The 12th Duke of Marlborough has been charged with three offences of intentionally strangling his estranged wife, according to court documents. The case involves alleged incidents that took place over an 18-month period.
Court Proceedings and Charges
Charles James Spencer-Churchill, 70, known as Jamie, was summonsed to appear at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. However, the court heard he was unable to attend. The case has now been listed for a plea hearing at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on 5 January.
The three charges of non-fatal intentional strangulation are alleged to have occurred between November 2022 and May 2024 in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. The Duke was arrested in May last year in connection with the allegations.
A Prominent Aristocratic Figure
Spencer-Churchill is a member of one of Britain's most notable aristocratic families. He is distantly related to both Sir Winston Churchill and Diana, Princess of Wales. He inherited the dukedom in 2014 following the death of his father, the 11th Duke of Marlborough.
Prior to becoming the Duke, he was known as Jamie Blandford, the Marquess of Blandford. He is twice-married. His marriage to his second wife, Welsh ceramicist Edla Griffiths, 57, began in 2002 but the couple separated in 2024. They have two children together: Lady Araminta and Lord Caspar Spencer-Churchill.
Connection to Blenheim Palace
The Duke's ancestral home is the world-famous Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. However, the 18th-century baroque palace is not owned by the Duke. It is owned and managed by the independent Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation.
A spokesperson for the foundation stated they are aware of the legal proceedings but declined to comment further, noting the charges relate to the Duke's personal conduct and are subject to live criminal proceedings. They emphasised the foundation is run independently by boards of trustees.
The Duke was previously married to Becky Few-Brown, who is the mother of his eldest son and heir, George, the current Marquess of Blandford.
