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Partner of Princess Diana's Brother Settles Lawsuit Against His Ex-Wife
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 23, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 23, 2026
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Quick Summary
Catrine (Cat) Jarman, the partner of Charles Spencer, settled her 2024 High Court lawsuit against his ex-wife, Karen Spencer, over the unauthorised disclosure of her multiple sclerosis diagnosis. The December 2025 settlement awarded Jarman £4,500 in damages, with no admission of wrongdoing, and plac
Princess Diana’s Brother’s Partner Settles Lawsuit Over Privacy Breach
Settlement of Privacy Lawsuit Involving Royal Family Members
Background of the Lawsuit
LONDON, April 23 (Reuters) - The partner of Princess Diana's brother has settled her lawsuit against his ex-wife for alleged misuse of private information after she disclosed her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, London's High Court was told on Thursday.
Parties Involved
Catrine Jarman, a Norwegian archaeologist, sued the now ex-wife of Charles Spencer, uncle to the heir to the throne, Prince William, and his younger brother Prince Harry, in 2024.
Details of the Privacy Breach
Jarman said Karen Spencer had disclosed her MS diagnosis, which she had sought to keep private, to a number of people shortly after Charles Spencer ended their marriage.
Resolution and Statements
Karen Spencer accepted Jarman's offer to settle the lawsuit in August, Jarman's lawyer Dina Shiloh said in a statement read at the High Court.
"She (Spencer) does not, however, accept that this entails any admission of liability or wrongdoing, nor has she apologised to the claimant," Shiloh added.
Background on Charles Spencer and Karen Spencer
Charles, the ninth Earl of Spencer and the younger brother of the late Princess Diana, married Karen Gordon, founder and head of the charity Whole Child International, in 2011. Their divorce was confirmed last year.
(Reporting by Sam Tobin; editing by Michael Holden)
Key Takeaways
- •Jarman filed the lawsuit in October 2024 claiming Karen Spencer disclosed her MS diagnosis without consent to the Earl and others (en.wikipedia.org).
- •The case was resolved via a Part 36 settlement in December 2025: Jarman received £4,500 in damages, and no admission of liability was made by Karen Spencer (en.wikipedia.org).
- •Under the divorce arbitration agreement, Charles Spencer was ordered to cover both the damages and legal costs, which are expected to have exceeded £2 million (en.wikipedia.org).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Partner of Princess Diana's brother settles lawsuit against his ex-wife
1Who was involved in the lawsuit settled in London’s High Court?
Catrine Jarman, partner of Princess Diana’s brother Charles Spencer, settled a lawsuit against his ex-wife Karen Spencer.
2What was the basis of Catrine Jarman’s lawsuit?
Jarman sued Karen Spencer for alleged misuse of private information after her multiple sclerosis diagnosis was reportedly disclosed.
3Did Karen Spencer admit to any wrongdoing as part of the settlement?
Karen Spencer accepted the settlement offer but did not admit liability or wrongdoing, nor did she apologize.
4When was the settlement offer accepted?
Karen Spencer accepted the offer to settle in August.
5What is Charles Spencer’s relation to the British royal family?
Charles Spencer is the ninth Earl of Spencer and the younger brother of the late Princess Diana.
