James Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough

For other people named Charles Spencer-Churchill, see Charles Spencer-Churchill (disambiguation).

His Grace The Duke of Marlborough
1989 portrait by Allan Warren
Born	(1955-11-24) 24 November 1955
Spouse(s)	Rebecca Brown (m. 1990, div. 1998) Edla Griffiths (m. 2002)
Issue	George Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford (b. 28 July 1992), Lady Araminta Spencer-Churchill (b. ca. 8 April 2007) Lord Caspar Spencer-Churchill (b. 18 October 2008)
Parents	11th Duke of Marlborough Susan Hornby

Charles James Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough (born 24 November 1955), commonly known as Jamie Blandford, is an English aristocrat and the present Duke of Marlborough.

Marlborough is the eldest surviving son of the late 11th Duke of Marlborough, and his first wife, Susan Gough (née Hornby). As a member of the Spencer family he is a distant relative of the war-time Conservative Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill and of Diana, Princess of Wales. He is also a stepbrother of Christina Onassis by the second marriage of his father with Athina Livanos. He was educated at Harrow School and the Royal Agricultural College. "In a bid to safeguard the Blenheim Palace estate from the Marquess’s excessive behaviour, his father won a court battle in 1994 to ensure he never won control of the family seat", but their relationship may have improved later.

The Duke spent a month in prison in 1995 for forging prescriptions. In September 2007 he was jailed for six months on two counts of dangerous driving and one of criminal damage following a "road rage" attack on another motorist's car. At the same time he was banned from driving for three and a half years.

On the death of the 11th duke

On the death of his father in 2014, the Daily Mail reported that he would inherit the title and quoted a "spokeswoman for Blenheim Palace [who] said it was 'too early to say' if he will chose (sic) to live in the palace, which is open to the public." The newspaper also noted that "Though Jamie is now in overall charge of the estate, perhaps mindful of his son’s troubled history, the late Duke had insisted the board of trustees should have this power of veto". However, the Oxford Mail quoted "A palace spokesman [who] declined to comment on whether the 12th Duke – who had a well-publicised drug addiction – [would] inherit his family’s residence, but it is understood he could become a trustee of the companies that run it." The Oxford Mail further stated that "[Blenheim] Palace will remain under the control of trustees as the late Duke of Marlborough’s heir – Jamie Spencer-Churchill – inherited his father’s title." On the other hand, The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that "The responsibility of maintaining one of Britain’s grandest country houses for future generations now passes to 58-year-old Jamie Blandford, as he is commonly known, following a remarkable turnaround in his relationship with his late father, who once described him as the 'black sheep' of his family."

Television appearance

On 24 June 2009 Blandford (as he then was) appeared in a BBC Television documentary, Famous, Rich and Homeless, in which famous people were filmed spending three nights in the open with nothing but a sleeping bag, though Blandford refused to "sleep rough". He claimed that on the first night he slept in the car park of a five-star hotel, though his sleeping bag was discovered unopened, and on the second night he demanded to be housed in a hotel. He refused to participate further despite giving an assurance that he would sleep rough on the third night, and ended his participation on that night. Another participant, Hardeep Singh Kohli, said that Blandford's behaviour was "disrespectful to all the people out there".

Marriages

Marlborough's first wife was Rebecca Mary Few Brown. They were married from 1990 until 1998, when their marriage ended in divorce. By Rebecca, the then Marchioness of Blandford, he had one son, who is now heir apparent to the Dukedom of Marlborough:

• George Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford (born 28 July 1992). Lord Blandford went by the courtesy title Earl of Sunderland until his father's accession to the title in 2014.

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

• Lady Araminta Clementine Megan Spencer-Churchill (born 8 April 2007).
• Lord Caspar Sasha Ivor Spencer-Churchill (18 October 2008).

Lord Caspar Spencer-Churchill is second in line of succession to the Dukedom of Marlborough.

Titles from birth to present

• Earl of Sunderland (1955–72)
• Marquess of Blandford (1972–2014)
• His Grace The Duke of Marlborough (2014–present)

Ancestry

Family of James Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough

16. George Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough 8. Charles Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough 17. Lady Albertha Hamilton 4. John Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough 18. William Kissam Vanderbilt 9. Consuelo Vanderbilt 19. Alva Erskine Smith 2. John Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough 20. George Cadogan, 5th Earl Cadogan 10. Henry Cadogan, Viscount Chelsea 21. Beatrix Jane Craven 5. the Hon. Alexandra Cadogan 22. Henry Sturt, 1st Baron Alington 11. Mildred Cecilia Harriet Sturt 23. Augusta Bingham 1. Jamie Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough 24. Rev. Charles Edward Hornby 12. Charles Harry St. John Hornby 25. Harriet Catherine Turton 6. Michael Charles St. John Hornby 26. Charles Barclay 13. Cicely Rachel Emily Barclay 27. Charlotte Cassandra Cherry 3. Susan Mary Hornby 28. William Ward, 1st Earl of Dudley 14. The Hon. Cyril Augustus Ward 29. Georgina Elizabeth Moncreiffe 7. Nicolette Joan Ward 30. Arnold Nicolaas Justinus Marie baron van Brienen 15. Irène barones van Brienen 31. Marie Louise barones van Tuyll van Serooskerken