Charles Spencer Net Worth, the 9th Earl Spencer, is a British author, historian, journalist and broadcaster whose life combines centuries-old family heritage with a modern career in publishing and television. Born in London in 1964, he is widely known as the younger brother of Diana, Princess of Wales, and as the custodian of Althorp, the Spencer family’s historic Northamptonshire estate. His books have made him a recognised historical writer, while his connection to Diana remains an important part of his public profile.
Charles Spencer Net Worth Quick Bio
| Profile | Full Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Charles Edward Maurice Spencer |
| Date of Birth | 20 May 1964 |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Age | 62 years old as of September 2026 |
| Birthplace | Marylebone, London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Title | 9th Earl Spencer |
| Courtesy Title | Viscount Althorp before succeeding to the earldom |
| Parents | Edward John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, and Frances Shand Kydd |
| Siblings | Lady Sarah McCorquodale, Lady Jane Fellowes and Diana, Princess of Wales; his elder brother John died shortly after birth |
| Profession | Author, historian, journalist, broadcaster and public speaker |
| Famous For | Being the 9th Earl Spencer, brother of Diana, Princess of Wales, author, historian and custodian of Althorp |
| Education | Eton College |
| University | Magdalen College, Oxford University |
| Degree | MA in Modern History |
| Early Career | Worked for NBC News from 1986 as an on-air correspondent and writer for the Today show |
| Television Career | Later worked with the History Channel and appeared as a historical commentator |
| Writing Career | Established himself as a nonfiction author specialising in history, British heritage and the Spencer family |
| Notable Books | Althorp: The Story of an English House, The Spencer Family, Blenheim: Battle for Europe, Prince Rupert: The Last Cavalier, Killers of the King, To Catch a King, A Very Private School and Swan Song: Diana, My Sister |
| Notable Writing | His 1997 eulogy for Diana, Princess of Wales, delivered at her funeral in Westminster Abbey |
| Family Estate | Althorp, Northamptonshire |
| Althorp Heritage | The Spencer family has lived at Althorp for around 500 years |
| Inheritance | Became 9th Earl Spencer in 1992 following his father’s death and inherited the Althorp family seat |
| Famous Sister | Diana, Princess of Wales |
| Children | Seven |
| First Wife | Victoria Lockwood; married in 1989 |
| Second Wife | Caroline Freud; married in 2001 |
| Third Wife | Karen Spencer; married in 2011 |
| Current Wife | Cat Jarman, an archaeologist; married in May 2026 |
| Children from First Marriage | Lady Kitty Spencer, Lady Eliza Spencer, Lady Amelia Spencer and Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp |
| Children from Second Marriage | The Honourable Edmund Spencer and Lady Lara Spencer |
| Child from Third Marriage | Lady Charlotte Diana Spencer |
| Grandchildren | Became a grandfather in 2024 |
| Hobbies / Interests | History, writing, heritage, architecture and historical research |
| Weight | Not reliably documented publicly |
| Hair Color | Not reliably documented publicly |
| Eye Color | Not reliably documented publicly |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Net Worth | Current exact net worth is not publicly confirmed |
| Historical Net Worth Estimate | A 2009 estimate placed his wealth at approximately $149 million; this is a historical figure rather than a confirmed 2026 valuation |
| Main Wealth Sources | Family estate and property interests, book publishing, journalism, television work and public appearances |
| Current Career | Author, historian, broadcaster and custodian of the Spencer family heritage |
| Latest Major Book | Swan Song: Diana, My Sister |
| 2026 Publication | Swan Song: Diana, My Sister focuses on his memories of Diana and their relationship |
| Public Instagram presence | |
| Royal Family Connection | Maternal uncle of Prince William and Prince Harry |
| Residence / Estate | Althorp, Northamptonshire, England |
| Career Description | Historian and nonfiction author whose work combines family history with broader British history |
| Current Public Profile | Continues to write, publish, speak publicly and oversee the historic Spencer family estate |
Charles Spencer Images


A Timeline Charles Spencer
| Year | Timeline |
|---|---|
| 1964 | Charles Edward Maurice Spencer was born on 20 May 1964 in Marylebone, London. |
| 1969 | His parents, John Spencer and Frances Shand Kydd, divorced. Charles and his siblings subsequently lived with their father. |
| 1980s | Studied at Eton College and later Magdalen College, Oxford, where he studied Modern History. |
| 1986 | Began working with NBC News, contributing as an on-air correspondent and writer. |
| 1989 | Married Victoria Lockwood at Great Brington, Northamptonshire. |
| 1990s | Built his career in television journalism and historical broadcasting. |
| 1992 | Following his father’s death, Charles became the 9th Earl Spencer and inherited the Althorp family estate. |
| 1994 | His son Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp, was born. |
| 1997 | Diana, Princess of Wales, died. Charles delivered the famous eulogy at her funeral in Westminster Abbey. He also divorced Victoria Lockwood that year. |
| 1999 | Published The Spencer Family, expanding his work as a historical author. |
| 2001 | Married Caroline Freud. |
| 2003 | His son Edmund Spencer was born. |
| 2006 | His daughter Lady Lara Spencer was born. |
| 2007 | Divorced Caroline Freud. |
| 2011 | Married Karen Spencer at Althorp. |
| 2012 | His daughter Lady Charlotte Diana Spencer was born. |
| 2024 | His marriage to Karen Spencer ended after their separation. He also became a grandfather after daughter Kitty welcomed a daughter. |
| 2026 | Married archaeologist Cat Jarman in May. |
| 2026 | Published Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, a memoir about his relationship with Diana and his memories of her life. |
Charles Spencer Family
| Family Member | Relationship / Information |
|---|---|
| John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer | Father |
| Frances Shand Kydd | Mother |
| Sarah McCorquodale | Older sister |
| Jane Fellowes | Older sister |
| Diana, Princess of Wales | Older sister |
| John Spencer | Older brother who died shortly after birth |
| Victoria Lockwood | First wife |
| Caroline Freud | Second wife |
| Karen Spencer | Third wife |
| Cat Jarman | Current wife; archaeologist |
| Lady Kitty Spencer | Daughter |
| Lady Eliza Spencer | Daughter |
| Lady Katya Amelia Spencer | Daughter |
| Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp | Son |
| Edmund Spencer | Son |
| Lady Lara Spencer | Daughter |
| Lady Charlotte Diana Spencer | Daughter |
| Prince William | Nephew, through Diana |
| Prince Harry | Nephew, through Diana |
| Althorp | Historic Spencer family home and Charles Spencer’s principal family estate |
Charles Spencer Social Media
| Platform | Account / Information |
|---|---|
| @charles.earl.spencer | |
| Content | Shares photographs and reflections connected with Althorp, family history, Diana, historical subjects and his daily life |
| Family Posts | His Instagram has included photographs and memories of Diana and their childhood. |
| Recent Activity | In 2026, he shared posts connected with Althorp and commemorations of Diana. |
| Public Profile | His Instagram account is publicly associated with Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer |