The 9th Earl Spencer wed the archaeologist and podcast co-host nearly five months after finalizing his divorce from third wife Karen Spencer
Credit: Caitlyn Jennings
NEED TO KNOW
- Princess Diana’s brother Charles Spencer married archaeologist and podcast co-host Cat Jarman in a private Arizona wedding on May 15
- The intimate desert ceremony appeared to take place near Sedona’s iconic Cathedral Rock and comes nearly five months after Spencer finalized his divorce from third wife Karen Spencer
- Spencer and Jarman’s relationship became public amid his contentious split from Karen Spencer, later sparking a legal battle involving Jarman’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis
Princess Diana’s brother Charles Spencer is married again.
The 9th Earl Spencer, 61, wed archaeologist and podcast co-host Professor Cat Jarman, 43, in a private ceremony in Arizona on Friday, May 15, PEOPLE confirms.
“We both feel so incredibly lucky to have progressed from being colleagues, to friendship, to deep love and connection,” they said in a joint statement shared with PEOPLE. “Each stage of our relationship has been underpinned by laughter and we share a passion for life.”
The couple first crossed paths after Charles — who has authored nine books — was asked to review Jarman’s 2021 nonfiction bestseller River Kings, centered on her specialist subject of the Vikings.
Their relationship evolved from there, with the pair later collaborating on archaeological digs and co-hosting a podcast together before confirming their romance in October 2024.
The couple chose Arizona — with Sedona’s iconic Cathedral Rock appearing to serve as the backdrop in wedding photos — as the setting for their intimate ceremony.
Credit: Caitlyn Jennings
Jarman wore a pale blue sleeveless gown with cutout details at the waist, while Spencer opted for a dark suit paired with an open-collar light blue shirt for the relaxed ceremony. In another snap, Jarman took a smiling selfie with Spencer.
The marriage marks Spencer’s fourth. The younger brother of the late Princess Diana was previously married to Victoria Lockwood from 1989 to 1997, Caroline Freud from 2001 to 2007 and Karen Spencer from 2011 until their divorce last year.
Credit: Caitlyn Jennings
In June 2024, the author and historian announced that he and Karen, a Canadian philanthropist, were divorcing after 13 years of marriage. The divorce was finalized in December 2025. The former couple shares a daughter, 13-year-old Charlotte Diana.
Spencer is also father to six other children from his previous marriages. Jarman was previously married and is a mother of two sons with ex-husband Tom Jarman.
Related: Charles Spencer Celebrates 'Anniversary Trip' with Girlfriend Cat Jarman 4 Months After Divorce Finalized
News of Spencer and Jarman’s relationship emerged amid the breakdown of his marriage to Countess Karen Spencer, whom he wed at Althorp House in 2011. Their split later became contentious after Jarman filed a lawsuit against Karen alleging misuse of private information for disclosing her multiple sclerosis diagnosis. The lawsuit was settled in late 2025.
Credit: Cat Spencer
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Jarman said she was diagnosed with MS in 2016 while finishing her PhD and chose to keep the condition private. She alleged Karen learned of the diagnosis through a mutual acquaintance and later disclosed it to the Earl Spencer and staff at Althorp House.
Karen denied liability, with The Times reporting that she argued any reference to Jarman’s condition had been “entirely legitimate and justified.” She also alleged that she learned of the diagnosis while investigating rumors that Charles and Jarman were having an affair during her marriage to the Earl Spencer.
Credit: Caitlyn Jennings
In court filings submitted in 2024, Karen accused her ex-husband of a “long-term” affair with Jarman — something both Spencer and Jarman “categorically” denied.
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In recent years, Spencer and Jarman increasingly blended their personal and professional lives, co-hosting The Rabbit Hole Detectives history podcast alongside Rev. Richard Coles and appearing together publicly on historical projects and archaeological digs.
Charles publicly confirmed their romance in October 2024, telling The Times: “We are close.”
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