Earl Spencer’s girlfriend Professor Cat Jarman has had her final say in a bitter privacy row over her MS diagnosis with his estranged wife Karen Spencer.
The two women have been embroiled in a lengthy High Court battle after Professor Cat Jarman, 44, accused the countess of disclosing her private medical information.
In December, the countess, 53, agreed to settle the case – without accepting liability – on the proviso the earl will ‘indemnify’ her separately as part of her divorce payout.
However, the saga has dragged on as they quibbled over the wording of a statement Professor Jarman applied to have read in open court as part of the settlement.
Professor Jarman arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice this morning to see it read out in open court by her lawyer.
In the brief hearing, the two-page statement was read to the largely empty Court 17 in front of a judge and a few members of the press.
In it, she said she remains ‘profoundly distressed by the disclosure of her medical information’ and is ‘disappointed’ the countess has never admitted liability or wrongdoing.
‘She has brought these proceedings in order to vindicate her right to medical privacy and to secure recognition of the wrong she considers has been done to her,’ the statement added.
Earl Spencer’s girlfriend Professor Cat Jarman arrived at the High Court this morning to have the final say in a bitter privacy row with his estranged wife Karen Spencer
Earl Spencer said Jarman had handled the situation with ‘grace, integrity and quiet courage’. Pictured together last year
Spencer pictured with his then-wife Karen at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding in 2018
It said that she ‘wishes to draw a line under this matter and move on with her life.’
‘Whilst the Claimant had not wanted the fact she has MS to be widely disclosed because of her fear of discrimination, she has sought to deal with the situation as positively as possible by using her public profile to promote awareness of the condition,’ it continued.
It adds that she, jointly with Princess Diana’s brother Earl Spencer, was working with the MS Society towards that aim.
Lawyers for Countess Spencer who was not present said after the hearing that she considers the ‘matter closed’.
The statement revealed that the countess first learnt of her condition in late April 2024, during a private conversation with the Claimant’s former husband.
It said the defendant was told ‘highly sensitive medical information about the Claimant, namely her diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.
‘The Claimant had made a deliberate personal choice to keep her diagnosis private and had disclosed it only to a very small group of people within her circle, understanding that medical privacy, once lost, can never be reclaimed.’
It said she believes that ‘medical information is among the most intimate aspects of our private lives’.
Professor’s Jarman’s two page statement was read to the largely empty Court 17 by her lawyer in front of a judge and members of the press.
‘The right to control when, how, and to whom such sensitive health data is disclosed is fundamental to human dignity and autonomy.
‘Privacy is not a privilege, it is a universal human right that belongs to everyone, regardless of their circumstances,’ it continued.
The award-winning archaeologist said she was caused ‘enormous strain and anxiety’ after the countess was unable to provide a list of people she had told of her MS.
The statement said the countess admitted that she had ‘told a few people who were her immediate family, or close friends and associates that the Claimant had MS’.
But that she was ‘unable to recall with certainty’ who exactly she had informed.
After the hearing, Professor Jarman who was supported by a group of friends, told the Mail that she had felt ‘compelled’ to deliver the statement to protect medical privacy rights and had chosen to deliver it during MS awareness week.
Speaking after court, the Earl praised his girlfriend for acting with ‘grace, integrity and quiet courage’ as she sought to defend her right to privacy.
‘Cat has handled every aspect of this with grace, integrity and quiet courage, he said in a written statement.
‘She sought only what was her right: the same right to privacy that every person deserves.
‘Multiple sclerosis is a serious condition; its course is uncertain and its demands are significant.
‘Those who live with the condition deserve complete control over when, how and to whom they choose to disclose it,’ he said.
Her ex-husband, Tom Jarman, 45, also released a statement in the professor’s support, expressing ‘huge personal regret’ over his disclosure to the countess.
The architect said his exchange with Lady Spencer were ‘very sensitive and private in nature’ and accused the countess of ‘weaponising’ the issue.
