Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl Spencer
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Spencer in 2017
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| Born |
Charles Edward Maurice Spencer
20 May 1964 London, England
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| 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 |
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| Family | Spencer |
Charles Edward Maurice Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, born on May 20, 1964, is a British nobleman, writer, journalist, and TV presenter. He was known as Viscount Althorp from 1975 until 1992. He is the younger brother of Diana, Princess of Wales, and the uncle of William, Prince of Wales, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Charles Edward Maurice Spencer was born in London on May 20, 1964. He was the youngest of five children of John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer and Frances Shand Kydd. His godmother was Queen Elizabeth II.
He grew up with his three older sisters: Sarah, Jane, and Diana. He was very close with Diana. When Charles was three, his parents separated.
In 1975, Charles became known as Viscount Althorp. This happened when his father became Earl Spencer. Charles went to Silfield Private School and then to Maidwell Hall, a boarding school. He later studied at Eton College and Magdalen College, Oxford, where he studied Modern History.
In March 2024, Spencer published a book called A Very Private School. In this book, he shared his experiences from his time at Maidwell Hall. He described the difficulties he faced there as a young boy.
Career and Family Estate
Charles Spencer worked as a TV reporter for NBC News from 1986 to 1995. He also presented a documentary series called Great Houses of the World. He wrote articles for newspapers like The Guardian and The Independent on Sunday.
In 1992, when his father passed away, Charles became the 9th Earl Spencer. He also inherited Althorp, the family's historic home in Northamptonshire. Since 2009, he has worked to restore Althorp, including its roof and outside walls. He also helped create Althorp Living History, a furniture line inspired by pieces at Althorp.
Remembering Princess Diana
On August 31, 1997, his older sister Diana died in a car accident in Paris. Charles Spencer gave a speech at her funeral service. He spoke about how the royal family and the press had treated his sister.
Diana was buried on an island in a lake at Althorp. Charles built a special garden temple and a museum there to honor her. The museum opened in 1998, and the money raised went to Diana's Memorial Fund. The museum has since closed.
Writing and Other Work
After Diana's death, Spencer began writing books about his family and Althorp. His first book was Althorp: the Story of an English House, published in 1998.
In 2003, he started the Althorp Literary Festival. Famous authors like Bill Bryson and Helen Fielding have spoken there. In 2004, he presented two documentaries for the History Channel.
In 2005, Spencer became a Deputy Lieutenant of Northamptonshire. He is also a supporter of the Northamptonshire County Cricket Club. In 2021, he created an audio tour for St James's Park about the execution of Charles I.
Since 2023, he has co-hosted a podcast called The Rabbit Hole Detectives. In May 2025, Spencer joined the TV show Loose Men.
Personal Life
Earl Spencer has seven children from three marriages.
He first married Victoria Lockwood in 1989. They divorced in 1997. They have four children:
- Lady Kitty Eleanor Spencer (born 1990)
- Lady 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 married Caroline Freud in 2001. They separated in 2007 and later divorced. They have two children:
- The Hon. Edmund "Ned" Spencer (born 2003)
- Lady Lara Caroline Spencer (born 2006)
In 2011, he married Karen Gordon at Althorp. Karen 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.
In June 2024, it was announced that Earl Spencer and Karen Gordon had separated and planned to divorce. It was also reported that he had become partners with archaeologist Dr Cat Jarman, who he co-hosts the podcast The Rabbit Hole Detectives with.
Books Written by Charles Spencer
- Althorp: The Story of an English House (1998)
- The Spencer Family (1999)
- Blenheim: Battle for Europe (2004)
- Prince Rupert: The Last Cavalier (2007)
- Killers of the King: The Men Who Dared to Execute Charles I (2014)
- 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) (with Richard Coles & Cat Jarman)
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See also
In Spanish: Charles Spencer, IX conde de Spencer para niños
