HICKORY, N.C. — It wasn’t a typical workday for employees at Sherrill Furniture when Earl Charles Spencer, Princess Diana’s brother, came by to see how his furniture line is made.

“He’s making 18 stops in the U.S., and Hickory is the only one that does the upholstery for the furniture,” Buddy Sherrill, chief executive officer of Sherrill Furniture, said of the Monday visit.


“He was amazed to see the work pace of the people. He was surprised to see how the Americans do it.”

The furniture is inspired by Althorp estate in Great Britain, which has been home to the Spencer family since 1508. Spencer started the Althorp Living History line about three years ago, and revenue from the business is used to pay for upkeep at the estate, Sherrill said.

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