Althorp, located in Northamptonshire, England, is a historic estate renowned for its extensive gardens and parklands. The estate spans approximately 13,000 acres and has been the ancestral home of the Spencer family for over 500 years. The gardens at Althorp have evolved over centuries, reflecting the tastes and styles of various periods. In the 1660s, French landscape architect André Le Nôtre, famed for designing the gardens of Versailles, was commissioned to lay out the park and grounds. His design introduced formal, geometric patterns and tree-lined avenues, characteristic of the French formal garden style. In the late 18th century, architect Henry Holland made significant alterations to the estate, including changes to the gardens. Further enhancements occurred in the 1860s under architect William Milford Teulon, who updated the gardens to reflect Victorian tastes. During this period, the Round Oval lake was created, serving as a focal point in the park. Following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997, the Round Oval lake became the site of her memorial. She is interred on a small island in the middle of the lake, with a Doric-style temple situated across from it, serving as a place for visitors to pay their respects. Today, the gardens and parklands of Althorp continue to be a testament to the estate's rich history and the evolving landscape designs that have shaped it over the centuries.