Charles James Spencer-Churchill, the 12th Duke of Marlborough and a descendant of one of Britain’s most renowned aristocratic families, has been charged with intentional strangulation. The offenses, according to Thames Valley Police, allegedly occurred between November 2022 and May 2024 in Woodstock, Oxfordshire.
The 70-year-old nobleman, previously known as Jamie Blandford, is accused of three counts of non-fatal intentional strangulation directed at the same individual. He was arrested on May 13 of last year and is scheduled to appear at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
Spencer-Churchill is closely linked to British history — he is a first cousin, three times removed, of wartime Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill and is also distantly related to Diana, Princess of Wales through the Spencer family line. He inherited the dukedom in 2014 after the death of his father, the 11th Duke of Marlborough.
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Though the Duke’s ancestral home is the iconic Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Woodstock and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, he neither owns nor manages the estate. The palace is operated by the Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation, an independent organization. In fact, in 1994, the previous duke legally ensured that his son would not gain control over the family seat.
The Foundation has stated it cannot comment on the charges, noting that they pertain to the Duke’s personal life and remain subject to ongoing criminal proceedings.
The estate has played host to many significant events, including a royal reception held by the King for European leaders in July 2024 and the unveiling of a bust of Sir Winston Churchill in 2015, attended by Spencer-Churchill and the then Duchess of Cornwall.
Spencer-Churchill’s past includes a well-documented struggle with drug addiction. His representatives have been contacted for comment regarding these charges.