The Duke of Marlborough has refuted allegations of strangling his estranged wife, Edla Marlborough. Charles James Spencer-Churchill, a descendant of Sir Winston Churchill and Princess Diana, faces three charges of intentional strangulation against Edla Marlborough spanning from November 2022 to May 2024. He has declared his intention to plead not guilty at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court after being arrested in 2024.
According to court proceedings, Spencer-Churchill is accused of physically assaulting Ms. Marlborough following a dispute in their garden on November 13, 2022, where he allegedly placed his hands around her neck. Another incident on April 23, 2023, reportedly involved Spencer-Churchill assaulting Ms. Marlborough in a laundry room. The final accusation states that on January 29, 2024, the duke pushed Ms. Marlborough onto a bed and assaulted her while gripping her neck tightly.
Appearing in court on Monday, Spencer-Churchill was dressed in a navy suit, white shirt, and blue tie. He confirmed his personal details and entered not guilty pleas. The 70-year-old was granted bail under certain conditions to appear at Oxford Crown Court on February 5 for formal plea entry.
Spencer-Churchill, who wed Welsh ceramicist Edla Griffiths in 2002, separated from her in 2024. The couple met while Edla was residing in Chelsea pursuing her art, leading to their marriage after seven years of courtship. They have two children, Lady Araminta Spencer-Churchill born in 2007, and Lord Caspar Spencer-Churchill born in 2008.
Edla, aged 57, became the Duchess of Marlborough upon Spencer-Churchill inheriting his title following his father’s passing in 2014. Prior to Edla, the duke was married to Becky Few-Brown, the mother of his eldest son George, the current Marquess of Blandford.
Spencer-Churchill, related to Sir Winston Churchill and Princess Diana through their family lines, inherited his dukedom in 2014 after his father’s death. Blenheim Palace, the ancestral estate of the Marlborough family for over 300 years and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, is managed by the Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation, not owned by the duke.
In response to the legal proceedings against the Duke of Marlborough, a spokesperson for the foundation stated that they are aware of the charges, which pertain to the duke’s personal affairs and are subject to ongoing criminal proceedings. The foundation clarified that it operates independently from the duke, managed by trustee boards.