heart surgeon Dr Hasnat Khan and was considering relocating to South Africa to start a new life with him. The possibility of finding solace on the other side of the world was a tempting one.
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According to Earl Spencer’s account, Diana hoped that Dr Khan could secure a position at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, a facility renowned for performing the world’s first successful human heart transplant decades earlier. As Spencer wrote, “But the prime reason for Diana’s visit had been driven by romance, not family.” He further explained, “She had come to see for herself if this sublimely beautiful tip of Africa, could provide a haven for her and her heart-surgeon lover.
Might they, she dared hope, move there together, and carve out a life?” Unfortunately, the couple’s relationship came to an end later that year, and Diana went on to form a relationship with Dodi Fayed. Tragically, she lost her life in a car accident in Paris on August 31, 1997, at the age of 36, just five months after her visit to the Tarrystone Estate.
Earl Spencer was present at the Cape Town estate when he received the devastating news of his sister’s passing. In a statement to the Telegraph UK, Earl Spencer emphasized that the sale of the estate is not just a transaction, but the sharing of a story.
