Earl Spencer Marries Professor Cat Jarman in Arizona Ceremony

Charles Spencer, the 62-year-old brother of Princess Diana, married archaeologist Professor Cat Jarman in a private ceremony in Arizona last Friday. The event marked Spencer's fourth marriage and occurred three months after his divorce from third wife Karen was finalized in February.

The couple first met five years ago when Jarman arrived at the Spencer family's Althorp Estate to conduct an archaeological excavation. Jarman, an authority on the Viking era, was searching for a lost Roman settlement with a television crew. Spencer, a historian and author of nine books, found a shared interest with the professor.

Both have described their early connection as one between kindred souls united by their interest in history. Their friendship led to a collaborative podcast project with Rev Richard Coles. At the time they met, Spencer was writing memoirs about his boarding school experiences.

The couple have nine children between them from previous relationships. Jarman has spoken about adapting to life at Althorp, including taking up horse riding and acquiring pet alpacas.

The Arizona ceremony differed from Spencer's previous marriages, which were traditional society events. The couple chose an elopement with desert landscapes and canyon views as the backdrop. A selfie taken by Jarman was among the photographs shared by the newlyweds.

In a joint statement, the couple said: "We both feel so incredibly lucky to have progressed from being colleagues, to friendship, to deep love and connection. Each stage of our relationship has been underpinned by laughter and we share a passion for life.