If you’re not already familiar with Karen, here are some of the most important things to know.

Who is the Countess of Spencer?

These frequent moves influenced her ability to establish a sense of stability and attachment in her later relationships.

Karen and Charles Spencer

Karen transitioned to hospitality and landed a front desk position at Toronto’s acclaimed and luxurious Four Seasons.

She put her people skills to the test and interacted with high-profile characters on a regular basis.

It was there that she met her first husband in 1994.

Karen Spencer

The Pikler approach affirms that trusting and reliable relationships between child and caregiver are essential for child development.

It wasn’t only UNICEF that had decided to move away from placing children in orphanages.

The World Health Organization and the World Bank also refrained from supporting them.

Canadian national park

This anti-orphanage sentiment would be an obstacle, but Karen was not deterred.

It is safe to assume that she didn’t have much time for romance.

This was far from the earl’s first breakup.

student studying

His engagement to Lady Bianca began in March 2010 and ended in September of the same year.

She went on to say, “It took a minute.

They are really, really, paying attention.”

Mark Gordon

This belief in Charles' ability to continuously improve himself initially endeared him to her.

The Earl and Countess of Spencer share one daughter, Charlotte, born in 2012.

As for Charles, he has six other children from his previous two marriages.

baby and mother’s hand

With his first wife, Victoria Lockwood, he welcomed Kitty, Eliza, Amelia, and Louis.

From his second marriage to Caroline Freud, Charles welcomed two additional children, son Edmund and daughter Lara.

The countess confessed that being a stepparent is not her strongest skill.

UNICEF building

She praised her husband for being better suited to the task.

Karen was also granted a fellowship at the University of Northampton the following year.

They, too, suffered the loss of one or both of their parents.

Charles Spencer

If you’ve experienced trauma and abandonment to the degree Charles did, your brain is hard-wired.

I think we are particularly suited to each other."

The countess' empathy did not go unnoticed by her husband.

Charles and Karen Spencer

He expressed in an interview withVoguethat Karen had shifted his troubled mindset in a positive direction after their marriage.

With her help, he acknowledged that his past efforts to overcome his trauma were fruitful.

Lady Charlotte Diana Spencer and Countess Karen Spencer

Countess Karen Spencer

Charles Spencer, Karen Spencer, and child

Althorp House