The lawsuit brought by Catrine Jarman against Karen Spencer settled in August 2025 with no admission of liability, no apology, and £4,500 in damages, after the Countess accepted a formal settlement offer over allegations that she had disclosed Jarman’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis to several people without consent. The settlement was formally acknowledged in London’s High Court on April 23, 2026, when a unilateral statement was read before Mrs Justice Steyn in Court 17 of the Royal Courts of Justice.1Reuters. Partner of Princess Diana’s Brother Settles Lawsuit Against His Ex-Wife
What Jarman Alleged
Jarman, an archaeologist and the partner of Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2016 and had shared that fact with only a small circle. In April 2024, her estranged husband, Tom Jarman, disclosed her diagnosis to Karen Spencer during a private conversation about rumors of an affair between Jarman and Charles Spencer.2AOL. Partner of Earl Spencer Settles High Court Claim
Court documents said Karen Spencer then passed the diagnosis on to Charles Spencer, staff at the Althorp estate, her personal trainer, teachers at the private school attended by the Spencers’ daughter, and at least one of Jarman’s television colleagues. Jarman alleged the Countess made these disclosures “while passing her own commentary” on the diagnosis and could not provide a complete list of everyone she had told.3People. Cat Jarman Reveals MS Diagnosis, Alleges His Estranged Wife Karen Outed Her
Jarman said the disclosures caused “enormous strain and anxiety,” a “sense of a loss of control of your own life,” and fear of professional discrimination, harm made worse by medical advice that people with MS minimize stress.3People. Cat Jarman Reveals MS Diagnosis, Alleges His Estranged Wife Karen Outed Her
The Claim Filed at the High Court
Jarman filed her claim on October 10, 2024, after initial letters from her legal team were allegedly ignored. The case, Jarman v Spencer (KB-2024-003380), was listed under the High Court’s Media and Communication list as a claim for misuse of private information.4Caseboard. Jarman v Spencer
Jarman’s solicitor, Dina Shiloh of SMB, argued that sharing the diagnosis was neither “necessary nor reasonable.”5Evening Standard. Earl Spencer High Court Claim Karen Spencer’s side maintained that discussing the diagnosis was “entirely justified and legitimate” in the context of conversations about her marriage breaking down.6Oxford Mail. Partner of Earl Spencer and Ex-Wife Settle High Court Claim
In December 2024, Jarman disclosed her diagnosis publicly in a Daily Mail interview, saying she did so to regain control of the narrative after her medical information surfaced in publicly available court documents and was reported by a newspaper.3People. Cat Jarman Reveals MS Diagnosis, Alleges His Estranged Wife Karen Outed Her Karen Spencer’s legal team argued the public disclosure was “hopelessly inconsistent” with the assertion that the information was private.7New York Post. Earl Charles Spencer’s Estranged Wife, Girlfriend Embroiled in Bitter Legal Clash
Terms of the Settlement
On August 1, 2025, Karen Spencer accepted a Part 36 settlement offer, a formal mechanism in English civil procedure by which a claimant proposes terms to resolve a case. The settlement contained no admission of liability or wrongdoing by the Countess and no apology.8SMB. Statement in Open Court
Earl Spencer was ordered to pay £4,500 in damages to Jarman and legal costs estimated to exceed £2 million.9Hello Magazine. Countess Karen Spencer and Cat Jarman Settle Legal Case He had already been contributing to Jarman’s legal costs through what the court statement called a “formal loan.”10The Independent. Earl Charles Spencer, Catrine Jarman, Karen Court In a separate and confidential divorce arbitration, an arbitrator ordered Spencer to indemnify Karen Spencer for her own legal costs in the privacy claim, which created a financial incentive for the Countess to accept the offer.8SMB. Statement in Open Court Charles Spencer ended up paying costs on both sides of a lawsuit in which he was not a named party.
The Hearing on April 23, 2026
Dina Shiloh read a unilateral statement into the record. It said Jarman remained “profoundly distressed by the disclosure of her medical information” and was “disappointed” that the Countess continued to deny wrongdoing. The statement was made, Shiloh said, to “vindicate her right to medical privacy and to secure recognition of the wrong she considers has been done to her.”11The Independent. Earl Spencer, Catrine Jarman, Countess Karen Spencer
Karen Spencer did not attend the hearing and was not represented at it.12Daily Express. Earl Spencer Statement, Girlfriend Legal Win Mrs Justice Steyn’s only recorded comment was: “I am glad to hear that the matter has concluded.”11The Independent. Earl Spencer, Catrine Jarman, Countess Karen Spencer
How Both Sides Framed the Outcome
Jarman called pursuing the claim “a necessary and principled step” and described the resolution as “a clear vindication of my decision to take action,” saying she was delighted to “move on with my life.”13Page Six. Countess Spencer Off the Hook for Spilling MS Diagnosis
A spokesperson for Karen Spencer said the Countess “considers her position to have been fully vindicated” because there was no admission of liability, and “sincerely hopes this will mark the end of the matter.”14People. Karen Spencer Settles Lawsuit The spokesperson also said the Countess believed the claims brought by Jarman and Earl Spencer had been “co-ordinated” and that she had “exercised restraint throughout.”15The National. Partner of Earl Spencer and Ex-Wife Settle High Court Claim
Where Things Stand
Charles Spencer’s divorce from Karen Spencer was finalized in December 2025.16E! Online. Charles Spencer Marries Cat Jarman in Arizona He and Cat Jarman married in a private ceremony near Cathedral Rock in Sedona, Arizona, on May 15, 2026, weeks after the hearing that formally closed the privacy proceedings.17People. Charles Spencer Marries Cat Jarman in Private Arizona Wedding