THE Duke of Marlborough allegedly hit his estranged wife and strangled her three times at Blenheim Palace, a court heard today.
Charles James Spencer-Churchill, a relative of Sir Winston Churchill and Princess Diana, was held by police in May last year.
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The Duke of Marlborough has arrived at courtCredit: Getty
Charles James Spencer-Churchill allegedly strangled his estranged wifeCredit: Getty
The 70-year-old appeared at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court for a brief hearing.
Spencer-Churchill indicated he would enter not guilty pleas to the three charges of non-fatal intentional strangulation.
Court documents allege the counts relate to his estranged wife Edla Marlborough.
They are said to have taken place at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, between November 2022 and May 2024.
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The court heard on November 13, 2022, Spencer-Churchill allegedly struck Edla “several times” before “squeezing his hands around her neck” after a row in the garden.
He is further accused of strangling his wife in a laundry room on April 23, 2023, after he allegedly chased, grabbed then hit her.
On that occasion, Edla called out their nanny’s name as she was “scared and frightened”, it was said.
JPs were told on January 29, 2024, the Duke pushed Edla on the bed and allegedly assaulted her after putting his hands tightly around her neck.
He was released on bail to appear at Oxford Crown Court on February 5.
Spencer-Churchill married Edla, a Welsh ceramicist, in 2002 after meeting while she lived in Chelsea, South West London.
They were married for seven years and have two children together, the equestrian Lady Araminta Spencer-Churchill and Lord Caspar Spencer-Churchill.
The Duke was previously married to Becky Few-Brown, the mum of his eldest son and heir George, a polo player and the current Marquess of Blandford.
Spencer-Churchill, known to his family as Jamie, is the 12th Duke of Marlborough and a member of one of Britain’s most aristocratic families.
He inherited his dukedom in 2014, following the death of his father, the 11th Duke of Marlborough.
His ancestral family home is the 300-year-old Blenheim Palace – Sir Winston’s birthplace – in Woodstock.
But the Duke does not own the 18th century palace – and has no role in the running of the residence and vast estate.
The estate is instead owned and managed by the Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation.
A spokesperson for the foundation said: “Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation is aware legal proceedings have been brought against the Duke of Marlborough.
“The foundation is unable to comment on the charges, which relate to the duke’s personal conduct and private life, and which are subject to live, criminal proceedings.
“The foundation is not owned or managed by the Duke of Marlborough, but by independent entities run by boards of trustees.”
The former couple got married in 2002Credit: Getty – Contributor
The Duke was arrested in May last yearCredit: PA
His family own Blenheim PalaceCredit: Alamy
