Charles Spencer’s ex-wife Karen has reflected on her “bittersweet” final moments at Althorp House.
The Earl and Countess announced their separation in June, with Karen, 52, set to move out of the Northamptonshire estate after 14 years.
Charles, 60, brother of Princess Diana, is in a new relationship with archaeologist Cat Jarman, 42, confirming their relationship during an interview with This Morning.
Karen is leaving Althorp imminently, but has organized a final lunch for investors in the property’s impressive dining room.
This week she took to Instagram to reflect on the “bittersweet but inspiring” experience of spending time in the famous house for the last time.
Charles Spencer’s estranged wife Karen has reflected on her ‘bittersweet’ final moments at Althorp House before moving in (pictured June 2018)
The Earl and Countess announced their separation in June, with Karen, 52, moving out of the Northamptonshire estate after 14 years (pictured in 2018).
She wrote: ‘This week I had the pleasure of hosting a lunch at Althorp, where philanthropic leaders, impact investors and changemakers gathered around the last garden flowers of the season.
“Althorp was the perfect setting to kick off what we hope will be a truly impactful meeting.”
The meeting was part of the Catalyst 2030 movement, which sees social entrepreneurs and other social innovators collaborating to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Karen, a Canadian philanthropist, added: ‘As this is probably one of the last events I will host here, it was bittersweet but inspiring to share this space with people dedicated to positive change.
“Being part of the @Catalyst2030 Movement alongside such passionate people is a privilege, and Althorp was the perfect backdrop for these meaningful conversations.”
He ended his post by reflecting on the 14 years he spent at the stunning Althorp estate, writing: ‘One of the things I have come to appreciate during my time here is the power of these historic houses.
‘They were created to come together and use that convening power to influence and inspire change for the community at large.
Karen is leaving Althorp imminently but hosted a final lunch for investors in the property’s impressive dining room (pictured).
The meeting (pictured) was part of the Catalyst 2030 movement, which sees social entrepreneurs and other social innovators collaborating to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Karen took to Instagram this week to reflect on the “bittersweet but inspiring” experience of spending time in the famous house for the last time.
‘That purpose remains valid, even 500 years later, and I am proud to have fulfilled it during my 14 years at Althorp. The call has been a real pleasure and it is something that I hope to continue in the future.”
It comes after Charles confirmed his relationship with archaeologist Cat.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain last month, she opened up for the first time about her relationship with the Scandinavian archaeologist.
Gushing about his new girlfriend, he said: ‘Cat Jarman, who is now my partner, is a brilliant archaeologist.
“She is the Nordic Person of the Year 2024, which is usually given to someone like Sven-Goran Eriksson or a composer or something. You have to be respected in all Scandinavian and Nordic countries.”
Cat is currently taking Charles’ ex-wife to court. “misuse of private information.”
Cat, who is separated from her husband, has been helping Earl Spencer unearth a Roman villa in Althorp.
Since 2023, Charles and Cat have co-hosted The Rabbit Hole Detective, which is a landmark podcast, alongside Richard.
Earl Spencer previously spoke about his “respected” new partner Cat Jarman on Good Morning Britain.
When talking about his new trivia book which he co-wrote with Reverend Richard Coles and Cat, Charles shared the inside story of how they met.
He said: ‘Well, firstly I met her because we both had the same publisher, but secondly, I know this sounds quite strange, but she came to excavate a Roman villa on land I own.
‘Richard, Cat and I ended up together and Richard had recently been heartbroken so he was living semi-with me and the three of us would just talk and talk and talk. Cat said “let’s do a podcast” and out of the podcast came the book.
Charles and Cat first sparked romance rumors in June after they were spotted enjoying a trip to the theater in London.
He was photographed walking with Cat towards the Prince of Wales Theatre, where they watched a performance of the hit musical comedy The Book of Mormon.
“They looked into each other’s eyes and there seemed to be a strong attraction,” said one viewer. “They were both laughing as they walked to the theater and he didn’t use his VIP status to avoid the long line.”
It was recently revealed that Cat initiated legal proceedings against Countess Karen for “misuse of private information.”
The brother of the late Princess Diana spoke for the first time about his relationship with Scandinavian archaeologist Cat Jarman (right)
Charles joined presenters Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley on Good Morning Britain, 27 years after Princess Diana’s death in Paris.
Cat is represented by law firm Simons Muirhead Burton, while Karen, who has so far remained at Althorp following her split from Spencer, will represent herself in the legal case.
In June, Charles revealed the “immensely sad” news that he and his third wife, Karen Gordon, 52, a Canadian philanthropist, were divorcing.
The couple married in 2011 and Karen gave birth to Charles’s seventh child, Lady Charlotte, the following year.
They were married in the grounds of Althorp, where the earl’s older sister, Princess Diana, is buried. The couple had met the previous year on a blind date at a restaurant in Los Angeles.
But it is understood their relationship broke down amid the strain of writing her harrowing memoir, A Very Private School, which details the abuse she suffered at boarding school.
Earlier this year, Charles dramatically revealed that he had been subjected to sexual abuse while at his prep school, Maidwell Hall.
Princess Diana kisses her brother Viscount Althorp (later to become Earl Spencer) at the Birthright Red Ball in London in 1985.
The earl’s memoirs also revealed the trauma of his mother abandoning him and Diana when he was three and how being raised by a succession of nannies also affected him.
His wife was absent from his book launch events at Althorp and Spencer House in London in March, while Cat praised his “beautifully written” memoir on social media.
He has reportedly hired divorce lawyer Baroness Shackleton of Belgravia, known as the ‘steel magnolia’, to represent him.
Elsewhere in the interview, Charles revealed that Princess Diana is still “very much” alive in his memory and that he still visits his sister’s grave “most days.”
27 years after the princess died in Paris, he said: “Every day people tell me what an inspiration she was and how much they miss her and what they did the day she died – it’s extraordinary.”
Responding to Richard asking where she was when she first heard the news about Diana’s death, she said: “I was on the phone to my middle sister Jane and her husband, who worked for the Queen, was on another line.” I heard him say ‘oh no’ and that’s when my sister said what had happened. I remember it like it was yesterday.’
Speaking of his pain, he said: ‘Like everyone, you get used to it, but it never goes away. I go almost every day (to visit his funeral)’