UPDATE — 1/6/26 at 12:58 p.m. ET: A relative of the late Princess Diana has denied allegations he strangled his estranged wife on three different occasions.
On Monday, January 5, Charles James Spencer-Churchill appeared in an English court to enter not guilty pleas to three counts of intentional strangulation — charges stemming from incidents alleged to have occurred between November 2022 and January 2024.
In court, Spencer-Churchill, 70, listed his address as Blenheim Palace, which is his family’s ancestral estate. He was released on bail with a follow-up court due scheduled for February 5.
Original story:
A duke related to both Princess Diana, the late first wife of King Charles III, and British wartime leader Winston Churchill stands accused of intentional strangulation in the United Kingdom, according to multiple reports.
The charges that were filed against Charles James Spencer-Churchill stem from three alleged incidents that authorities claim occurred over an 18-month period, reports the Independent.
Spencer-Churchill, who is the 12th Duke of Marlborough, was arrested more than a year ago on May 13, 2024, on three counts of intentional strangulation after the same person alleged the 70-year-old of attacking them, according to BBC.
Formerly known as Jamie Blandford, Spencer-Churchill allegedly attacked the victim in Woodstock in Oxfordshire, England, between November 2022 and May 2024.
The alleged attacks were non-fatal, and the name of the victim has not been released. A motive for the alleged attacks also has not been disclosed.
The BBC reports that Spencer-Churchill is the first cousin — three times removed — of Sir Winston Churchill. He lives at the 300-year-old Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, which is his family’s ancestral estate. It is also the birthplace of the late British Prime Minister.
However, the estate is owned by the UNESCO World Heritage Site, according to the station.
The duke is set to appear at the Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, December 18.
A spokesperson said in a statement to the Independent that “Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation is aware legal proceedings have been brought against the Duke of Marlborough.
“The foundation is unable to comment on the charges, which relate to the duke’s personal conduct and private life, and which are subject to live, criminal proceedings,” the foundation continued. “The foundation is not owned or managed by the Duke of Marlborough, but by independent entities run by boards of trustees.”
Spencer-Churchill is the oldest surviving son of the 11th Duke of Marlborough and his first wife, who was Susan Mary Hornby. As a member of the Spencer kith, he is a distant relative to the late Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales, who died in a horrific car wreck on August 31, 1997.
Spencer-Churchill is said to have inherited his dukedom in 2014, following his father’s death. Before that, the twice-married Spencer-Churchill was the Marquess of Blandford.
The charges against the duke were actually filed under his former name.
The 18th century baroque palace Spencer-Churchill lives in has a storied past.
In 2019, thieves smashed their way into the palace and removed a $6 million dollar 18-carat golden toilet from one of the bathrooms.
King Charles III hosted a reception at Blenheim Palace for European leaders back in July 2024, and the Queen — then the Duchess of Cornwall — joined Spencer-Churchill for the unveiling of a bust of Churchill on the grounds of Blenheim in 2015.
The castle also hosted President Donald Trump back in 2018.
The Independent reported Spencer-Churchill “is well known to have had a long battle with drug addiction in the past.”
The charges come as Spencer-Churchill prepares to stand trial in January 2026 for allegedly driving 80 mph in a 50 mph zone in Yarnton, reports the Oxford Mail.
He’s also charged with failing to provide the identity of a driver who was alleged to have been guilty of an offense.
Us Weekly was unable to reach Spencer-Churchill’s representatives for comment.
