Althorp staff are reportedly relieved to see the back of Karen Spencer who is ‘finally’ moving onto a ‘new chapter’ following her divorce from Charles Spencer

Karen Spencer, Countess Spencer, has now bid farewell to the Althorp estate, to the apparent relief of staff.

For 13 years, the countess was married to Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, the younger brother of Princess Diana. During her time at Althorp, Lady Spencer threw herself into ambitious efforts to restore the well-loved stately home. It’s here that the late princess spent her childhood years and was laid to rest following her death at the age of just 36.

Once a united team devoted to the preservation of the Spencer family’s rich history, the couple, who share a daughter, Charlotte Diana Spencer, announced they were planning to divorce in June 2024 amid reports of Earl Spencer’s new romance with archaeologist Professor Cat Jarman.

Unfortunately, there have been some dramatic moments in the months since, with Professor Jarman having previously confirmed she is suing Lady Spencer after she allegedly informed the Earl about her Multiple Sclerosis (MS) diagnosis – something she had not yet felt ready to share with her new partner.

Lady Spencer dedicated herself to the preservation of Althorp ( 
Image:
Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)

Now Lady Spencer, 52, is looking ahead to a “new chapter” beyond Althorp, sharing the news with Instagram followers. Uploading a pic of her two sheep, Lucky and Minty, the countryside-loving Canadian social entrepreneur wrote: ‘Well… at long last, three weeks ago, we finally moved into our temporary new home.

“Still waiting for the horses to arrive – hopefully next week! Doesn’t quite feel like home without them. This new chapter is already taking shape.”

The countess accused her ex husband of dumping her by text message ( 
Image:
Dave Benett/Getty Images for BVLGARI and EJAF)

Earl Spencer has dismissed his ex wife’s version of events as ‘absurd’ ( 
Image:
Getty Images for Invictus Games)
This followed an earlier post, where she’d revealed: “It hasn’t been easy finding a temporary rental that can accommodate seven horses, two sheep, four cats, and a dog… but we’ve finally found one.”

While the countess is apparently looking forward to new beginnings, staff at Althorp are apparently pleased to see the end of what has reportedly been a somewhat tempestuous chapter in the estate’s 500-year history.

One staff member told the Mail Online: “Having Lady Spencer on the estate for the year since the split has been very challenging indeed. She was a very big presence at Althorp and one that won’t be missed.”

It’s understood the former couple are no longer on good terms, but mud is being slung around the divorce court. According to High Court papers seen by People, Lady Spencer claimed that her estranged husband had advised her he wanted a divorce via text message.

These documents assert that Earl Spencer’s “behaviour in the run-up to this had been uncaring and deliberately provocative”, adding that “the fact that he finally brought their marriage to an end by text, completely refusing to have any conversation with her in person or even provide an explanation at all, despite her repeated requests over the weeks that followed, was both cruel and inexplicable.”

The earl is now in a relationship with archaologist Professor Cat Jarman ( 
Image:Lady Spencer also accused her aristocratic ex of carrying on an affair with Professor Jarman behind her back since 2022 “and more likely since 2021,” referring to her as Earl Spencer’s “long-term mistress”.

In an email seen by Hello!, Lady Spencer also urged Professor Jarman to keep away from her beloved Althorp, warning: “Not sure what Charles has shared with you of this, but I won’t have you at Althorp while I still live here.

“That is a boundary I intend to hold. It’s not fair to me, our daughter, or to all the staff, who are already distraught at the news of our divorce though having to serve Charles’ long-term mistress. It’s just too much to ask.”

In a frosty sign-off, the furious chatelaine continued: “Good luck Cat, you’re in for a hell of a ride. I think that you’ll find having him to deal with full-time will be much trickier than the odd five-day escape to Norfolk and a night or two in London here and there.”

In an interview with The Daily Mail, Earl Spencer, 60, dismissed his ex-wife’s version of events as “an absurd attempt to blacken [his] name”. He told the publication: ‘The notion that I would end my marriage by text is an absurd attempt to blacken my name. Karen ended the marriage in early March after endless threats to do so over the years.

‘She asked me to confirm the end of the marriage in a text of 18 March and my reply that day was a simple acceptance of her decision. I have those texts still, and will share them in court when I clear my name.’

Meanwhile, Professor Jarman spoke of her “dismay” after Lady Spencer divulged her MS diagnosis to the earl before she had the chance to discuss her sensitive health issue with her new lover. Professor Jarman said: “I am shocked and utterly dismayed that my rightful attempt to stop the unlawful dissemination of my status as a person with Multiple Sclerosis – a protected disability – has been hijacked in such an appallingly untruthful way.

Lady Spencer warned Professor Jarman to stay away from Althorp ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

“It seems that Karen Spencer is not so much mounting a legal defence to my legitimate action, but has rather stooped to make a hideous and defamatory attack on Charles and me. In the meantime, the stress of this matter, which could have been resolved by Karen Spencer in a few minutes many months ago, further seriously impacts my health. Stress is a well-known driver of MS.

“My full response to this outrage will be with the Courts at the earliest possible opportunity, and at the same time, we are urgently looking at all available legal redress, including that relating to the breaking of legally binding oaths.”