Catrine Jarman vs. Karen Spencer Medical Privacy Lawsuit: The Full Story and Final Outcome

Catrine Jarman vs. Karen Spencer is a misuse of private information lawsuit in which Norwegian archaeologist and Earl Spencer’s partner, Professor Catrine Jarman, alleged that Countess Karen Spencer — Earl Spencer’s then-estranged wife — unlawfully disclosed her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) to others without her consent, and the case settled in December 2025. 

The proceedings formally concluded on April 23, 2026, with a unilateral statement read in open court at the Royal Courts of Justice in London during MS Awareness Week. Countess Spencer accepted a Part 36 offer to end the litigation but made no admission of liability or wrongdoing, and Earl Spencer was separately ordered to pay legal costs exceeding £2,000,000 and £4,500 in damages to Ms Jarman, pursuant to the terms of his own divorce arbitration proceedings.

Quick-Facts Authority Table

Field	Detail
Plaintiff	Professor Catrine Jarman
Defendant	Countess Karen Spencer
Case Type	Privacy — Misuse of Private Information
Court	King’s Bench Division, High Court of Justice, England and Wales (Royal Courts of Justice, London)
Date Filed	October 2024
Legal Claim	Misuse of private information — unauthorised disclosure of a medical diagnosis (multiple sclerosis)
Outcome	Settled — Countess Spencer accepted a Part 36 offer in August 2025; proceedings formally concluded in open court April 23, 2026
Settlement Amount	£4,500 in damages to Ms Jarman; legal costs exceeding £2,000,000 (both paid by Earl Spencer pursuant to divorce arbitration indemnity). Full settlement terms not publicly disclosed.
Admission of Wrongdoing	None — Countess Spencer made no admission of liability
Plaintiff’s Solicitor	Dina Shiloh
Last Updated	April 24, 2026

Case Timeline

Date	Event
2021	Professor Catrine Jarman begins archaeological excavation at Althorp House, Earl Spencer’s ancestral estate in Northamptonshire; meets Earl Spencer
2023	Jarman and Earl Spencer co-create The Rabbit Hole Detectives history podcast with Rev. Richard Coles
June 2024	Earl Spencer and Countess Karen Spencer publicly announce their divorce
October 2024	Professor Jarman files misuse of private information claim against Countess Spencer in the King’s Bench Division, High Court of England and Wales
October 2024	Earl Spencer publicly confirms his relationship with Jarman
December 2024	Professor Jarman publicly discloses her MS diagnosis in a media interview to end public speculation
July 2025	Legal costs reported in court to be expected to exceed £2,000,000
August 2025	Countess Spencer accepts Professor Jarman’s Part 36 offer to settle the claim — no admission of liability
December 2025	Settlement publicly confirmed; both parties issue statements
Early 2026	Earl Spencer and Countess Karen Spencer’s divorce finalised
April 23, 2026	Unilateral statement read in open court at Court 17, Royal Courts of Justice, formally concluding proceedings — timed to coincide with MS Awareness Week

What Is the Catrine Jarman vs. Karen Spencer Lawsuit About?

This case concerns the misuse of private information — a civil tort recognised under English law that protects individuals from the unauthorised disclosure of information over which they hold a reasonable expectation of privacy. Professor Catrine Jarman, a 43-year-old Norwegian archaeologist, academic, and television presenter, alleged that Countess Karen Spencer revealed her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis to third parties — including Earl Spencer and staff at Althorp House — without her knowledge or consent. According to court documents cited in reporting by The Times, the claim stated that Ms Jarman “did not, at any time, provide her consent to the countess to disclose that information to any third party.” The case was filed in the King’s Bench Division of the High Court of England and Wales in October 2024.

