- Lady Kitty Spencer won’t inherit her father’s earldom or the family’s Althorp estate.
- The 33-year-old model recently welcomed her first child with Michael Lewis.
- Kitty leads a surprisingly relatable life while maintaining an active presence on social media.
Lady Catherine “Kitty” Eleanor Lewis, née Spencer, was born on December 28, 1990. She is the eldest child of Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer. Unfortunately, she won’t be getting an inheritance due to an old, controversial tradition.
Kitty is the niece of Diana, Princess of Wales, and thus, one of Prince William and Prince Harry’s cousins. Like them, she has begun her journey into parenthood and has delighted fans.
Taking a look inside her life shows an interesting look into the future of British nobility. This new generation still holds important values while embracing modernity.
The Spencer Estate
Though many associate Princess Diana’s royal status solely with her marriage to then-Prince Charles, her family’s noble lineage predates this union.
Diana’s father was an earl, a title that has been passed down through generations of the Spencer family. Charles Spencer, Diana’s younger brother, inherited the earldom upon their father’s passing in 1992, becoming the 9th Earl Spencer.
Charles Spencer with his wife Victoria, and their daughters, Kitty, Eliza, and Amelia, at Althorp house, Northamptonshire in 1993 | Source: Getty Images
Charles’s inheritance included not only titles but also the family’s ancestral home, Althorp. This 500-year-old estate in Northamptonshire, England, holds significant importance as the final resting place of Princess Diana.
On the 20th anniversary of her death, the Spencer family rededicated her grave, which is located on an island in the middle of a lake on the property.
In Britain, the tradition of primogeniture, where estates are passed down to male heirs, has long been a cornerstone of aristocratic inheritance.
Charles has been a vocal supporter of this system, stating that leaving the main lands and real estate to the male heirs in the line “works.” However, this stance has not been without controversy.
While it’s unlikely the Spencer succession will change, some of the laws of succession in the royal family have been updated in the last few years.
Furthermore, more aristocratic women have begun to challenge this tradition, arguing that they are equally capable of managing family fortunes as their younger brothers.
Kitty Was the Firstborn but Won’t Inherit the Estate
Despite being the eldest child of Earl Spencer, Kitty Spencer will not inherit the Althorp estate. This decision came from Charles, who still wants to uphold his family’s long-standing custom.
In an interview with Daily Mail, he explained his reasoning:
“I would be totally relaxed about Kitty inheriting it, but that was the structure written by the person who first built this place. If I chose Kitty, it would be against all the tradition that goes with Althorp. It’s just the way it is. I get the problems with it as a concept.”
Instead of Kitty, the 90-room stately home will pass to her younger brother, Louis Spencer, who is currently 30 years old.
This decision means that Kitty wasn’t the only one who was overlooked due to this law. Her sisters, Lady Eliza and Lady Amelia, are also older than Louis.
However, Earl Spencer has a more modern mindset than many aristocrats these days. He told the outlet that he has remained with a “foot in the real world” and has taught his children to find careers and work for their own money.
Some of them even acted as tour guides in the Spencer estate.
While maintaining tradition, Charles has also expressed a commitment to ensuring all his children and future grandchildren are taken care of, stating, “I don’t want to go into details, but I will tell you I am looking after all my children, when Louis gets this.”
The Earl has also made changes to how Althorp is managed. After a popular exhibition honoring Princess Diana was taken down so that the items could be given to her sons, guest visits to the house have been scaled back.
Kitty Doesn’t Need The Title
At 33 years old (turning 34 in December 2024), Kitty Spencer has carved out a life for herself that doesn’t revolve around aristocratic titles or inheritances.
She has expressed that while she believes in gender equality completely, she also thinks her brother will be the best person to inherit the title.
In a revealing Vanity Fair interview, Kitty showed herself to be a relatable and down-to-earth individual, despite her noble background.
Kitty’s interests align closely with those of many in her age group. She even admitted to knowing “every word to every episode of ‘Friends’” and being a major “House of Cards” enthusiast.
Her social media presence, particularly on Instagram, reflects this modern outlook. “I always find it a very positive thing,” she said of the platform, where she regularly posts a mix of glamorous shots and everyday moments.
Despite being born in London, Kitty spent much of her childhood in South Africa with her parents until they divorced and Charles returned to their home.
This split upbringing has given her a unique perspective on life because she never felt like she had to sacrifice anything due to her parents’ living situation. She traveled between the two of them and lived normally.
She viewed this as having “the best of both worlds.” After settling in London years later, Kitty embraced city life while maintaining ties to her South African upbringing.
Her subsequent education and career choices reflected her desire to forge her own path. After earning a master’s degree in luxury brand management, she was determined to “put it to good use.”
Her focus has been on charity work, becoming an ambassador for Centrepoint, an organization supporting homeless young people.
She also engaged in modeling, which she approached with a relaxed attitude: “I appreciate that it takes me to new places, and you get to dress up and wear beautiful things and live in a little bit of a fairy tale for a day.”
