Duke of Marlborough Denies Charges of Strangling Estranged Wife

British Aristocrat Faces Serious Allegations

The Duke of Marlborough, one of Britain’s most prominent aristocrats, has entered a not guilty plea to charges of strangling his estranged wife on three separate occasions. Charles James Spencer-Churchill, who is a great-nephew of Sir Winston Churchill and relative of the late Princess Diana, indicated he would plead not guilty to three counts of intentional strangulation.

The Duke of Marlborough was released on bail and will next appear at Oxford Crown Court on February 5. The 70-year-old aristocrat appeared at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on 5 January 2026 to face the allegations.

Details of the Allegations

The charges relate to alleged attacks on his estranged wife, Edla Marlborough, which prosecutors say occurred in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, over an 18-month period spanning November 2022 to May 2024. According to court documents, the first alleged incident took place on November 13, 2022, when the Duke purportedly hit Edla “several times” following a dispute in the garden before “squeezing his hands around her neck”.

The court was told that on 23 April 2023, his wife ran into a laundry room before the defendant allegedly grabbed her, hit her with a closed fist and strangled her. A third alleged incident reportedly occurred on 29 January 2024.

Background and Significance

The 70-year-old, known within his family as Jamie, holds one of Britain’s most prestigious aristocratic titles. He inherited the dukedom in 2014 following his father’s death. The Duke of Marlborough married Welsh ceramicist Edla Griffiths, in 2002. The couple share two children together, a daughter Araminta born in April 2007 and a son Casper born in October 2008.

His ancestral family home is the 300-year-old Blenheim Palace – Sir Winston’s birthplace – in Woodstock. The duke does not own the 18th century baroque palace and has no role in the running of the residence and vast estate, which is a Unesco World Heritage Site and a popular visitor attraction with parklands designed by “Capability” Brown.

Looking Ahead

The case has attracted significant public attention due to the Duke’s prominent social standing and historical family connections. The allegations represent serious criminal charges that will be thoroughly examined by Oxford Crown Court in February. The legal proceedings will determine the veracity of the accusations and their consequences for one of Britain’s most distinguished aristocratic families. This case also highlights broader concerns about domestic violence that affect families across all social strata.