Charles Spencer is sharing insight into his new romance.
Months after Princess Diana’s younger brother confirmed he and wife Karen Spencer had broken up, he detailed his new relationship with his podcast co-host, Dr. Cat Jarman.
“So we were friends, then we were colleagues,” the 60-year-old said in an interview with The Mail on Sunday published Nov. 24. “We were fascinated by the same things. And she made me laugh. Laughter was key.”
Charles and the Norwegian archaeologist, 42, met in 2021, when she visited Althorp House—the Spencer family’s ancestral home—for an archaeological investigation. From there, Charles began spending more time with Cat and Rev. Richard Coles doing research. The trio launched The Rabbit Hole Detectives podcast in 2023, and collectively wrote a book together of the same name.
Still, Charles shared that he didn’t foresee a romance with Cat given the fact that he was married and was nearly two decades her senior.
“The thing is, I am 18 years older than Cat and so there wasn't even the possibility,” he said “I’ve never been with a much younger person. I wasn't even thinking romance. I was at the tail end of a marriage. It just wasn't a possibility.”
He continued, “I've never tried to do a hard sell on Cat. She's very canny, very emotionally mature. With her I don't pretend to be anything I am not. She knows exactly who I am and who I am not.”
For her part, Cat noted how their solid foundation is what led romance to blossom.
“I feel that I've got to know Charles very gradually, as a friend, and I know how his life has developed,” she told The Mail. “I know who he is now. That is all that matters.”
In June, Charles and Karen announced they were divorcing after 13 years of marriage. And while Charles and Cat have kept many details of their relationship private, they admitted their friendship became "something else" several months ago.
"It is immensely sad," Charles told The Mail on Sunday in a statement published at the time. "I just want to devote myself to all my children, and to my grandchildren, and I wish Karen every happiness in the future."
Charles and Karen share 12-year-old daughter Lady Charlotte Diana Spencer. In addition, Charles is the father of Lady Kitty Spencer, Lady Eliza Spencer, Lady Amelia Spencer and Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp—whom he shares with his first wife Victoria Lockwood—as well as to the Honorable Edmund Spencer and Lady Lara Spencer, whom he welcomed with his second wife Caroline Freud.
Cat is also separated from her husband, with whom she shares two teenage sons.
And amid the budding romance, Charles admitted his relationship with Cat is different than those in his past.
“Put it this way, this is a very easy relationship to be in,” the aristocrat told The Mail on Sunday. “Sometimes in the past I was trying to make people better or make people happier. I think I was a people pleaser. I'm much less concerned with that.”
And those around him have seen a change for the better.
“A lot of my close friends have said how happy they are that I am with someone like Cat because it shows enormous progress from where I was before,”he continued, “Look, it's good to be with someone who is just so...nice. I don't want to denigrate anyone, but Cat is just completely different to anyone I've ever been with before.”
As for taking a trip down the aisle together, Charles responded, “It's a bit early for that.”
For her part, Karen is moving on amid the divorce. In an Instagram post published Nov. 23, she opened up about the next chapter of her life.
“It hasn’t been easy finding a temporary rental that can accommodate seven horses, two sheep, four cats, and a dog - but with the help of some wonderful friends, we’ve finally found one,” the 52-year-old wrote on Instagram Nov. 23 next to a series of photos featuring the sheep. “It’s been a challenging time, but also one filled with so much generosity and kindness. No exact move-in date yet, but we’re getting close. Now, I’m excited to embark on the next chapter! Lucky and Minty, who featured in this week’s newsletter, moved to the new house earlier this week, ahead of the rest of us. They’ve settled in quickly and seem quite happy in their new space!”
Keep reading for more couples who have an age-gap relationship…
Sarah Paulson & Holland Taylor
The practice of ignoring what people say about their 32-year age gap is nothing new for the actresses.
"If someone wants to spend any time thinking I'm strange for loving the most spectacular person on the planet, then that's their problem," Sarah told Modern Luxury in 2018 while discussing her relationship with Holland. "I'm doing just fine."
Heidi Klum & Tom Kaulitz
As for the former Project Runway host, she simply says auf wiedersehen to any negative comments about her 16-year age gap with the Tokio Hotel guitarist.
"My boyfriend is many years younger than me, and lots of people are questioning that and asking about it," she shared with InStyle in 2018. "That's really the only time when age seems to be shoved in my face and I have to give an answer for it. I don't really think about it that much otherwise."
And Heidi—who married Tom the following year—made it clear she's going to continue living life on her terms.
"You have to just live a happy life without worrying too much about what people think," the supermodel continued, "because worrying is only going to give you more wrinkles."
Priyanka Chopra & Nick Jonas
Meanwhile, the Quantico star has called out a double standard.
While she noted people have a lot to say about her being 10 years old than the Jonas Brother singer, she suggested this wouldn't be the case if it were the other way around.
"People gave us a lot of s--t about that and still do," Priyanka told InStyle. "I find it really amazing when you flip it and the guy is older, no one cares and actually people like it."
Sam Taylor-Johnson & Aaron Taylor-Johnson
And if you'd ask the Fifty Shades of Grey director, she'd say her 23-year age difference with the Kraven the Hunter actor just doesn't come up in their day-to-day.
“No, it never does," she said in a 2024 interview with The Guardian. "I mean, it’s coming up now because you’re asking. And it comes up on the outside perspective of people who don’t know us, because I guess people will always...We’re a bit of an anomaly, but it’s that thing: After 14 years you just think, surely by now it doesn’t really matter?”
Sam even pointed out her relationship with Aaron has lasted longer than her marriage to her ex-husband Jay Jopling, who is about four years older than she is.
"So, if you think of it in that way," she continued, "then the age gap doesn’t really make any difference.”
