Lady Catherine “Kitty” Eleanor Lewis, née Spencer, a British model and aristocrat, was born on December 28, 1990, and has forged her own way in life.
Kitty is the first child of Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer. Her aunt was the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and her cousins are Prince William and Prince Harry. While she may not inherit the Spencer fortune, her life is far from ordinary, but it is nonetheless sympathetic.
Her journey from aristocratic background to successful model and philanthropist provides insight into the new face of British nobility.
The Spencer Estate
Princess Diana’s royal position is often associated with her marriage to then-Prince Charles, but her family’s noble history precedes that union.
Diana’s father was an earl, a title that has been passed down through centuries in the Spencer family. Diana’s younger brother, Charles Spencer, acquired the earldom after their father died in 1992, becoming the 9th Earl Spencer.
Charles inherited not only titles but also the family’s ancestral home, Althorp. This 500-year-old estate in Northamptonshire, England, is significant for being Princess Diana’s ultimate resting place.
On the twentieth anniversary of her death, the Spencer family rededicated her burial, which is situated on an island in the middle of a lake on the property.
Primogeniture, or passing estates down to male successors, has long been a cornerstone of British aristocratic succession.
Charles has been an outspoken proponent of this arrangement, claiming that giving the principal lands and real estate to male successors in the line “works.” However, this position has not been without debate.
While the Spencer succession is unlikely to change, some royal succession regulations have been revised in recent years.
Furthermore, more aristocratic women have begun to question this practice, claiming that they are just as capable of handling family finances as their younger brothers.
Kitty Was the Firstborn but Won’t Inherit the Estate
Despite being Earl Spencer’s eldest child, Kitty Spencer will not inherit the Althorp Estate. This choice is consistent with Charles’ previously stated convictions.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, he described 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 majestic estate will go to her younger brother, Louis Spencer, who is now 30 years old.
This decision implies that Kitty was not the only one who was missed because of this law. Her sisters, Lady Eliza and Lady Amelia, are both older than Louis.
Earl Spencer, on the other hand, has a more modern outlook than many aristocrats nowadays. He informed the source that he has kept a “foot in the real world” and has encouraged his children to get jobs and work for their own money.
Some of them even served as tour guides at the Spencer estate.
While maintaining tradition, Charles has emphasized a commitment to safeguarding the well-being of all his children and potential grandchildren, saying, “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 changed how Althorp is managed. After a popular display honoring Princess Diana was removed so that the objects could be presented to her sons, guest visits to the house have been reduced.
Kitty Doesn’t Need The Title
Kitty Spencer, 33 (becoming 34 in December 2024), has set out a life for herself that is not centered on aristocratic titles or inheritances.
She has stated that, while she fully supports gender equality, she believes her brother will be the greatest person to assume the position.
Despite her noble heritage, Kitty demonstrated in a candid interview with Vanity Fair that she is a personable and down-to-earth person.
Kitty’s interests are very similar to those of many people her age. She even admitted to knowing “every word to every episode of ‘Friends'” and being an avid “House of Cards” fan.
Her social media activity, notably on Instagram, shows this contemporary perspective. “I always find it a very positive thing,” she remarked of the platform, on which she often publishes a mix of gorgeous and daily photos.
Despite being born in London, Kitty spent much of her youth in South Africa with her parents, until they split and Charles moved back home.
This split upbringing has given her a distinct perspective on life because she has never been forced to make sacrifices because of her parents’ living circumstances. She moved between the two of them and lived regularly.
She saw this as “the best of both worlds.” After arriving in London years later, Kitty embraced metropolitan life while remaining connected to her South African heritage.
Her following educational and job choices demonstrated her willingness to build her own path. After getting a master’s degree in luxury brand management, she was resolved to “put it to good use.”
Her concentration has been on charity work, and she has become an ambassador for Centrepoint, an organization that helps homeless young people.
She also dabbled in modeling, which she tackled with a laid-back 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.”
