Charles Spencer Celebrates 6 Months of Sobriety, Grateful for His Girlfriend’s ‘Quiet’ Support During the Journey.HL

Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer and younger brother of the late Princess Diana, is celebrating a significant personal achievement. On Thursday, Oct. 16, the 61-year-old shared on social media that he had reached “6 months without alcohol,” marking a major milestone in his journey toward better health and well-being. In his post, Spencer expressed how great he felt, writing, “Never felt better,” and accompanying the message with a photo of himself holding a non-alcoholic Guinness beer.

Charles Spencer.

Spencer also took the opportunity to thank his girlfriend, Cat Jarman, for her unwavering support during this transformation. “Your quiet and thoughtful support in this happy transformation,” he wrote, expressing gratitude for her role in his personal growth.

Jarman, whom Spencer began dating after his third divorce, responded by expressing her pride in his achievement. “Incredibly impressed & proud of you, @cspencer1508!” she commented. “You have such admirable willpower and resilience.” She also engaged with a commenter who mentioned their struggle to find a good non-alcoholic wine, sharing recommendations for sparkling options like Zeno and Oddbird, which she and Spencer enjoy.

Spencer and Jarman, a Norwegian archaeologist, reportedly met while she was working on a documentary about an ancient Roman villa located on the grounds of Spencer’s ancestral home, Althorp. Since then, the couple has collaborated professionally, co-hosting the podcast The Rabbit Hole Detectives alongside broadcaster Rev. Richard Coles, and co-publishing The Rabbit Hole Book in 2023.

In June 2024, Spencer publicly announced the end of his third marriage to Countess Karen Spencer, which he described as “immensely sad.” He shared his desire to focus on his children and grandchildren, and wished his ex-wife happiness in the future. The couple shares one daughter, Lady Charlotte Diana, 13, named in part for Spencer’s late sister, Princess Diana. Spencer also has four children from his first marriage to Victoria Lockwood and two from his second marriage to Caroline Freud.

In addition to the public tragedies he has faced, including the devastating loss of his sister in the 1997 car accident, Spencer has also recently opened up about a personal trauma from his childhood. Last year, he published his memoir A Very Private School, in which he courageously shared that he had been sexually abused by a female staff member while attending boarding school. The deeply painful experience of reliving this trauma through the writing process had a profound effect on Spencer, but he credited his wife with providing essential support during the five years it took to complete the book.

“It was very challenging for her to have a husband going through what was essentially four and a half years of the most profound therapy with very difficult undertones to it,” Spencer said. “I think she always hoped I would come out happier and healthier. And that seems to be the case, very much.”

Spencer’s recent milestones — from his sobriety to his personal revelations — reflect his ongoing commitment to healing and personal growth, with support from both family and new relationships