Michael Douglas & Catherine Zeta-Jones
Though the couple share a birthday (Sept. 25), they aren't on the same page...of the calendar.
"My husband is 25 years older than me; that’s not a secret," the Chicago star told WSJ. Magazine in 2021. "With any relationship, it wouldn’t be normal if there weren’t any ups and downs. The constant is love and respect."
Dennis Quaid & Laura Savoie
The Parent Trap alum may argue that the only ones who should be focused on his relationship with the Bonniedale Films cofounder is them. T-H-E-M, them. Get the picture?
Still, Dennis indicated he and Laura are unfazed by any attention around her being 39 years younger.
"We just don't even notice it," he told Today in 2021 about their age difference. "We've never related to someone in my life better than we do. We have such a great relationship. And love finds a way, wherever it is. And you never know, when love is coming, who that's going to be. And you have no control over it. And we just couldn't be happier."
Hilaria Baldwin & Alec Baldwin
The yoga instructor has admitted she used to judge couples with big age gaps before her relationship with the actor, who is 26 years her senior.
"Alec and I are on all the lists of 'Celebrities with the Biggest Age Differences' and stuff like that," she explained on her podcast Witches Anonymous in 2022. "And I would look at it and be like, 'This older man wants some young bimbo with no opinions whatsoever. And then that younger woman is obviously a gold digger, and she obviously doesn't even care and is just like OK, whatever, I hope you die and I'm gonna take all your money.'"
However, she's since had a change of heart.
"Now that I'm in that relationship and people will say those things about me regularly, I'm like, 'Oh my God, why was this trained into my head? Why was I so judgmental about other people who are literally just finding love?'" she added. "And maybe their love looks different from you, and from your love, or from what I thought love would be, but it doesn't make it not valid."
Felicity Blunt & Stanley Tucci
Gird your loins because The Devil Wears Prada actor previously spoke about how he almost ended his relationship with the literary agent in the early days of their romance.
"I'm 21 years older than she is and I didn't want to feel old for the rest of my life!" Stanley told BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs in 2023. "But I knew that this was an incredibly special person.”
Oli Green & Sienna Miller
The Alfie actress and the Lift actor know not everyone understands their relationship.
“I would imagine it would be complicated for anyone to get their head around," Oli put it to Vogue while referencing their 15-year age gap, "but there’s been nothing but love and joy.”
And frankly, Sienna suggested nobody else needs to understand it.
“I don’t think you can legislate on matters of the heart," she added. "I certainly have never been able to."
Jeff Goldblum & Emilie Livingston
The Jurassic Park star recalled a lighthearted moment with his Olympian wife, who is 30 years his junior.
"I said, 'Which Beatle would I be if I was one of the Beatles?'" he remembered on The Hoda Show. "She said, 'Rex Harrison.' I said, 'Wait a minute, I know we saw that My Fair Lady yesterday. I think you're thinking of that.'"
However, Jeff noted it didn't take Emilie long to realize she meant George Harrison.
"So there's that kind of thing," he noted of the couple's age gap. But other than their differing cultural touchpoints, he continued, life together is "so far so good."
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley & Jason Statham
The model also doesn't feel the need to deliver a fast and furious response to any critics of her 20-year age gap with the actor.
"His knowledge and strength are really inspiring and attractive, and that can come with a man who's had a bit of time," she told Glamour in 2013. "We have a connection that has nothing to do with age. Work comes and goes, but if you have someone at home who thinks you're the greatest person in the world, that keeps you going."
David Foster & Katharine McPhee
As for how the American Idol alum feels about any judgment towards her nearly 35-year age gap with the composer? Probably so over it.
"I totally get the judgment initially, but things are never as they appear," Katharine said on Dr. Berlin's Informed Pregnancy Podcast in 2023. "And I'm in love with our love story, and that's all that matters is that I'm in love with the love story."
Kristin Cavallari & Mark Estes
One thing that’s not unwritten? The way Kristin felt about her 13-year age gap with ex-boyfriend Mark Estes.
“Me dating a 24-year-old is not something that I was searching out,” The Hills alum said on a March 2024 episode of her podcast Let’s Be Honest. “It’s not something that I ever thought would ever happen. If you guys listen to the podcast, you know I thought 30-year-olds were too young for me.”
And while Kristin said she understands how “it looks to the outside world,” she insisted Mark is “not a typical 24-year-old” and that there’s more to a person than their birth year.
“I really think age is just a number,” she continued. “It’s what you’ve been through in your life, how you were raised. There are just so many factors that go into maturity other than age.”
But months later, Kristin shared she broke up with Mark.
“I just know long-term he needs to experience life,” she said on an October episode of her podcast. “He’s young. He is. I started to feel the age a bit just with life experience. I look back when I was 24 and how much life has happened for me in between then. Those are crucial years. Those are formative years. This is when you find yourself and he needs to be able to do that.”
Still, she called their romance "the best relationship" of her life and expressed hope that Mark will realize their split was for the best.
"I know that one day he will look back and he will understand it," she added, "and I actually think one day he will thank me."
Amal Clooney & George Clooney
When the Oscar winner first started crushing on the barrister, he wasn't sure she'd feel the same way.
“I liked her, but I didn’t want to jump the shark on it,” George said on The Howard Stern Show about his early romance with Amal. “I couldn’t tell if she liked me. ‘Cause I’m 17 years older than her so she might’ve thought I was grandpa.”
However, it turns out she liked him right back and they wed in 2014.
Nick Viall & Natalie Joy
Age is only a number for the Bachelor alum, who is 18 years older than his wife. As he put it during a March 2025 episode of his The Viall Files podcast, "When it comes to age gaps, looks matter."