Princess Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, has finalised his third divorce after two years of intense legal battles.
Charles Edwards Maurice Spencer completed the agreement with 53-year-old Karen Spencer.
The legal battle documented the collapse of the 13-year marriage after Countess Spencer gave details in her submission to the High Court.
She claimed the Earl was having an affair and suggested that he ended the marriage via a text message, claims that Earl Spencer has denied.
Earl Spencer and Countess Spencer have finalised their divorce after a two-year legal battle
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It was agreed that Countess Spencer may keep her noble title, as it was understood she felt deserving of it due to her work to improve the estate at Althorp, where Princess Diana is buried.
The divorce was finalised in December, though it is understood that financial matters have yet to be decided.
Should Earl Spencer remarry, his new wife will become The Countess Spencer, and Karen will be known as Countess Spencer, without “the” as a prefix.
A decision is yet to be made on how much the Earl will pay his former wife in regard to legal action taken by his girlfriend, Professor Cat Jarman.
The case was settled in December after Ms Jarman sued Karen for the “misuse of private information.
The Norwegian archaeologist, who co-hosts a podcast with the Earl, claimed Countess Spencer had told people she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, without her consent.
The court case claimed Earl Spencer ended the marriage over a text
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Karen’s lawyers settled the case out of court with no admission of liability, with the court ruling that the costs would, in part, be funded by Earl Spencer through the divorce settlement.
Countess Spencer’s lawyer, David Sherborne, said she had been “shocked and devastated” when the Earl allegedly sent a text containing the “hideous” news he wanted a divorce.
Earl Spencer previously told the Mail: “The notion that I would end my marriage by text is an absurd attempt to blacken my name.
“Karen ended the marriage, after endless threats to do so over the years, in early March. She asked me to confirm the end of the marriage in a text of March 18 and my reply was a simple acceptance of her decision.”
Karen confronted Ms Jarman after suspecting she was having an “affair” with her husband.
A court case between Professor Cat Jarman and Countess Spencer was settled and costs will be covered as part of the divorce case
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In an email sent to Ms Jarman, shared with the court, it read: “Good luck Cat, you’re in for a hell of a ride.
“I think 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.”