Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable The Earl Spencer DL
Spencer in 2017
Born	Charles Edward Maurice Spencer (1964-05-20) 20 May 1964 (age 61) London, England
Education	Eton College
Alma mater	Magdalen College, Oxford
Spouse(s)	Victoria Lockwood ​ ​ (m. 1989; div. 1997)​ Caroline Freud ​ ​ (m. 2001; div. 2007)​ Karen Gordon ​ ​ (m. 2011; sep 2024)​
Children	7, including Lady Kitty, and Louis, Viscount Althorp
Parent(s)	John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer Frances Shand Kydd
Relatives	Diana, Princess of Wales (sister) Lady Sarah McCorquodale (sister) Jane Fellowes, Baroness Fellowes (sister)
Family	Spencer

Charles Edward Maurice Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer (born 20 May 1964), is a British nobleman, author, journalist, and broadcaster. He is the younger brother of Diana, Princess of Wales. He is also the uncle of William, Prince of Wales, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.

Early Life and Education

Charles Edward Maurice Spencer was born in London on 20 May 1964. Queen Elizabeth II was his godmother. His parents were called Viscount and Viscountess Althorp. This was because his grandfather, Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer, was still alive.

Charles grew up with three older sisters: Sarah, Jane, and Diana. He and Diana were very close as children. When he was three, his parents divorced.

In 1975, his father became Earl Spencer. Charles then became known as Viscount Althorp. He went to Eton College and later studied Modern History at Magdalen College, Oxford.

Career and Public Life

Charles Spencer worked as a reporter for NBC News from 1986 to 1995. He appeared on shows like Today and NBC Nightly News. He also created a TV series called Great Houses of the World.

He has written many articles for newspapers like The Guardian and The Independent on Sunday. He also wrote for American magazines such as Vanity Fair.

In 1992, when his father passed away, Charles Spencer became the 9th Earl Spencer. He also inherited Althorp, the family's historic home in Northamptonshire. Since 2009, he has worked to restore Althorp. He has repaired its roof and outside walls. The Spencer family's wealth originally came from sheep farming a long time ago.

On 31 August 1997, his older sister Diana died in a car crash. Charles Spencer gave a speech at her funeral service. He spoke about how the royal family and the media had treated his sister. He also helped set up a museum at Althorp to remember Diana. It showed her wedding dress and other items. The museum was open to the public for a time, and its profits went to Diana's Memorial Fund.

Spencer was a member of the House of Lords from 1992 until 1999. The House of Lords is part of the British Parliament. Most hereditary peers (people who inherit their titles) were removed from it in 1999.

There were stories that Spencer refused to let Diana live in a cottage on his estate. However, these stories were not true. He offered her other properties, like Wormleighton Manor, for her safety. This was done with police advice.

Since becoming Earl, Spencer has written several books. These books are about his family history and the Althorp estate. He also started the Althorp Literary Festival in 2003. Famous authors like Bill Bryson and Helen Fielding have spoken there.

In 2005, he became a Deputy Lieutenant of Northamptonshire. This is a special role in his home county. He also supports the Northamptonshire County Cricket Club. More recently, he created an audio tour about King Charles I for St James's Park. In 2023, he started a podcast called The Rabbit Hole Detectives.

Personal Life

Earl Spencer has seven children from three marriages.

He first married Victoria Lockwood in 1989. They had four children:

• Lady Catherine “Kitty” Eleanor Spencer (born 1990)
• Lady Elizabeth “Eliza” Victoria Spencer (born 1992)
• Lady Katya Amelia Spencer (born 1992)
• Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp (born 1994), who is the next in line to become Earl.

He later married Caroline Freud in 2001. They had two children:

• The Honourable Edmund “Ned” Spencer (born 2003)
• Lady Lara Caroline Spencer (born 2006)

In 2011, he married Karen Gordon. She is a Canadian who started a charity called Whole Child International. They have one daughter:

• Lady Charlotte Diana Spencer (born 2012), named after her aunt, Diana, Princess of Wales.

Books

Charles Spencer has written several books, mostly about history and his family. Some of his books include:

• Althorp: The Story of an English House (1998)
• The Spencer Family (1999)
• Blenheim: Battle for Europe (2004) – This book was a best-seller.
• Prince Rupert: The Last Cavalier (2007)
• Killers of the King: The Men Who Dared to Execute Charles I (2014) – Another best-seller.
• Impressions of Althorp: Thoughts on My Spencer Heritage (2015)
• To Catch A King: Charles II's Great Escape (2017)
• The White Ship: Conquest, Anarchy and the Wrecking of Henry I's Dream (2020)
• A Very Private School: A Memoir (2024)
• The Rabbit Hole Book (2024) – Co-written with Richard Coles and Cat Jarman.

Coat of arms

Arms of Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer

Coronet A Coronet of an Earl Crest Out of a Ducal Coronet Or a Griffin's Head Azure gorged with a Bar Gemelle Gules between two Wings expanded of the second Escutcheon Quarterly Argent and Gules in the 2nd and 3rd quarters a Fret Or over all on a Bend Sable three Escallops of the first Supporters Dexter: A Griffin per fess Ermine and Erminois gorged with a Collar Sable the edges flory-counterflory and chained of the last and on the Collar three Escallops Argent; Sinister: A Wyvern Erect on his tail Ermine similarly collared and chained Motto Dieu défend le droit (God defend the right)

See also

In Spanish: Charles Spencer, IX conde de Spencer para niños