Following the end of his third marriage, Princess Diana’s brother moved on with a much younger woman. However, the couple soon found themselves embroiled in a scandal involving leaked private information and an intense legal dispute.
Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer and younger brother of Princess Diana, is no stranger to the spotlight, but his private life has recently captured even more attention. After divorcing his third wife, the Earl found companionship with a television archaeologist 18 years his junior.
Earl Charles Spencer at a special book signing event on March 3, 2015, in Santa Monica, California. | Source: Getty Images
However, what began as a fresh start quickly turned controversial when private details about his new love’s health were allegedly leaked by his estranged ex-wife, igniting a legal battle. Take a closer look at the Earl’s divorce from his third wife and meet his much younger girlfriend.
Earl Charles Spencer at the ICAP charity day on December 9, 2015, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
A Marriage on the Rocks
In June 2024, the news broke that Earl Spencer and his third wife, Karen Spencer, the Countess of Spencer, were getting divorced. The couple’s 13-year marriage reportedly unraveled under the weight of personal challenges, including the strain caused by the Earl’s memoir.
Earl Charles Spencer and Karen Spencer at the wedding of Emily McCorquodale and James Hutt at The Church of St. Andrew and St. Mary, Stoke Rochford, on June 9, 2012, in Grantham, England. | Source: Getty Images
The book, which recounted the harrowing abuse he endured during his boarding school years, is said to have taken a heavy emotional toll on the relationship.
Earl Charles Spencer, Ann Widdecombe, and Countess Karen Spencer posing on the opening day of the Althorp Literary Festival on June 13, 2013, in England. | Source: Getty Images
The Earl and Countess had informed the staff at Althorp, the Spencer family’s historic Northamptonshire estate, about their decision to divorce in April 2024.
The couple, who married in June 2011 on Althorp’s grounds— where Princess Diana is buried — had been introduced the previous year on a blind date in Los Angeles.
Earl Charles Spencer and Countess Karen Spencer at day 3, Ladies Day, of Royal Ascot on June 18, 2015, in England. | Source: Getty Images
Countess Spencer, a Canadian philanthropist, had been a steady presence by the Earl’s side throughout their marriage, overseeing various projects at Althorp and supporting his public endeavors.
By late August, the Countess confirmed in an Instagram post that she was still living at Althorp, adding to the intrigue surrounding the state of their relationship.
Countess Karen Spencer, and Charles, 9th Earl of Spencer, at the BBC America BAFTA Los Angeles TV Tea Party 2017. | Source: Getty Images
In November, she took to Instagram again, sharing in part, “It’s been a challenging time, but also one filled with so much generosity and kindness,” offering a glimpse into the emotional complexity of the situation.
While the details of their separation remained closely guarded, the announcement marked the end of a chapter for the Earl, whose personal life has often been in the public eye.
Charles and Karen Spencer at the Whole Child International’s Inaugural Gala on October 26, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
With the couple’s high-profile split capturing significant attention, the story took an unexpected turn when Princess Diana’s younger brother introduced his new romantic partner — and allegations about a personal betrayal emerged.
Earl Charles Spencer and Countess Karen Spencer at the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England. | Source: Getty Images
A New Love and a Controversial Revelation
In an interview published by The Mail on Sunday on November 24, Earl Spencer opened up about finding love again with Dr. Cat Jarman, a television archaeologist. Their connection began as colleagues working on a project at Althorp.