First Visitors Approve of Princess Di Museum

Hundreds of Princess Diana’s admirers passed through the imposing stone gates of her ancestral home Wednesday, the first to view the mementos of a life that ended tragically nearly a year ago.

On what would have been her 37th birthday, visitors arrived to see the letters of a schoolgirl, the stunning silk dress of the bride who set out on an ill-fated royal marriage, the high-fashion outfits of a celebrity princess.

All are exhibits in a museum built by Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, at the Althorp estate in rural Northamptonshire. The seasonal museum, which allows 2,500 visitors a day, debuted Wednesday.

Nearly 150,000 tickets have been sold at prices of $8 for children, $12 for senior citizens and $15 for adults. The earl says profits will go to charity.

Iwona Skibinski, 31, and her husband drove from Duesseldorf, Germany, to visit Althorp.

“She did so many good works--such as her anti-land mines campaign and caring for children all over the world,” Skibinski said. “That really touched me.”

Many came to see the ornamental lake and island where Diana was buried in a private ceremony after her death Aug. 31 in a Paris car crash. Visitors cannot visit the grave site but can view the island from the water’s edge.

Spencer mingled with the first visitors to the museum.

“I hope you find this appropriate,” said the earl, who has been accused by some of cashing in on his sister’s death.

Residents in the nearby village of Great Brington have expressed concern that the lure of Diana’s grave will turn the area into an English version of Graceland, the home and grave of Elvis Presley.

Janet Lawrie, 43, among the first to complete the tour, thoroughly approved of what the earl set up. “It is very, very beautiful, very, very nice,” she said. “I don’t think it could have been done any better.”