Earl Charles Spencer and Karen Spencer married in 2011, two months after Prince William and Kate Middleton's royal wedding
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Charles Spencer hired the same attorney his former brother-in-law, King Charles III, used in his divorce from Princess Diana.
The Times of the U.K. reported the 9th Earl Spencer and younger brother of the late Princess of Wales had hired Fiona Shackleton to represent him in his divorce from his third wife, Karen Spencer.
According to the outlet, Shackleton is the same attorney Prince Charles turned to when he and Diana divorced in 1996.
The previous Prince and Princess of Wales separated in 1992 after 11 years of marriage. Their divorce was finalized a year before Diana, 36, was killed in a Paris car crash.
The UK Times reported that Earl Charles Spencer has hired Fiona Shackleton to represent him. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Shackleton is known within royal circles. She represented Prince Andrew in his 1996 divorce from Sarah Ferguson and Princess Haya bint al-Hussein of Jordan in her 2019 split from Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum of Dubai.
A spokesperson for Shackleton had no comment for Fox News Digital.
Fiona Shackleton also represented Beatle Sir Paul McCartney in his 2008 divorce from Heather Mills. (Shaun Curry/AFP via Getty Images)
According to People magazine, Queen Elizabeth II made the barrister a life peer in 2010 and awarded her the title Baroness Shackleton of Belgravia. The outlet noted that Shackleton is a current member of the House of Lords in Parliament who attended the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May 2018.
Fiona Shackleton is known within royal circles. (Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)
Spencer, 60, and his wife are calling it quits after nearly 13 years of marriage. The British aristocrat announced the split to The Mail Sunday.
"It is immensely sad," the earl told the outlet about the divorce. "I just want to devote myself to all my children and to my grandchildren, and I wish Karen every happiness in the future."
A spokesperson for Spencer didn’t immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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Princess Diana and the former Prince Charles separated in 1992. Their divorce was finalized in 1996. (Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images)
According to the outlet, his marriage to the Countess of Spencer ended amid the writing of his memoir, "A Very Private School." The pair first announced the breakup privately to their staff at Althorp House, Charles’ ancestral home, in April.
The outlet also reported that Spencer is "becoming close to" Norwegian archaeologist Dr. Cat Jarman. They "look very happy together," but it is still "early days."
Jarman co-hosts the history podcast "The Rabbit Hole Detectives" with Spencer and Rev. Richard Coles.
Princess Haya bint al-Hussein arrives at the High Court with her lawyer Fiona Shackleton Nov. 13, 2019, in London. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Spencer and Karen, 52, said "I do" at Althorp House in June 2011. The wedding took place two months after Spencer’s nephew, Prince William, married Kate Middleton. Althorp House, the historic English estate where Spencer and his sister Diana grew up, became their residence upon marriage. They share a 12-year-old daughter, Charlotte Diana, whose name pays tribute to her royal aunt.
Karen, a social entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of Whole Child International. She has two older daughters from her previous marriage to Hollywood producer Mark Gordon.
Spencer, who has been married three times, shares four children with his first wife, Victoria Lockwood, and two children with his second wife, Caroline Freud.
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Charles Spencer and Karen Spencer arrive at the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
In his memoir, "A Very Private School," Spencer revealed how he was sexually abused as a child. Over the years, Spencer kept the abuse a secret. But after two failed marriages, Spencer realized he needed help.
Charles Spencer was married to British model Victoria Lockwood from 1989 to 1997. (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
"I was so confused by my endless romantic disasters, deep unhappiness and two divorces," he previously told Fox News Digital. "I also wanted to do something for my children. Actually, that was the spur. I wanted to get better for them, so I could be a better father.
"I don’t know if they would agree that I managed it, but that was my aim. And I think, if I hadn’t been a parent, I probably would have just gone on ... coping. [Saying it out loud] was surprisingly helpful. It didn’t get to the root of the problem, but it sent me on a course of more honest therapy."
Charles Spencer was married to Caroline Freud from 2001 to 2007. (Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Spencer said he’s "really turned a corner" in the last three to four months, especially after writing his book. He’s still doing "a very effective" post-traumatic stress disorder treatment, as well as tai chi and breathing exercises.
According to reports, Fiona Shackleton represented Prince Andrew (right) in his 1996 divorce from Sarah Ferguson. (John Shelley Collection/Avalon/Getty Images)
"I’ve got a whole armory of support techniques to try and get to a better place," he shared.
Following the book’s publication, Spencer told People magazine Karen "has been supportive."
"I think it was very challenging for her to have a husband going through what was essentially 4½ years of the most profound therapy with very difficult undertones to it," he told the outlet. "And she supported the idea of me doing it.
Countess Spencer and Earl Spencer attend the Portrait Gala 2017 at the National Portrait Gallery March 28, 2017, in London. (David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for William & Son)
"I think she always hoped I would come out happier and healthier," he added. "And that seems to be the case very much. So, I'm grateful to have her standing by me while I went through this, what I now realize was an essential process."
Stephanie Nolasco covers entertainment at Foxnews.com.
