Karen, Countess Spencer, buys £3.6m country house about 10 miles from Althorp

The Daily Mail reported on 2 October 2026 that Karen, Countess Spencer, 54, spent £3.6m of her divorce settlement on a country mansion on the edge of a village about ten miles from the Spencer family's 13,000-acre Althorp estate in Northamptonshire. 1 2 Estate agents describe the six-bedroom house as 'a remarkable country estate that epitomises luxury and refined living'. It stands in 24 acres of parkland and gardens and has a heated swimming pool, an all-weather tennis court, a gym and outdoor dining areas. 1 2 The Mail says the Lutyens-inspired house is little more than 20 years old, unlike the 500-year-old Althorp, and that its symmetry resembles her former home. 1

Karen, who is Canadian-born, met Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, on a blind date in Los Angeles in 2010 and moved to Althorp in 2011. She had earlier been married to the Hollywood producer Mark Gordon. She has two older daughters from that marriage and a 14-year-old daughter with the Earl. 1 2 Their separation became public in June 2024 and was followed by acrimonious legal disputes. Karen stayed at Althorp for some time and moved into a temporary rental in January 2025 with sheep, while her seven horses had not yet arrived. 1 2 GB News reported that Karen alleged the Earl had an affair and ended the marriage by text message, which he strongly denies. It also said the Earl's new wife, Prof Cat Jarman, began legal proceedings in October 2024 over the sharing of her multiple sclerosis diagnosis without consent. The matter was resolved for an undisclosed amount with no admission of wrongdoing. 2

The Earl, 62, has since married Norwegian archaeologist Prof Cat Jarman, 44, in Sedona, Arizona, in May 2026, according to the Mail. The Mail also reports speculation that his book about his sister, Princess Diana, was written partly to help pay for his divorce settlement. 1 The two outlets differ on when Karen announced the purchase. The Mail says August 2025, with a move two months later. GB News says she bought the home in October 2025. Both agree she has since shared updates on furnishing it, including pieces bought at auction. 1 2 The outlets also differ on the house's architect. GB News quotes Karen on Instagram saying it was designed by Charles Morris. The Mail quotes a post saying her house was inspired by Sir Edwin Lutyens. The Mail says Karen is styled Countess Spencer since the divorce and, in its headline, that she won't give up the title. GB News does not mention the title. 2 1