Earl Charles Spencer

Prince William’s uncle separated from his wife by text message

That’s certainly not the proper English way: As has now come to light, Prince William’s uncle, Earl Charles Spencer, reportedly broke up with his then-wife Karen via text message after 13 years of marriage so he could be with his “longtime mistress.”

According to court documents obtained by "People" magazine, Princess Diana’s brother had been having an affair with archaeologist Cat Jarman—who is now his new girlfriend—since at least 2022, “and likely since 2021.”

“Cruel and inexplicable”
Elsewhere in the court documents, Lady Karen Spencer claimed that her still-husband informed her on March 19 about “the end of their marriage”—and that he “did so via text message.”

In the run-up to their separation, Spencer had also been “indifferent and deliberately provocative.” Nevertheless, the 52-year-old had assumed that her husband would have the decency to discuss matters in person.

“The fact that he ultimately ended their marriage via text message and, despite her repeated pleas in the weeks that followed, completely refused to speak with her in person or even offer an explanation was both cruel and inexplicable,” the documents further state.

Email to Spencer’s New Partner
The “Times” also quoted from an email Karen sent to her ex’s current partner, which is reportedly included in the court records. “First and foremost, as a woman, I have to tell you that I am very disappointed in you. Turning all the children’s lives upside down in this way is so incredibly immoral,” the betrayed wife is said to have written. 

Furthermore, Karen is said to have predicted nothing good for the new love interest. “Good luck, Cat, you’re in for a hellish ride. I think you’ll find that dealing with him day in and day out will be much harder than an occasional five-day getaway to Norfolk and a night or two in London.”

Charles Spencer is said to have met Cat Jarman, who is from Norway, while filming a TV documentary about the Earl’s ancestral home, the listed Althorp House in Northamptonshire—where Princess Diana is also buried—as well as through a joint podcast. 

Earl denies allegations
Diana’s brother had been married to Karen Spencer in his third marriage since 2011. The couple has a daughter together. In June, Spencer announced the end of the marriage; in October, he went public with his new relationship with Jarman.

Meanwhile, the Earl called his ex-wife’s allegations an “absurd attempt to smear my name” and criticized the claim that he had ended the marriage via cell phone. Furthermore, according to the “Daily Mail,” Spencer and Jarman denied the allegations of infidelity, stating that any misconduct on their part was “simply not true.”