Princess Diana’s brother hires King Charles’ divorce lawyer, report says
Charles Spencer, the younger brother of Princess Diana, has hired the divorce lawyer who represented now-King Charles three decades ago when he split from Diana.
Spencer, 60, has retained well-known divorce attorney Fiona Shackleton, the Times of London reported Sunday.
Shackleton, 68, has made her name representing several British celebrities and members of the royal family in divorce proceedings. But perhaps her highest profile case was representing Charles, then-Prince of Wales, in his separation from Diana, then-Princess of Wales, which was finalized in August 1996.
Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer, reportedly retained Shackleton for his divorce from Karen Spencer. He announced their separation on June 8 in a piece published by The Mail on Sunday.
“It is immensely sad,” he told the outlet. “I just want to devote myself to all my children and to my grandchildren, and I wish Karen every happiness in the future.”
Spencer, an author and historian, married Karen Gordon in June 2011. They have a 12-year-old daughter, Charlotte Diana, named in honor of her late aunt. Both have been married previously as well.
In addition to Charles, Shackleton also represented Prince Andrew in his divorce from Sarah Ferguson and Paul McCartney in his split from Heather Mills. She was also retained by Claire Merry in her separation from soccer star Thierry Henry.
In 2010, Queen Elizabeth II made Shackleton a life peer and gave her the title Baroness Shackleton of Belgravia. She represents the U.K.’s Conservative Party in the House of Lords.
Shackleton is also related through marriage to famed Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton.
