| The Earl Spencer | |
|---|---|
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| Born | Charles Edward Maurice Spencer 20 May 1964 |
| Title | Earl Spencer |
| Predecessor | 8th Earl Spencer |
| Spouse(s) | Victoria Lockwood (1989-1997) Caroline Freud (2002 - 2007) |
| Parents | John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer Frances Shand Kydd |
Charles Edward Maurice Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, DL (born 20 May 1964) is the second and only surviving son of John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer and the Honourable Frances Roche (later Frances Shand Kydd), daughter of the 4th Baron Fermoy. The youngest of his three older sisters was Diana, Princess of Wales; the other two are Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes.
Lord Spencer is one of many godchildren of Queen Elizabeth II, and was a Page of Honour from 1977 to 1979. His godfather was the Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, and former politician, Sir Alexander Downer. On 1 November 2005, he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Northamptonshire.
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First marriage
Lord Althorp married Catherine Victoria Lockwood (born 1964), a model, on 16 September 1989. Miss Lockwood was the daughter of John Lockwood. The wedding was at Church of St. Mary, Great Brington. A niece, Emily McCorquodale, was a junior bridesmaid. His nephews Prince William of Wales, Prince Henry of Wales and Alexander Fellowes (son of Lord and Lady Fellowes) were pages. Darius Guppy was the best man. Guppy was a friend at Eton College and Oxford University.
Lord and Lady Spencer had four children:
- Lady Kitty Eleanor Spencer (born 28 December 1990)
- Lady Eliza Victoria Spencer (born 10 July 1992)
- Lady (Katya) Amelia Spencer (born 10 July 1992)
- Louis Frederick John Spencer, Viscount Althorp (born 14 March 1994)
On the death of his father on 29 March 1992, Lord Althorp succeeded as 9th Earl Spencer and inherited Althorp, the family's seat in Northamptonshire. At the same time, he also became the 9th Viscount Althorp, 9th Viscount Spencer of Althorp, 9th Baron Spencer of Althorp and the 4th Viscount Althorp.
The Spencer family's wealth derives from their profitable sheep farming in the Tudor era.[1]
Lord and Lady Spencer, who had moved to Cape Town, South Africa, divorced on 3 December 1997. It was a contentious and highly publicised court case, with Lady Spencer accusing her husband of adultery. Victoria, Countess Spencer, later married Jonathan Aitken (a former fashion model, not the former Conservative MP) on 8 January 2005, by whom she had a son, Samuel, before their marriage.
Among the Earl's girlfriends was Calvin Klein fashion model Josie Borain, whom he brought to his sister Diana's funeral at Westminster Abbey[citation needed].
Second marriage
Lord Spencer moved back to the United Kingdom after his sister's death in part to oversee the family estate Althorp, and on 15 December 2001 he married Caroline Freud, née Hutton, a former nursery teacher who was previously married to Matthew Freud. Earl and Countess Spencer have two children:
- The Honourable Edmund Charles Spencer (born 6 October 2003)
- Lady Lara Caroline Spencer (born 16 March 2006)
Lady Spencer has two sons from her marriage to Matthew Freud:
- George Rupert Freud (born 3 October 1995)
- Jonah Henry Freud (born 1 April 1997)
Diana's death
Lord Spencer delivered his eulogy at the public funeral for his older sister Diana at Westminster Abbey, London on 6 September 1997, and managed her interment on the Althorp estate. He has written four books about his family, and has opened a museum in honour of Diana. In this museum, Diana's wedding dress and some of her personal effects are on display (on loan from her estate). Most recently, Lord Spencer has announced other plans for the family house, such as allowing the house and estate out on rent for high-profile weddings to raise additional income needed to renovate or maintain the house.
Historical writings
Lord Spencer was educated at Eton College and obtained his degree in Modern History at Magdalen College, Oxford.
He has written these historical works:
- Althorp: the Story of an English House (1998) London: Viking
- The Spencer Family (1999)
- Blenheim, Battle for Europe (2004). Paperback edition by Phoenix, 2005. ISBN 0-304-36704-4
- His third book describes the famous Battle of Blenheim in 1704, which was won by the 1st Duke of Marlborough, one of his ancestors. It was shortlisted for History Book of the Year at the 2005 National Book Awards.
- Prince Rupert—The Last Cavalier (2007). London: Weidenfeld & Nicholson ISBN 978-0-297-84610-9
Titles from birth
- The Hon. Charles Spencer (20 May 1964 – 9 June 1975)
- Viscount Althorp (9 June 1975 – 29 March 1992)
- The Rt Hon. The Earl Spencer (29 March 1992 – present)
Ancestry
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References
- ^ The Tarnished Crown: Crisis in the House of Windsor, by Anthony Holden, London, Viking Publishers 1993.
Sources
- Diana: Her True Story, written by Andrew Morton
- Two works by Lady Colin Campbell: Diana in Private and Royal Marriages
- The Peerage
- The obituaries for the 8th Earl Spencer, Diana, Princess of Wales and Frances Shand Kydd in The Times.
Offices held
| Court offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Edward Gordon-Lennox |
Page of Honour 1977–1979 |
Succeeded by Tyrone Plunket |
| Peerage of Great Britain | ||
| Preceded by Edward Spencer |
Earl Spencer 29 March 1992 — |
Incumbent Heir: Louis Spencer |
| United Kingdom order of precedence | ||
| Preceded by The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Radnor |
United Kingdom Order of Precedence (gentlemen) |
Succeeded by The Rt. Hon. The Earl Bathurst |
External links
- Complete text and audio and video of Spencer's Eulogy for Princess DianaAmericanRhetoric.com
- Princess Diana's Eulogy
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