Duke of Marlborough denies strangling estranged wife

The Duke of Marlborough has denied strangling his estranged wife.

Charles James Spencer-Churchill, a relative of Sir Winston Churchill and Diana, Princess of Wales, appeared in court on Monday and was charged with three counts of intentional strangulation against Edla Marlborough between November 2022 and May 2024.

Court documents say the charges of non-fatal intentional strangulation against his estranged wife allegedly took place in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. He pleaded not guilty to all three crimes.

He appeared before High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court for a plea hearing on Monday.

Spencer-Churchill, known as Jamie to his family, is the 12th Duke of Marlborough and a member of one of Britain’s most aristocratic families.

Spencer-Churchill, who was distantly related to wartime prime minister Sir Winston (his first cousin, thrice estranged) as well as Diana of the Spencer line, inherited the dukedom in 2014 following the death of his father, the 11th Duke of Marlborough.

Before this, the twice-married Spencer-Churchill was the Marquess of Blandford and was also known as Jamie Blandford.

The Duke married his second wife, Welsh ceramist Edla Griffiths, in 2002 but they separated in 2024.

The ancestral family home is Sir Winston’s birthplace, 300-year-old Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, but the duke does not own the 18th-century baroque palace and has no role in running the residence and extensive estate.

Blenheim is owned and managed by the Blenheim Palace Heritage Trust.

A spokesman for the trust previously said: “The Blenheim Palace Heritage Trust is aware that legal action is being taken against the Duke of Marlborough.

“The Foundation is unable to comment on the allegations, which relate to the duke’s personal behavior and private life and are the subject of live criminal proceedings.

“The Foundation is not owned or managed by the Duke of Marlborough, but is owned by independent organizations governed by a board of trustees.”