Extra, "Georgiana" Weekend at Althorp, Diana's Birthplace

Althorp House, Princess Diana's birthplace and the site of her grave, closes for the season on August 30 this year. But if you miss the summer opening there's still a chance to visit and see a very special exhibition about Georgiana Spencer, the Duchess of Devonshire and the "Princess Diana" of her day.

Born in 1757, Georgiana grew up at Althorp and, at the young age of 17, married a much older man - the Duke of Devonshire who was an important figure at court. She was beautiful and charismatic with extravagant tastes. A fashion icon, doting mother, shrewd political operator and darling of the common people she never found happiness in love.

Sound familiar?

_{"Georgiana was a typical Spencer woman – strong-willed, stylish, and compassionate," Earl Spencer, Diana's brother commented. "She is certainly one of the more interesting of my ancestors – this year, when we put together an exhibition at Althorp to celebrate my family living here for 500 years, she was one of the key personalities that we built the exhibition around. She is pure Hollywood, so it's not surprising that her life has finally been made into a movie."}

That movie, The Duchess, based on a best-selling biography by Amanda Foreman, starring Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes, opens in September. In conjunction with the opening as well as the 500th anniversary of the house, Althorp will be open for a special "Georgiana" weekend on September 27 and 28.

Meanwhile, tickets for this summer's opening of Althorp are still available.

• Find out more about visiting Althorp
• Watch a trailer for The Duchess
• Buy Amanda Foreman's best-selling biography, Georgiana:Duchess of Devonshire direct

_{Keira Knightley in "The Duchess", Pathe/BBC Films}