Lord Spencer was educated in Eton College, in the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, and in the Royal Agricultural College. A Captain in the Royal Scots Greys, Lord Spencer fought in the Second World War from 1944 to 1945. From 1947 to 1950, Lord Spencer served as Aide-de-Camp to then-Governor of South Australia Malcolm Barclay-Harvey.[1]
[edit]Politics and Royal service

Lord Spencer held the offices of County Councillor for Northamptonshire (1952), High Sheriff of Northamptonshire (1959) and Justice of the Peace for Norfolk (1970).[1] He served as Equerry to King George VI (1950-52) and to Queen Elizabeth II (1952-54),[2] and was invested as a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) in 1954.[1]
[edit]First marriage

On 1 June 1954 the Lord Spencer and the Hon. Frances Ruth Burke-Roche, a daughter of Edmund Burke Roche, 4th Baron Fermoy, were married in Westminster Abbey by Percy Herbert, Bishop of Norwich. They had five children:
1955: Elizabeth Sarah Lavinia Spencer (Lady Sarah McCorquodale)
1957: Cynthia Jane Spencer (Jane Fellowes, Baroness Fellowes)
1960-1960: John Spencer, who died within 10 hours of his birth
1961-1997: Diana Frances Spencer (Diana, Princess of Wales)
1964: Charles Edward Maurice Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer
The Spencers were divorced in April 1969. Lord Spencer later won a bitter custody battle for the children.
[edit]Second marriage

In 1976, Lord Spencer married Raine, Countess of Dartmouth, the former wife of Gerald Legge, 9th Earl of Dartmouth. She is the daughter of the romance novelist Barbara Cartland.
[edit]Death

Lord Spencer died at Humana Hospital, Wellington, London, at the age of 68. He was succeeded by his son, Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, who is the younger brother of Diana, Princess of Wales