The Haunting of Bly Manor: How did the parents die?

How did the parents die in The Haunting of Bly Manor?

Going into The Haunting of Bly Manor, we began with all sorts of speculation. But before we dig into any revelations, please note there are significant spoilers ahead if you are not caught up with the series.

In The Haunting of Bly Manor, we meet young Flora and Miles Wingrave, two perfectly splendid children. Well, most of the time. One theory many have is that the kids are also dead, but we quickly learn that’s not the case. They really are orphans, but there is a lot of mystery surrounding the parents.

Where are their parents? Why aren’t the spirits of the parents also at Bly Manor? And why is their uncle, Henry Wingrave, so sketchy and refuses to see his niece and nephew?

Spoilers ahead! 

It turns out that the death of Miles and Flora’s parents isn’t all that mysterious or even haunting, but Henry does blame himself.

Audiences learn that Charlotte Wingrave, Miles and Flora’s mom, has been having an affair with their uncle, Henry. This affair has been going on for years. In fact, Flora is Henry’s daughter. When Dominic Wingrave, Charlotte’s husband does the math (after five years) after some suspicions, he bans his brother from the home.

To save their marriage, Dominic and Charlotte go on a trip to India. And it’s not long after that Henry receives a call telling him that Dominic and Charlotte have been in a terrible accident and neither survived. Henry refuses to go to Bly Manor because of his guilt.

Young Flora tells Dani she has searched every hall and room for her parents, but can’t find them. Since Charlotte and Dominic didn’t die on the property, their spirits aren’t there.

The Haunting of Bly Manor is now streaming on Netflix.