Whether the fourth time's the charm is something that Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer (61), brother of Lady Di, will have to decide, as he has once again married the Norwegian archaeologist Cat Jarman (44), a specialist in Viking history. It has been revealed that the couple got married in a private ceremony on Friday, May 14th in the Arizona desert with the iconic Cathedral Rock in Sedona as the backdrop.
The bride wore a sleeveless, pale blue Grecian-inspired dress with cut-out details at the waist, while the groom opted for a dark suit paired with a light blue open-collar shirt.
The ceremony was quite relaxed, with no family members present, and at one point Charles and Cat improvised to take a fun selfie. In a joint statement, they stated, "we both feel incredibly fortunate to have gone from being colleagues to friends, and then to experiencing a deep love and connection. Each stage of our relationship has been marked by laughter, and we share a passion for life."
The now-married couple met when in 2021 the archaeology doctor visited Althorp House, the ancestral residence of the Spencers, an imposing mansion built in the early 16th century in Northamptonshire, England, surrounded by nearly 5,300 hectares of land that she excavated in search of a buried Roman-era village. The project was filmed for Channel 4. Additionally, the Earl highlighted his non-fiction bestseller "River Kings".
They gradually became friends and, along with the journalist and clergyman Richard Cole, they created the podcast The Rabbit Hole Detectives where they explore the origins of historical objects, both real and metaphorical.
As familiarity breeds affection, the aristocrat grew fond of the archaeologist until he confessed his love amid his divorce from his third wife, Canadian philanthropist Karen Gordon, with whom he has a daughter, Lady Charlotte Diana (14).
The early days of the romantic relationship between Charles and Cat were not easy as the archaeologist sued the millionaire because she allegedly disclosed that the Norwegian had multiple sclerosis, a condition diagnosed in 2016. She is divorced and has two children.
Last year, the Earl Spencer thanked Cat for supporting him on his journey to sobriety. He posted an emotional message on his Instagram account: "Recent anniversary trip to Oslo with @catjarman, in fact, a double anniversary, and also marking the end of my first year without drinking. I have never felt better."
In an interview with the Daily Mail, the Prince of Wales's uncle and future King of England explained, "She (Cat) knows who I really am. I don't have to pretend to be something I'm not. And she brings out the best in me."
The Earl Spencer has six children from three previous marriages. With former model Victoria Lockwood, he had Lady Kitty (36), Lady Eliza (34), Lady Amelia (34), and Louis (32), Viscount Althorp, with aristocrat and public relations Caroline Hutton, he had Edmund (22) and Lara (20), and with entrepreneur Karen Gordon, he had Lady Charlotte Diana (14).