The declaration in court acknowledged that the Earl had ‘made a contribution’ towards his girlfriend’s legal action against his estranged wife ‘by way of a formal loan’.
The row is estimated to have racked up costs of £2.2million after Professor Jarman, who has been dating the earl, 61, since 2024, issued the claim in the High Court in October 2024.
A spokesperson for Countess Spencer said: ‘Countess Spencer accepted the Part 36 Offer with no admission of liability or wrongdoing after the arbitrator in her divorce proceedings ruled that, if she did accept the offer, Earl Spencer would be required to indemnify her for the costs associated with accepting the Part 36 Offer and bringing the proceedings to an end.
‘Countess Spencer has exercised restraint throughout and has limited what she has said publicly.
‘At this time, she does not intend to discuss these matters beyond the few points she feels it is important to highlight in this statement for the purpose of context and accuracy. She considers the matter closed.’
The Norwegian archaeologist had accused Countess Spencer of disclosing to the earl and others without her consent that she had multiple sclerosis, which she said was a ‘misuse of private information’.
In July, a court heard that both parties had reached an agreement on future estimated legal costs amounting to more than £2.2million.
But the countess agreed to settle after following the ‘advice of an arbitrator overseeing her divorce, thought to be in its final stages.
The total cost to be paid by Earl Spencer is said to be ‘hotly disputed’ between the former couple, who are yet to agree on how the final sum should be calculated, according to court documents.
A spokesman for Countess Spencer said at the time the issue has ‘been resolved in an agreed settlement’, adding: ‘Countess Spencer considers her position fully vindicated.
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‘There was no admission of liability or wrongdoing and Earl Spencer has been ordered to pay the legal costs, which are in excess of £2million, together with £4,500 in damages to be paid to his girlfriend Cat Jarman.
‘Countess Spencer sincerely hopes this will mark the end of the matter.’
However, Professor Jarman claimed the move as vindication of her legal action.
At the time, she said: ‘As someone living with multiple sclerosis, I have the unquestionable right to decide when and how to ‘share such sensitive details.
‘Pursuing the claim was a necessary and principled step to protect that right, as well as my career and livelihood.
‘The matter has now been resolved after the other party chose to settle the claim, and I regard that outcome as a clear vindication of my decision to take action.
‘I am relieved to be able to move forward and glad the other side saw sense… I acted on principle and to defend my privacy at a time when it had been seriously violated.’
In court documents, the countess accused her husband of having an affair with Professor Jarman, who was digging for a Roman villa at his Althorp ancestral home.
She said her disclosures were ‘entirely justified and legitimate’ given the way she was treated.
The Canadian-born social entrepreneur became Earl Spencer’s third wife in 2011, and they have an 11-year-old daughter. T
The countess was informed by the earl on March 19, 2024, that ‘their marriage was over after almost 13 years’.
‘He did this by text message,’ said her defence papers, adding: ‘Having given up her life in the US, in order to live in rural Northamptonshire and dedicate herself to sorting out the Althorp Estate business, as well having a child, the news was hideous for Lady Spencer.’
When she compared notes with Professor Jarman’s ex-husband, Tom Jarman, ‘she discovered their affair had been going on since at least November/December 2022’, the defence stated.
During the dig, the archaeologist stayed on the Althorp estate and dined at the house. She insisted they were just friends until after the earl and countess announced their split in June 2024.
Earl Spencer confirmed his relationship with Professor Jarman that October. In her legal claim, she alleges she was shocked when the countess revealed her private information to the earl.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Professor Jarman said: ‘I have worked very hard indeed to keep my MS hidden… So only a handful of people have known – and [the earl] wasn’t one of them.
‘I’d been seeing him, romantically, for only two or three months, and still hadn’t told him.’ She alleges Earl Spencer’s wife ‘found out from someone close to me’ and told her husband.
