Charles Spencer – everything you need to know about Princess Diana’s brother as he divorces from third wife

Charles Spencer is the ninth Earl Spencer and the present head of the Spencer household, nonetheless his life is about to bear a serious change when he confirms that he and his spouse Karen Gordon are going their separate methods.

mentioned in an announcement shared with Mail on SundayThe Earl mentioned: “It's extraordinarily unhappy. I simply wish to dedicate myself to all of my youngsters and my grandchildren, and I want Karen each happiness sooner or later.The couple married in June 2011 and have a 12-year-old daughter, Charlotte Diana.

Divorce apart, the Earl has had a reasonably attention-grabbing life, from childhood to a few marriages and turning into a profitable writer. Nevertheless, it has additionally been a life crammed with hardships as not solely did he lose Diana and a brother he by no means knew, however he additionally confessed final yr that he was sexually abused as a baby.

Learn on to know extra about Diana's youthful brother…

youth

Born on 20 Could 1964, Charles was the youngest of his siblings and was born to John Spencer and Frances Shand Kydd. Her older sisters are Woman Sarah McCorquodale, Woman Jane Fellowes and the late Princess DianaHe additionally had an elder brother, John, however John died a couple of hours after his beginning on 12 January 1960.

When she was 5, her mother and father separated and Woman Sarah and Woman Jane have been attending boarding faculty. CHarless and Diana have been raised by their father, which strengthened their relationship,

In an interview with Sunday OccasionsCharles defined: “Diana and I had two older sisters who have been at college, so she and I have been collectively on this matter and I talked to her about it. Our father was a peaceful and fixed supply of affection, however our mom was not suited to motherhood. It wasn't her fault she simply couldn't do it.”

Nevertheless, the cut up was nonetheless tough for Charles and he confessed Folks He mentioned he had been “out and in of remedy for over 20 years.”

Relationship with Diana

Due to their shared childhood experiences, Charles and Diana grew to become depending on one another throughout their adolescence.

Recalling their rising up days collectively he mentioned: “I feel she was by no means shy, however she was good about individuals and he or she was reserved from the beginning. And he or she would decide somebody earlier than reacting to them. So, it’s nothing to be ashamed of… it’s truly fairly intelligent.”

Charles additionally paid tribute to his late sister, delivering her eulogy at her funeral and paying tribute to somebody who was “the essence of compassion, responsibility, type and wonder.”

After her funeral, Diana was buried on a synthetic island on her household property, the place Charles at the moment lives. Charles considers himself the guardian of the property and ensures that Diana's resting place is maintained and cleaned.

However The Earl shared on Good Morning Britain in 2021: “Each essential day, like birthdays, Mom's Day, I all the time go together with flowers. I am going typically, and it's an oasis of calm, and it's a beautiful place to go to.”

Childhood abuse

In 2024, Charles revealed that he had been bodily and sexually abused whereas learning at boarding faculty. Writing in his memoir, A really non-public facultyHe revealed: “There appeared to be a casual hierarchy amongst her victims… She would decide one boy in her mattress every time and use him for intercourse. She had whole management over the hypnotised boys, as a result of we have been starved of female heat and determined for consideration and affection.”

In one other passage from the ebook Charles additionally revealed that the varsity's Latin grasp had overwhelmed him with the spikes of a cricket boot. He described his experiences on the faculty as “completely hellish”, including: “I’ve typically seen the deep ache which nonetheless lingers within the eyes of my Maidwell contemporaries. Many people left Maidwell with demons sewn into the folds of our souls.”

It’s believed that writing in regards to the abuse he suffered put a pressure on his relationship with Karen, resulting in their divorce.

Relationships

In his memoir, Charles admitted that he misplaced his virginity to an Italian prostitute when he was 12 years outdated. “There was no pleasure within the act, no sense of maturity, no maturity,” he mentioned.I imagine now that I used to be merely finishing the method begun by the perverse attentions of the assistant matron.,

In 1989, he married mannequin Victoria Lockwood, who Ralph Lauren dubbed “probably the most lovely girl on the planet.” The couple loved a whirlwind relationship, with Earl getting down on one knee simply six weeks after assembly his girlfriend.

Diana's youngest son Prince Harry performed pageboy on the wedding ceremony and the couple welcomed daughters Woman Kitty, twins Woman Amelia and Woman Eliza, and son Viscount Althorp. The couple additionally moved to South Africa, however they finally separated in 1997, with Charles returning to the UK.

Charles later married Caroline Freud in 2001, with whom he had Edmund Spencer and Woman Lara, however a couple of months after the beginning of their daughter, the couple separated.

Charles finally fell in love with Karen Gordon and the 2 married in 2011. The couple have welcomed daughter Charlotte and her center title, Diana, is a reference to her late aunt. In June 2024, it was confirmed that Earl and Karen have been to divorce.

Residence

The Earl at the moment lives at Althorp, which has been within the household for 500 years because it was in-built 1508. Charles frequently shares updates of the grounds on his Instagram Tales, together with glimpses inside Diana's closing resting place.