Princess Diana's brother says he was sexually abused by woman at boarding school

10 March 2024 , 10:46

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Earl Charles Spencer spoke of the abuse at the school in his new book (Image: Getty Images)

Princess Diana's brother has said he was sexually abused as a child by a female staff member when he was at boarding school.

In an extract from his memoir, which has been serialised in the Mail on Sunday, Earl Charles Spencer, 59, details the sexual assaults and beatings he suffered at Maidwell Hall, leaving him with lifelong "demons".

He says he was abused by an staff member at the school when he was 11, leaving him with such trauma that he self-harmed over the notion she may leave the school.

Earl Spencer writes: "There seemed to be an unofficial hierarchy among her prey... she chose one boy each term to share her bed and would use him for intercourse. Her control over mesmerised boys was total, for we were starved of feminine warmth and desperate for attention and affection."

Earl Charles Spencer first spoke of the abuse to a therapist in his 40s (Dave Benett/Getty Images for Charles Sabine)

Earl Charles Spencer is Princess Diana's younger brother (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)

As a result of the experience, Earl Spencer says he lost his virginity to an Italian prostitute at the age of 12.

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He writes says he was victim of the school staffer's "perverted attention." He added: "There was no joy in the act, no sense of arrival, no coming of age."

Earl Spencer also says he was beaten with the spikes of a cricket boot by the school's Latin master.

He described reliving his experiences at the school as "an absolutely hellish experience", writing: "I've frequently witnessed deep pain, still flickering in the eyes of my Maidwell contemporaries.

"Many of us left Maidwell with demons sewn into the seams of our souls."

The Mirror has approached Maidwell for comment.

Earl Spencer's book, A Very Private School, will be published on March 14.

If you or somebody you know has been affected by this story, contact Victim Support for free, confidential advice on 08 08 16 89 111 or visit their website, http://www.victimsupport.org.uk.

John Besley