The circumstances surrounding the alleged disclosure were closely tied to the breakdown of the Spencer marriage. Earl Spencer ended his 13-year marriage to Countess Karen Spencer in June 2024, with the countess later alleging in her defence that she was informed of the split via text message — a claim the earl disputes. According to reporting, it was Ms Jarman’s then-husband Tom who initially told Countess Spencer about the MS diagnosis; in a statement following the April 2026 court hearing, he acknowledged the disclosure was made in “very sensitive and private” exchanges and described it as a “source of huge personal regret.” Countess Spencer robustly defended herself during the litigation, with her legal team arguing that Ms Jarman’s decision to give a public media interview about her MS diagnosis in December 2024 was “hopelessly inconsistent” with a legal claim premised on privacy. Ms Jarman’s solicitor, Dina Shiloh, told the court that the December 2024 interview was itself a direct consequence of the alleged disclosure — an attempt to end the public speculation that had followed it, not an abandonment of her privacy interests.

The case sat at an intersection of personal privacy law, medical ethics, and the dynamics of a high-profile family separation within British aristocracy. Earl Spencer — Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, younger brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales — was not a party to Ms Jarman’s High Court claim, though he became financially implicated through his own divorce arbitration proceedings, in which an arbitrator ordered him to indemnify Countess Spencer for costs she incurred by accepting Ms Jarman’s Part 36 settlement offer.

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Who Are Catrine Jarman and Countess Karen Spencer?

Professor Catrine Jarman, 43, is a Norwegian archaeologist, academic, and broadcaster based in the United Kingdom. She is known for her work on Viking-era burial sites and for her television presenting work, and she met Earl Spencer in 2021 when she led an archaeological dig at Althorp House. The pair later co-created The Rabbit Hole Detectives, a history podcast with Rev. Richard Coles in 2023. Earl Spencer publicly confirmed their relationship in October 2024. In her statement following the conclusion of proceedings, Jarman said she “worked very hard” to keep her MS diagnosis private and that she shared it only with “a very small and trusted circle of people.” She has since used her public platform to support the MS Society and promote awareness of the condition, which affects over 150,000 people in the UK.

Countess Karen Spencer, 53, is the former third wife of Earl Spencer, whom she married in 2011. The couple announced their divorce in June 2024. Countess Spencer did not appear at the April 23, 2026 court hearing and was not represented. Through a spokesperson, she maintained throughout proceedings that she considered her position “fully vindicated” — a statement she issued at the time of the December 2025 settlement and which was reinforced after the open court statement. She made no admission of liability or wrongdoing at any point in the litigation.

How Did the Catrine Jarman vs. Karen Spencer Lawsuit End?

The case settled in December 2025 after Countess Spencer accepted a Part 36 offer — a formal settlement mechanism under the Civil Procedure Rules of England and Wales in which a party accepts an offer to end litigation, with cost consequences if the offer was made and not beaten at trial. Countess Spencer accepted the offer in August 2025, with proceedings formally drawn to a close in an open court statement on April 23, 2026, timed to coincide with MS Awareness Week.

The financial terms of the settlement were: £4,500 in damages paid to Ms Jarman, and legal costs exceeding £2,000,000 — both amounts paid by Earl Spencer pursuant to the indemnity terms set out in the separate divorce arbitration award. That indemnity arrangement is internal to the divorce proceedings and does not constitute an independent legal finding against the earl in the privacy claim itself. Countess Spencer made no admission of wrongdoing and did not apologise to Ms Jarman at any point in the proceedings. Ms Jarman’s solicitor Dina Shiloh confirmed to the court that Earl Spencer had also made a “contribution” to Ms Jarman’s own legal costs through a “formal loan.”

In her statement following the hearing, Ms Jarman said she was “relieved that these proceedings are at an end” and “delighted to be able to move on.” Earl Spencer issued a separate statement saying Ms Jarman “sought only what was her right: the same right to privacy that every person deserves.” Countess Spencer’s spokesperson issued a statement calling the settlement a vindication and expressing hope it would “mark the end of the matter.”

What Does the Catrine Jarman vs. Karen Spencer Case Mean for Medical Privacy Law?