Lady Kitty Spencer attends the Woodside Gallery Dinner in benefit of Elton John AIDS Foundation in partnership with BVLGARI at Woodside on June 22, 2017 in Windsor, England | Source: Getty Images
Regarding her famous relatives, Kitty has maintained a respectful distance. “I’m wary of saying anything,” she commented about the American fascination with the royal family, adding that she doesn’t talk about them as a rule.
While discussing her late aunt, Princess Diana, Kitty shared that she was still a child when Diana was alive. Therefore, she only held on to a few precious memories of her aunt, but she considered herself fortunate for having known her.
Diana, Princess of Wales, wearing a dress designed by Victor Edelstein at a state banquet in Vienna, Austria, on April 16, 1986 | Source: Getty Images
Meanwhile, she has always viewed media attention pragmatically, seeing it as an opportunity rather than a burden. This attitude allows her to leverage her position for causes she cares about, without being overshadowed by her family’s legacy.
Her Mother Had Many Struggles
Kitty Spencer’s journey to motherhood is particularly poignant, given her mother Victoria Aitken’s struggles while the kids were growing up.
Charles Spencer with his wife Victoria, and their daughters, Kitty, Eliza, and Amelia, at Althorp house, Northamptonshire in 1993 | Source: Getty Images
Victoria, a former model once described by Ralph Lauren as “the most beautiful woman in the world,” faced significant challenges during her marriage to Charles.
During their eight-year marriage from 1989 to 1997, she struggled with substance abuse issues and anorexia.
Charles Spencer with his wife Victoria with their baby, Kitty, at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London in 1991 | Source: Getty Images
In a 2004 interview with HELLO!, Victoria spoke candidly about her ongoing recovery, and how there weren’t “holidays,” meaning breaks from her disease. She had to be under constant vigilance to remain free from her issues. Attending meetings became part of her weekly schedule and her future.
Despite these difficulties, she did her best to raise her children. After her divorce from Charles in 1997, Victoria remained in South Africa with the children while her ex-husband returned to the UK.
Victoria emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive environment for the children, stating, “I believe that it is a lot better for a child to be loved by both parents individually than to be in an environment where there is conflict, pain, or animosity.”
Now, at 33, Kitty has embarked on her own journey into motherhood. Earlier this year, she welcomed her first child with her husband, the tycoon Michael Lewis, 63, who she married in 2021, wearing a stunning Dolce & Gabanna dress.
The ceremony took place at the Villa Aldobrandini in Frascati, Italy, with guests including Lady Kitty’s siblings, Viscountess Emma Weymouth and her husband, pop star Pixie Lott and her boyfriend, as well as Michael Lewis’s children from a previous marriage.
Kitty shared the joyful news of welcoming her daughter on Mother’s Day, posting on Instagram�about the joy she felt at becoming a mother. She wrote to tell her daughter how she was loved “unconditionally,” and wished a wonderful day to everyone who celebrated the special occasion.
Recently, Kitty revealed that they named their daughter Athena. In an Instagram post featuring a portrait of her little girl, she wrote, “Athena watching the world go by.”
Kitty’s transition to motherhood has been met with an outpouring of support from fans. One user commented, “How pretty they are. Congratulations [sic]”
Someone else said, “What a beautiful name!” and one user commented on Athena being able to stand, looking out a window at just four months. But the overall sentiment has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing joy at seeing Kitty embrace motherhood.
Following Diana’s Footsteps
Despite not becoming official royalty, Kitty chose to follow in her aunt Princess Diana’s footsteps by dedicating herself to charitable causes and has continued to do so for several years.
At 25, Kitty became an ambassador for Centrepoint, the UK’s leading charity for homeless young people, an organization that Princess Diana supported and is now patronized by Prince William.
Lady Kitty Spencer joins the Duke of Cambridge at Centrepoint’s celebration for 50 years of tackling youth homelessness, at The Roundhouse on November 13, 2019 in London, England | Source: Getty Images
During her visits to Centrepoint’s facilities, Kitty expressed her admiration for the charity’s work.
She shared on Instagram, “What a fascinating morning seeing all the wonderful work that Centrepoint does to help homeless young people in the UK. I loved my visit to Bruce House Hostel & the Dean Street Health & Wellness Centre.”
This dedication to philanthropy echoes the compassion that Princess Diana was known for. While Kitty may not have inherited the Spencer estate, she has certainly embraced and forwarded the Spencer family’s spirit of service and compassion.
Her work with Centrepoint and other charitable organizations demonstrates her commitment to making a positive impact on the world, much like her famous late aunt.
She continues to balance her modeling career with her giving back efforts, maintaining an active presence on Instagram, where she shares both professional and personal moments.
Therefore, it’s not a surprise that fans often draw comparisons between Kitty and Diana with comments like, “I see the beauty of Diana in you.” Another user wrote, “She does have the Spencer look like her Dad and Diana she is beautiful [sic]”
User comment on Lady Kitty Spencer’s Instagram post of a photo session with Dolce & Gabbana | Source: Instagram/kitty.spencer
From her successful modeling career to her dedicated charitable work, Kitty exemplifies a new generation of aristocracy; one that balances tradition with contemporary relevance.
Her journey from a child of privilege to a compassionate advocate and now a mother showcases a life lived with purpose and grace, carrying forward the best aspects of her family’s heritage while writing her own unique story.
