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Catherine Victoria Aitken (née Lockwood; born 20 April 1965), formerly Victoria, Countess Spencer, is a British former fashion model and former wife of Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, the younger brother of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Marriages and family

Catherine Victoria Lockwood was born in Windsor, the daughter of John Lockwood, an airline executive, and Jean Lockwood, née Holt. Her brother Christopher Lockwood is a journalist and was Deputy Head of the Number 10 Policy Unit from May 2013 to May 2015.

On 16 September 1989, she married Charles Spencer, then Viscount Althorp, at the Church of St Mary, Great Brington. Her wedding dress of champagne French antique lace with Russian sable trim was designed by Tomasz Starzewski, and she wore the Spencer Tiara. Althorp's nephews Prince Harry and Alexander Fellowes were the pageboys at their wedding and his nieces Eleanor Fellowes and Emily McCorquodale were bridesmaids. During their marriage, she was known as Viscountess Althorp and later as Countess Spencer. They have four children:

• Lady Catherine “Kitty” Eleanor Spencer (born 28 December 1990); married Michael Lewis in 2021. They have one daughter, Athena.
• Lady Elizabeth “Eliza” Victoria Spencer (born 10 July 1992)
• Lady Katya Amelia Spencer (born 10 July 1992); married Greg Mallett, nephew of former South African national rugby coach Nick Mallett, in 2023.
• Louis Frederick John Spencer, Viscount Althorp (born 14 March 1994); heir apparent to the earldom.

She suffered from eating disorders and drug and alcohol abuse during her first marriage. It was alleged that the earl had an extra-marital affair with a journalist early in the marriage. The couple moved with their four children to South Africa in 1995 to avoid the media. After their divorce on 3 December 1997, Lord Spencer moved back to the United Kingdom, and subsequently remarried.

In 2005, Victoria, Countess Spencer married South African businessman Jonathan Aitken; they divorced in 2009. They have a son, Samuel Aitken (born 18 April 2003), who is a model.

References

1. "Victoria Aitken". geni_family_tree. 25 November 1965. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
2. John Pearson, Blood Royal: The Story of the Spencers and the Royals (A&C Black, 2011), 320 pages, ISBN 9781448207770.
3. "Christopher Lockwood". University of Cambridge. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
4. Trucco, Terry (10 December 1989). Written at London. "Style Makers; Tomasz Starzewski, Fashion Designer". The New York Times. New York City. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
5. Cope, Rebecca (26 July 2021). "The Spencer Brides: From Lady Diana to Victoria Lockwood, this dynasty has always led the way in bridal fashion". Tatler. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
6. ^ Emily Hourican (3 July 2011). "Poor little rich girls". independent.ie. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
7. Tregaskes, Chandler (25 July 2021). "Dolce & Gabbana on creating Lady Kitty Spencer's stunning wedding dress". Tatler. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
8. Henni, Janine (16 March 2023). "All About Princess Diana's Niece Lady Amelia Spencer Ahead of Her Wedding". People. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
9. Wade, Prudence (28 March 2023). "Diana's niece Lady Amelia Spencer marries in opulent Versace gown". The Independent. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
10. Oliver Jelley. "'I was hurt, scared and devastated' by Earl's affair". Archived from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
11. "Why are they famous?: Countess Victoria Spencer". The Independent. 18 October 1998. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
12. Stephanie Bridger-Linning (18 April 2023). "Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza Spencer share touching tributes to their brother Samuel Aitken on his 20th birthday". Tatler. Retrieved 16 October 2024.

• 1965 births
• Spencer family
• British countesses
• British female models
• Living people
• British expatriates in South Africa
• Royalty and nobility models