Charles Spencer hosts party at sprawling Northamptonshire estate after welcoming new addition to family

Princess Diana's younger brother, Charles Spencer, hosted a party at his Northamptonshire estate earlier this week, merely days after he welcomed a new addition to the family with wife, Cat Jarman.

The Northamptonshire Steelbacks cricket squad and their partners were invited to Earl Spencer's ancestral seat at Althorp House for an evening barbecue on Wednesday.

The 9th Earl Spencer, 62, hosted the gathering alongside his new wife, Professor Cat Jarman, at the sprawling 13,000-acre Northamptonshire estate.

Earl Spencer joked that he "felt quite short next to 6 foot 7 inch Australian bowler Harry Conway" and expressed delight at seeing "fellow Aussie internationals Nathan McSweeney & Chris Lynn relaxing in the Library."

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The historian noted his family's longstanding ties to Northamptonshire cricket, spanning some 150 years, and promised the team a formal dinner should they triumph in this summer's T20 Blast.

"A fun, relaxed, evening," he posted on Instagram. "Great to have 1980s and 1990s Northants and @ecb_uk cricketing legend @allanlambassociates join us - in the front row, on the right. Never a dull moment with Lamby around…."

He added: "I’ve promised the Northants team that if they win the @t20blast2020 this summer I will upgrade the barbecue for them to a proper banquet in Althorp’s dining room."

The Earl later added a photo of a signed Northamptonshire cricket shirt that he had received, emblazoned with his name and No26 on the back.

Just days earlier, Althorp House welcomed a new arrival when a baby alpaca entered the world on May 23.

Earl Spencer announced the birth on Instagram, naming the young animal in honour of the Arizona location where he and Professor Jarman so recently tied the knot.

"This beautiful alpaca cria (baby) was born this morning, and has been happily up and about for most of the day, settling into life here under her mother's watchful eye," the Earl wrote.

He added that there had been "a lot of gentle humming between mother and daughter" as the newborn settled into her surroundings at the historic estate.

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The birth came less than a fortnight after the couple exchanged vows in a surprise ceremony in Sedona, Arizona, on May 15.

Earl Spencer described the occasion as the "happiest day ever" when he revealed the news alongside striking wedding photographs featuring the distinctive red rock formation of Cathedral Rock.

The Norwegian archaeologist, 43, chose an unconventional baby blue wedding dress with a plunging V-neckline and flowing skirt for the intimate occasion.

Following their nuptials, the newlyweds remained stateside for their honeymoon, with photographs showing the pair exploring desert terrain on horseback during their romantic American sojourn.

Earl Spencer and Professor Jarman first crossed paths when he was invited to review her 2021 bestselling work, River Kings, which explores Viking Age history.

Their professional connection blossomed into romance, with the pair subsequently collaborating on archaeological excavations and launching the historical podcast The Rabbit Hole Detectives alongside Rev. Richard Coles.

"We both feel so incredibly lucky to have progressed from being colleagues, to friendship, to deep love and connection," the couple said in a joint statement. "Each stage of our relationship has been underpinned by laughter, and we share a passion for life."

This marks the fourth marriage for Earl Spencer and the second for Professor Jarman.

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