Princess Diana's brother Charles Spencer marries for fourth time: 'Happiest day ever'

Charles Spencer, the younger brother of Princess Diana, has tied the knot for the fourth time, marrying an archaeologist and his former podcast co-host, whom he met while married to his third wife.

Charles, who is known as Earl Spencer, wed Professor Cat Jarman during a ceremony in the US state of Arizona – far removed from his ancestral home, Althorp.

The Earl, 61, and Jarman, 43, reportedly exchanged vows on May 15 during a small, private ceremony, with the famed Sedona Cathedral Rock as a backdrop.

The couple released a statement late yesterday to various media outlets in the UK and US, including the Daily Express, confirming the nuptials.

"We both feel so incredibly lucky to have progressed from being colleagues, to friendship, to deep love and connection. Each stage of our relationship has been underpinned by laughter and we share a passion for life," the statement read.

Earl Spencer has since taken to Instagram to share a series of photos of their big day, which he uploaded overnight with the comment, "15 May 2026 – the happiest day ever.

"A very close friend said to me, months ago: 'The thing about Cat is, she'd want to be with you if you lived in a hut'. Little did I know she'd also be happy to marry me in a desert."

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The couple first met in 2021 when Earl Spencer was asked to review her book River Kings.

That same year, she travelled to Althorp, located in Northamptonshire, about 130 kilometres northwest of London, to help with the unearthing of a Roman villa located on the site.

At the time, she wrote on Instagram, "It was an absolute privilege to work with Charles as the first archaeologist in the grounds of this 500-year-old park".

Two years later, Jarman joined Spencer and Reverend Richard Coles as co-hosts of a podcast, Rabbit Hole Detectives, which centred on the bizarre origins and histories of various real and metaphorical objects.

In June 2024, Earl Spencer announced via the Daily Mail that he and his third wife, Karen Spencer, a Canadian socialite with whom he shares one child, Lady Charlotte Diana Spencer, now 13, were divorcing after 13 years of marriage.

"It is immensely sad," he told the outlet at the time.

"I just want to devote myself to all my children, and to my grandchildren, and I wish Karen every happiness in the future."

Months later, it was revealed Spencer and Jarman were dating.

Karen Spencer later accused her husband of announcing the end of their marriage via text message.

Jarman later sued her for misuse of private information regarding Jarman's multiple sclerosis diagnosis.

The matter made its way to the High Court of London, where it was settled in October 2025.

Their divorce was finalised in December 2025, paving the way for Earl Spencer and Jarman to marry.

She becomes Countess Spencer on their marriage – the fourth of his wives to hold the title.

Earl Spencer was previously married to Victoria Lockwood from 1989 to 1997. She became Countess Spencer when he became Earl Spencer following the death of his father in 1992.

They share four children, Lady Kitty, twins Lady Eliza and Lady Amelia, and Louis, Viscount Althorp.

He was married to second wife, Caroline Freud, now Hutton, from 2001 to 2007. They have two children together, Edmund, known as Ned, and Lady Lara Spencer.

He then married third wife Karen in 2011.

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