There is a reason why former British prime minister Tony Blair called Princess Diana “the people’s princess” upon her tragic ԁеаtһ in 1997. The late princess was beloved by the British public, as well as internationally, for her countless philanthropic and humanitarian efforts. Tragically, she was survived by her mother, 2 young sons, and ex-husband, as well as her sisters and only brother: Charles Spencer.
What do we know about Charles Spencer? Also known as Earl Spencer, Diana’s surviving younger brother remained largely out of the limelight until his sister’s shocking ԁеаtһ. Subsequently, many details about his private life have been made public, some complimentary, and others unfavorable. And with an upcoming movie about the princess’s life in the works, he will no doubt once again be brought into the media spotlight. Here’s everything we know about Charles Spencer.
1. He Was Devastated By Diana’s ԁеаtһ
Princess Diana’s ԁеаtһ at the tender age of 36 shocked the nation. The princess ԁıеԁ in a car crash in Paris in 1997, leaving behind her two young sons, William and Harry. Her ԁеаtһ hit her brother, Charles, particularly hard.
Charles paid tribute to Diana at her funeral: “All over the world, she was a symbol of selfless humanity, a standard bearer for the rights of the truly downtrodden,” he tearfully said in a moving eulogy.
2. He Grew Up With 3 Sisters
Thanks for forwarding this: it was late 1980, I was 16, & my sister was taking me out from @Eton_College for lunch in @HindsHeadBray Her Mini Metro was followed by 12 cars & 1 motorbike of tabloid journalists. Enough to make any teenager look as disdainful as Morrissey, frankly. https://t.co/U46yYdLvj4— Charles Spencer (@cspencer1508) April 27, 2021
Diana isn’t Charles’ only sister and he grew up in a female-dominated household. His other sisters are Sarah, a philanthropist, and Jane, Baroness Fellowes, who is married to Queen Elizabeth II’s former Private Secretary.
He also had a brother, John, who was born 4 years earlier and sadly ԁıеԁ in infancy, so the Earl has experienced immeasurable loss in his life.
3. He Attended Eton And Oxford
Having grown up into aristocratic privilege to parents Viscount and Viscountess Althorp, Charles inevitably received the best education that money can buy. He attended Eton College, the most prestigious private school in the United Kingdom, before studying Modern History at Oxford University.
4. He Has Been Married 3 Times
The aristocrat hasn’t been too lucky in love and has been married 3 times. Among the rich and famous, it’s all too common for marriages to dissolve rapidly and there are numerous theories as to why this is the case.
For Charles, his first marriage to model Victoria Lockwood lasted from 1989 to 1997, the year of his sister’s ԁеаtһ. Then, in 2001, he married Caroline Freud, whose surname stems from her previous marriage to the great grandson of famed psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, but they divorced in 2007. Since 2011, he has been married to Canadian businesswoman Karen Gordon.
5. He Has 7 Kids
Having been married 3 times, the Earl also has a lot of kids. And we mean a lot. Many celebs choose to have big families, but Charles surpasses them. In total, Charles has 7 kids from his 3 wives: 5 daughters and 2 sons. His eldest daughter, Lady Kitty Spencer, is a fashion model.
6. After His Dad ԁıеԁ He Became 9th Earl
Following the ԁеаtһ of his father, John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, in 1992, Charles became 9th Earl Spencer in line with the rules of hereditary titles in Britain. Accordingly, he resides in Althorp House, an impressive 13,000 acre stately mansion.
7. He Condemned The Press For Their Treatment Of Diana
In the wake of Princess Diana’s ԁеаtһ, Charles was highly critical of the media. He said that the paparazzi had “blood on their hands” in reference to their relentless pursuit of the Princess, which ultimately led to the car crash that ended her life. Indeed, the paparazzi did infamously chase Diana’s car and snapped photos of her dying body amongst the wreckage.
8. He Says Diana’s ԁеаtһ Is Not A Conspiracy
Famously, Diana’s ԁеаtһ has led to a number of conspiracy theories, from the fairly credible to the outright absurd.
Despite the vitriol he has directed towards the press, Charles is adamant that his sister’s ԁеаtһ was not a conspiracy. In 2003, he told the BBC that Diana’s supposed prediction of her demise was a “bizarre coincidence rather than tied in with reality”.
9. Some Allegations About His Treatment Of Diana Sparked Controversy
Despite his loving tributes towards his departed sister, Charles has since faced some rather unpleasant claims. According to court documents, he refused to let Diana stay with him at his family estate when she divorced Prince Charles. Additionally, it has been claimed that he was uncaring with regards to his sister’s mental and emotional state. He denies all allegations against him.
10. He Named His 5th Daughter In Honor Of Diana
In a moving tribute, Charles named his 5th daughter, Lady Charlotte Diana Spencer, after his late sister. Born in 2012, she is Charles’ youngest child and the daughter of his third wife. It’s incredibly poignant that Princess Diana will live on through the niece that she will tragically never get to meet.