Although the case settled without a full court judgment on liability — meaning no legal precedent was formally set — it brought significant public attention to the tort of misuse of private information under English law as it applies to medical diagnoses. The case established, through its settlement, that the disclosure of a person’s MS diagnosis without consent can form the basis of a viable civil claim, even where the information was originally disclosed by a third party to the defendant. Ms Jarman’s legal team was explicit in their open court statement: “Medical privacy is not negotiable.” For individuals living with chronic or serious conditions, the case reinforces that the right to control disclosure of a medical diagnosis — including the timing, manner, and audience — is legally protected.

The case also raised questions about the limits of that protection when a claimant later discloses the same information publicly, a tension that Countess Spencer’s defence team highlighted directly. The court did not rule on whether Ms Jarman’s public interview in December 2024 affected the value or viability of her claim, as the matter settled before any judicial determination on that point. The case is likely to be cited in future arguments involving celebrities, public figures, and private individuals seeking to protect sensitive health information from unauthorised disclosure by those in their personal orbit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who filed the lawsuit and why?

 Professor Catrine Jarman, a Norwegian archaeologist and partner of Earl Spencer, filed a misuse of private information claim against Countess Karen Spencer in October 2024 at the High Court of England and Wales. According to the claim, Countess Spencer disclosed Ms Jarman’s diagnosis of multiple sclerosis to others — including Earl Spencer and Althorp staff — without her knowledge or consent.

What court handled this case?

 The case was filed in the King’s Bench Division of the High Court of Justice, England and Wales, sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. The April 23, 2026 open court statement concluding the case was heard at Court 17 of the Royal Courts of Justice.

Has the case been resolved? 

Yes. The case settled in December 2025 after Countess Spencer accepted a Part 36 offer. Proceedings formally concluded on April 23, 2026, when Ms Jarman’s solicitor read a unilateral statement in open court. Countess Spencer did not appear and was not represented at the hearing.

How much money was involved? 

Countess Spencer paid £4,500 in damages to Ms Jarman. Legal costs exceeding £2,000,000 were also incurred — both the damages and the costs were paid by Earl Spencer, pursuant to an indemnity award made in his separate divorce arbitration proceedings with Countess Karen. The full terms of the settlement itself were not disclosed in court.

Can I read the court documents?

 Proceedings at the King’s Bench Division of the High Court of England and Wales are part of the public court record. The open court statement of April 23, 2026, was read publicly and reported by the Press Association. Court filings may be accessed through the UK Court Service or by application to the court.

Did Countess Spencer admit wrongdoing? 

No. Countess Spencer made no admission of liability or wrongdoing at any point in the litigation. Her spokesperson maintained she considered her position “fully vindicated.” Ms Jarman’s solicitor acknowledged in court that the countess “has not apologised to the claimant.”

What is a Part 36 offer and why does it matter here? 

A Part 36 offer is a formal settlement mechanism under the Civil Procedure Rules of England and Wales. When a defendant accepts a Part 36 offer made by a claimant, proceedings end and the defendant typically pays the claimant’s costs up to the date of the offer. Crucially, acceptance of a Part 36 offer does not require the accepting party to admit liability — which is why Countess Spencer was able to settle while simultaneously maintaining she had done nothing wrong.

What role did Earl Spencer play in the case?

 Earl Spencer was not a party to Ms Jarman’s High Court claim. However, through the separate divorce arbitration proceedings with Countess Karen, an arbitrator ruled that he must indemnify his former wife for costs she incurred by accepting the Part 36 offer — specifically the £4,500 damages and the countess’s own legal costs in the King’s Bench proceedings. Earl Spencer also made a “formal loan” contribution toward Ms Jarman’s own legal costs, according to her solicitor. He publicly supported Ms Jarman’s position throughout.

Sources & References

• Press Association / Irish News (April 23, 2026): Partner of Earl Spencer and his ex-wife settle High Court claim

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against verified reporting from the Press Association, Hello! Magazine, and GB News on April 24, 2026. Last Updated: April 24, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Information about concluded legal cases is based on publicly available court records and verified reporting. Allegations described in this article have not necessarily been proven in court. For advice regarding a particular legal situation, consult a qualified attorney.