Jamie Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford

Charles James Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford (born 24 November 1955), commonly known as Jamie Blandford, is an English aristocrat and the heir apparent to the Dukedom of Marlborough .

Blandford is the eldest surviving son of the 11th Duke of Marlborough, and his first wife, Susan Mary Hornby (later Mrs John Gough). He is also a distant relative of Diana, Princess of Wales as both belong to the Spencer family and also a stepbrother of Christina Onassis by the second marriage of his father with Athina Livanos.

He was largely disowned by his father, who disapproved of his lifestyle, in 1994.^[1] Although he will succeed to the Dukedom of Marlborough upon his father's death, the ownership of the estate (including Blenheim Palace) and chairmanship of its managing trust will pass to Blandford's son, George Spencer-Churchill, Earl of Sunderland.

Lord Blandford spent a month in prison in 1995 for forging prescriptions.^[2] In September 2007 he was jailed for six months for two counts of dangerous driving and one charge of criminal damage following a "road rage" attack on another motorist's car.^[3] At the same time he also received a three-and-a-half year driving ban.

Television appearance

Blandford appeared in the BBC documentary Famous, Rich and Homeless, televised 24 June 2009, where he refused to sleep rough. On the first night he claimed to sleep in the car park of a 5 star hotel (despite his sleeping bag being discovered unopened); and on the second night, he demanded to be housed in a hotel. He refused to participate further despite giving his assurance he would sleep rough on the third night and ended his participation on the third night. Commenting on this, fellow participant Hardeep Singh Kohli said; "It's disrespectful to all the people out there. If he doesn't have the bollocks to do it, he can fuck off."^[4]

Marriages

Lord Blandford's first wife was Rebecca Mary Few Brown. They were married from 1990 until 1998, when their marriage ended in divorce. By Rebecca, Marchioness of Blandford, he had one son:

• George John Godolphin Spencer-Churchill, Earl of Sunderland (born 1992).

His second wife is Edla Griffiths, whom he married in the Woodstock Register Office on 1 March 2002. They have two children:

• Lady Araminta Clementine Megan Spencer-Churchill (born c. April 2007).
• Lord Caspar Sasha Ivor Spencer-Churchill (18 October 2008).

Lord Sunderland and Lord Caspar Spencer-Churchill are second and third in line of succession to the Dukedom of Marlborough respectively.

Titles from birth to present

• Earl of Sunderland (1955–72)
• Marquess of Blandford (1972 to present)

Ancestry

References

1. ^ RootsWeb: Old-English-L Entails 'n stuff
2. ^ Sky News - Road Rage Marquess Pleads Guilty
3. ^ BBC News - 'Road rage' marquess sent to jail
4. ^ The Telegraph