Diana's Father

The wedding between Lady Diana Spencer held many very special moments, one of which was the evident pride shown by Earl Spencer as he escorted his daughter down the aisle to marry her prince.
Edward John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer  was born at 24 Sussex Square, London, England, the son of Albert Edward John Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer (1892-1975) and his wife, the former Cynthia Elinor Beatrix Hamilton (1897-1972), daughter of the 3rd Duke of Abercorn. On June 1, 1954 in Westminster Abbey he married Frances Ruth Burke-Roche, daughter of Edmund Maurice Burke-Roche, 4th Baron Fermoy (1885-1955). They had five children:

• Elizabeth Sarah Lavinia (born March 15, 1955)
• Cynthia Jane (born February 11, 1957)
• John (died within 10 hours after he was born on January 12, 1960)
• Diana Frances (July 1, 1961 - August 31, 1997)
• Charles Edward Maurice (born May 20, 1964, now the 9th Earl Spencer)

In April 1969 the Spencers were divorced and Lord Spencer won the custody battle for the children.

He became romantically involved with Raine McCorquodale, daughter of romance novelist Barbara Cartland, who was at the time wife of Gerald Legge, 9th Earl Dartmouth. Shortly after her divorce, they wed on July 14, 1969.

Lord Spencer died at Humana Hospital, Wellington, London.