Celebrity
Earl Spencer’s girlfriend Professor Cat Jarman ‘revealed MS diagnosis to stop gossip’
By Victoria Ward
Earl Spencer’s new girlfriend has claimed she was forced to reveal her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in a newspaper interview to put a stop to online gossip.
The Earl’s partner, Cat Jarman, is suing his estranged wife, Countess Spencer, for the misuse of private information, alleging that she told an array of friends and employees about her medical condition.
When she lodged the High Court claim last October, the details of her diagnosis remained confidential.
READ MORE: Prince William to make first overseas visit of the year but not with Kate
But in December, Prof Jarman, a Norwegian archaeologist, gave an interview to MailOnline in which she revealed she had MS, but said she had “worked very hard indeed” to keep it hidden from many people she knew, including the Earl, who is Princess Diana’s brother, in the early days of their relationship.
As a result of her own public revelation, she has now withdrawn the part of her claim that involved an application for an injunction against Countess Spencer to prevent further disclosures.
READ MORE: Royal expert details Meghan’s biggest mistake
Prof Jarman explained in newly released court documents that she “felt compelled” to speak out as the case had generated a huge amount of public speculation.
She said she was also concerned about her “loss of autonomy and control” over her own medical information.
Speculation surrounding the case caused both Prof Jarman and her children “significant distress” and she “felt compelled to publicly disclose the fact of her MS, together with certain information about the nature of the condition”, her claim now states.
READ MORE: Why Princess Sofia became a hospital worker five years ago
This was not a decision taken lightly, it adds. Prof Jarman was also concerned about Countess Spencer’s defence, which was about to become public.
“In these circumstances, the claimant wished to regain some of the autonomy and control over her medical information, and bring an end to the harmful speculation and gossip which had been percolating online,” the claim says.
Prof Jarman said the Countess’s admission that she could not recall exactly whom she had told only served to “increase the risk of further gossip and speculation” about her health.
The legal battle has laid bare a deeply personal marital breakdown, as well as a wealth of private correspondence.
The British royals’ most shocking controversies and scandals
The Countess, who was married to the Earl for 13 years and shares with him a daughter, has robustly defended herself against the allegations.
‘Cruel and inexplicable’
In her 11-page defence, she accused the Earl of having an affair with Prof Jarman.
She alleged that the Earl informed her by text message last March that their marriage was over, “completely refusing” to discuss it in person, or even to provide an explanation, behaviour that she says she found “both cruel and inexplicable”.
She said “the affair became clear” after she compared notes with Prof Jarman’s husband, Tom Jarman, who then told her that his wife had multiple sclerosis.
The Countess states that this information was “volunteered” by Mr Jarman because he “plainly believed” that it was relevant to his wife’s behaviour and the fact she had embarked on an affair. It was considered “a relevant and integral part of the picture”.
At no point was it suggested to her that the diagnosis was a “secret” or that she should not mention it to anyone else, she said.
Earl Spencer has insisted that the Countess ended their marriage, adding: “The notion that I would end my marriage by text is an absurd attempt to blacken my name.”
© Telegraph Media Group Limited 2025
