Charles, the ninth Earl Spencer and younger brother of the late Princess Diana, has once again become a figure in the gossip columns as he is set to divorce for the third time. The controversial aristocrat has fallen for a Norwegian archaeologist who was conducting excavations at his family estate, Althorp. This was reported by the Daily Mail.
The Earl and his third wife, Karen, announced their divorce in June 2021 after 14 years of marriage. The Countess has already stated that moving out of the 500-year-old estate, which the Spencer family has owned for over 500 years, was "traumatic."
On social media, Karen Spencer confessed that it was challenging to find temporary housing that could accommodate "seven horses, two sheep, four cats, and a dog, but with the help of wonderful friends, we finally found it."
She also mentioned that she is "happy" to start a new chapter in her life.
Meanwhile, it has come to light that a new woman has entered Charles's life, who is famous not only for his connection to Diana, Princess of Wales, but also for his three scandalous marriages.
The Norwegian, Kat Jarman, arrived at Althorp in 2021 as part of a group of archaeologists and accompanied by a film crew from Channel 4, aiming to find a lost medieval village that was supposedly located in the area.
0Kat had heard of Earl Spencer but had little interest in him. As the couple now recounts, she literally pushed him aside when he obstructed her path to the excavation site.
"I grew up in Norway, where there really is no class system, and nobody cares about all that. I'm a real nerd. I had heard about Althorp but knew nothing of Earl Spencer," says Kat.
1A friendship blossomed between them. Charles, himself a historian, was captivated by Kat, who turned out to be much smarter than him.
"I’m ashamed to admit this, but I had never been to the British Museum until she took me there. I must be the only person in Britain who hasn't been. But with her, it felt like I had the best guide in the world," the Earl shared.
Kat Jarman holds a doctorate and is the current "Person of the Year in Northern Europe." She has conducted excavations all over Europe, including in Ukraine along the Desna River. After failing to find the medieval village, she continued her work at Althorp in search of a Roman villa. Ultimately, the friendship between Charles and Kat evolved into affection, despite the 18-year age gap: 42-year-old Kat is younger than Charles Spencer.
"I'm too old for hearts and flowers, but the best way to describe it is this: with Kat, I can be myself. She knows who I am. Who I really am. I don’t have to pretend to be someone I’m not. And she brings out the best in me," said Princess Diana's brother.
When exactly Charles informed his wife Karen, a Canadian socialite, that their 13-year marriage was over is unclear, but a public statement was made in June. This could potentially lead to a "messy" divorce. Charles has already hired divorce lawyer Baroness Fiona Shackleton, who represented King Charles during his divorce from Princess Diana.
The ninth Earl Spencer has seven children from three marriages. His youngest child, Charlotte Diana, from his marriage to Karen, is just 12 years old. Kat Jarman, who lives separately from her husband, has two teenage sons.
Spencer's first marriage to model Victoria Lockwood ended in a scandalous divorce, as Victoria claimed he abused her. Charles was absent at the weddings of his daughters Kitty and Amelia Spencer, and rumors suggest they have a strained relationship.
2His second marriage to Caroline Freud lasted only six years, and the Earl’s two children from that marriage rarely speak about him in interviews. His third marriage to Canadian Karen Villeneuve promises to be no less scandalous.
Charles Spencer himself has recounted in memoirs and numerous interviews that he suffered abuse in a private English school during his childhood, which ultimately left him "broken." He was also deeply affected by the tragic death of his older sister, Princess Diana, in 1997 in Paris.
It is worth noting that Princess Diana is buried on an island at the family estate, and access for tourists is restricted.