Kitty maintains a polite distance from her renowned relatives. “I’m wary of saying anything,” she said of Americans’ interest with the royal family, adding that she rarely discusses them.
While discussing her late aunt, Princess Diana, Kitty said that she was still a child while Diana was alive. As a result, she only had a few beautiful recollections of her aunt, but she felt privileged to have known her.
Meanwhile, she has always approached media attention pragmatically, viewing it as an opportunity rather than a burden. This mindset enables her to use her position for causes she is passionate about without being overwhelmed by her family’s legacy.
Her Mother Had Many Struggles
Kitty Spencer’s journey to parenthood is especially painful given her mother Victoria Aitken’s troubles as the children grew up.
Victoria, a former model who Ralph Lauren allegedly called “the most beautiful woman in the world,” endured considerable obstacles during her marriage to Charles.
She battled substance misuse and anorexia throughout their eight-year marriage, which lasted from 1989 until 1997.
In a 2004 interview with HELLO!, Victoria spoke openly about her continuous recovery and how there were no “holidays,” or getaways from her sickness. To avoid her problems, she needed to be constantly vigilant. Attending meetings became a part of her weekly routine and future plans.
Despite the obstacles, she did her best to raise her children. After her divorce from Charles in 1997, Victoria stayed in South Africa with the children while her ex-husband went to the United Kingdom.
Victoria emphasized the significance of providing a positive atmosphere for the children, saying, “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.”
Kitty is now 33 years old and has started her own family. She gave birth to her first child with her husband, entrepreneur Michael Lewis, 63, whom she will marry in 2021, earlier this year while wearing a magnificent Dolce & Gabanna dress.
The wedding was held at the Villa Aldobrandini in Frascati, Italy, and visitors included Lady Kitty’s siblings, Viscountess Emma Weymouth and her husband, pop artist Pixie Lott and her boyfriend, and Michael Lewis’s children from his former marriage.
Kitty announced the happy news of her daughter’s birth on Mother’s Day, writing on Instagram about her excitement at being a mother. She wrote to tell her daughter how much she was loved “unconditionally,” and she wished everyone who celebrated the occasion a happy day.
Kitty just shared that they named their daughter Athena. She wrote, “Athena watching the world go by” in an Instagram picture showcasing a portrait of her tiny baby.
Fans have poured forth their support for Kitty’s transition to motherhood.
Comments on social media expressed excitement and well-wishes for the new mother.
A few individuals speculated on the baby’s age, but the overall tone was extremely positive, with many expressing delight at watching Kitty embrace motherhood.
Following Diana’s Footsteps
Despite not becoming official royalty, Kitty elected to follow in her aunt Princess Diana’s footsteps and devote herself to philanthropic endeavors, which she has done for numerous years.
At the age of 25, Kitty became an ambassador for Centrepoint, the UK’s premier charity for homeless young people, which was backed by Princess Diana and is now patronized by Prince William.
During her trips to Centrepoint facilities, Kitty voiced her gratitude for the charity’s work.
She wrote 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 commitment to philanthropy matches Princess Diana’s compassionate nature. Kitty may not have inherited the Spencer inheritance, but she has embraced and carried on the Spencer family’s attitude of care and compassion.
Her involvement with Centrepoint and other charity organizations illustrates her dedication to making a positive difference in the world, much like her famous late aunt.
She continues to manage her modeling career with her charitable endeavors, keeping an active presence on Instagram, where she discusses both professional and personal experiences.
As a result, it’s no wonder that fans frequently make analogies between Kitty and Diana in the comments, citing similarities in their beauty and benevolent attitudes.
From her successful modeling career to her passionate humanitarian work, Kitty represents a new generation of nobility that strikes a balance between tradition and modern relevance.
Her journey from a privileged youngster to a caring advocate and now mother exemplifies a life lived with purpose and grace, carrying on the best qualities of her family’s background while creating her own unique tale.
