Earl Spencer gets divorce, ex-wife gets $3 million

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) _ A judge granted Earl Spencer a divorce today, ending his tumultuous eight-year marriage with a settlement worth more than $3 million.

The divorce of the late Princess Diana’s brother and former model Victoria Lockwood capped a series of embarrassing courtroom revelations.

Lawyers for the 32-year-old Lady Spencer alleged he was a adulterer who had 12 mistresses, starting soon after their marriage.

He maintained she is mentally unstable, unable to handle a large sum of money and would return to the alcohol abuse and eating disorders that have plagued her in the past.

The settlement, finalized today, was reached Tuesday just before Lady Spencer, her father John, and the earl’s former mistress Chantal Collopy were due to testify against him.

In Cape Town High Court, Judge Ian Farlam asked Spencer if his marriage had broken down.

``It is so broken down, my Lord,″ a solemn-faced Spencer, 33, replied.

Farlam then confirmed that provision had been made for the couple’s four children and granted the divorce. Spencer smiled broadly and shook hands with his lawyers.

Lady Spencer was not present, but her lawyer Jeremy Gauntlett offered no objections to the divorce. She had been seeking $6.3 million.

The couple, already estranged, both moved to Cape Town in 1995 and set up separate homes within a few streets of each other. Spencer said he left England to escape press intrusions.

After Diana died Aug. 31 in a Paris car crash while fleeing photographers, Spencer accused the media of hounding his 36-year-old sister to her death.