Duke of Marlborough Says He Didn't Strangling Wife

The Duke of Marlborough has said he will plead not guilty to charges that he strangled his estranged wife during a series of alleged assaults.

Charles James Spencer-Churchill is accused of attacking Edla Marlborough, 58, on three separate occasions at Blenheim Palace. The 70-year-old Duke attended High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on Monday for a plea hearing.

Prosecutors told the court that on November 13, 2022, the Duke allegedly struck Ms Marlborough several times before placing his hands around her neck. A second incident is said to have occurred on April 23, 2023, when Ms Marlborough ran into a laundry room and was allegedly grabbed, punched with a closed fist, and strangled. The final allegation relates to January 29, 2024, when the Duke is accused of pushing her onto a bed and assaulting her by tightly gripping her neck.

Dressed in a navy suit, white shirt and blue tie, the Duke spoke only to confirm his identity and to state his intention to plead not guilty.

He was previously scheduled to appear at Oxford Magistrates’ Court last month, but the hearing was postponed after the district judge said he was unable to attend. Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring ruled that the case was too serious to be dealt with at magistrates’ court and ordered that it be sent to Oxford Crown Court, where the Duke is due to appear on February 5.

The Duke has been granted bail, with strict conditions preventing him from contacting his estranged wife, prosecution witnesses, or managers of the Blenheim estate.

The Duke married the Duchess, a Welsh ceramic artist, in 2002. They have two teenage children. Following their separation last year, the Duchess moved out of Blenheim Palace and is believed to be living elsewhere on the estate.

The 12th Duke inherited his title in 2014. He is a distant relative of Sir Winston Churchill and is also related to Diana, Princess of Wales, through the Spencer family.

In 1994, his father took legal action to prevent him from gaining control of Blenheim Palace, describing him as the “black sheep” of the family. The High Court ruled that the estate should be protected for future generations, leading to the Duke surrendering executive authority to a board of trustees.

Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has hosted major international events in recent years, including a banquet for former US president Donald Trump in 2018 and a reception for European leaders hosted by the King in July last year.