Princess Diana remains one of the most iconic figures of the late 20th century. Few, however, are aware of her lineage within the Spencer family, a British noble family dating back to the 1500s with ties to historical figures like Winston Churchill, Audrey Hepburn, and even George Washington. Diana had four siblings: Lady Sarah McCorquodale, Lady Jane Fellowes, Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, and John Spencer, who died shortly after birth. Charles Spencer has seven children from three marriages, with Ladies Kitty, Eliza, and Amelia being his daughters with his first wife, Victoria Lockwood, formerly known as Victoria, Countess Spencer. These nieces of Princess Diana have carved their own paths in fashion and philanthropy, each making a name for themselves.
The Spencer Sisters: Fashion Fixtures and Philanthropists
Lady Kitty Spencer: From Body Shaming to Dolce & Gabbana's "It" Girl
Born in 1990, Kitty Spencer followed in her mother's footsteps and became a model, signing with Storm Model Management, the agency that discovered Kate Moss, Cara Delevingne, and Anya Taylor-Joy. She was raised in South Africa alongside her siblings. In 2009, Kitty was presented as a debutante at the Bal Crillon de Debutantes in Paris, a prestigious event where young women often wear custom designer outfits from brands like Chanel, Lanvin, and Vivienne Westwood.
Kitty made her runway debut for Dolce & Gabbana in 2017 and has since appeared in several of their presentations, as well as in a spring 2018 advertisement campaign. In 2021, she became a global ambassador for the house, following her appointment as an ambassador for the high jewelry brand Bulgari in 2018. "Working with [Dolce & Gabbana] is always a new experience, a unique opportunity to rediscover Italian culture, art, savoir-faire and lifestyle," she said. "When I wear their pieces I feel their passion and I feel like the best version of myself." Kitty loves vintage fashion, particularly designs from the mid-twentieth century, including the '60s styles featured on "Mad Men."
Like her late aunt Diana, Kitty is passionate about philanthropy. She’s an ambassador for Centrepoint, a charity that supports homeless youth, where Diana served as a patron. In 2021, Kitty married South African-British millionaire Michael Lewis, chairman of the fashion retail company Foschini Group, wearing five different custom dresses by Dolce & Gabbana, with the most extravagant being the Victorian-inspired lace gown that drew comparisons to Grace Kelly and her cousin-in-law, Kate Middleton. Kitty and her husband welcomed their first child, a daughter named Athena, in 2023.
Kitty Spencer's journey also involves a notable body transformation. She has become known for her weight loss journey, prompted by both personal health concerns and negative comments she received online.
Read also: Weight Loss Guide Andalusia, AL
The Catalyst for Change
Kitty Spencer's weight loss journey was motivated by a combination of factors. She realized that her weight gain was making her feel slower and causing problems. She was concerned about her health given the history of diabetes in her family. In addition to this, after posting a bikini picture of herself on her Instagram page while in the south of France, Kitty was body-shamed on her own Instagram. Someone commented: “Lay off the cake, darling. You’re too fat.” Kitty responded with: “I’m sorry that you feel the need to post nasty comments under photographs of people you don’t know. I’ve yet to see unkind behaviour do any good in the world.”
The Weight Loss Plan
Once Spencer decided she wanted to lose weight, the next thing she needed to do was create a good plan to make it happen. First, she talked to her doctor to get some advice. Then, she got in touch with a personal trainer who knew a lot about staying healthy. She realized that her weight gain was making her feel slower and causing problems. She stopped eating things that weren’t good for her and started eating more nutritious foods. Spencer’s diet plan consisted of healthy homemade foods. The first and foremost thing she did was give up all kinds of processed food. For two months, Spencer avoided dining out at restaurants.
Kitty would start her day with a glass of protein shake and eat egg whites. Most of the time, her lunch consisted of a bowl of Caesar salad along with fried salmon fish. And for dinner, Spencer’s choice was either spaghetti or pasta. She would lift weights, would do push-ups, squats, planks, and many other exercises. Kitty also exercised yoga.
The Results
After working out regularly and eating healthy foods, Spencer has successfully lost 30 pounds. Now, she weighs 132 pounds, which is quite different from her previous weight of 162 pounds.
Lady Eliza Spencer: A Twin's Tale of Fashion and Philanthropy
Eliza and her twin Amelia were born in 1992. Taking after Kitty, they grew up in South Africa and eventually became debutantes. As of 2023, the twins are brand ambassadors for the British jewelry label Boodles. Both are also signed to Storm Model Management and appear regularly at fashion weeks around the globe, where they’ve been front row fixtures at Nina Ricci, Michael Kors and Brunello Cucinelli, among others. Eliza and Amelia, like Kitty, have walked the runway: the twins made their catwalk debut at Josh Birch Jones’ fall 2023 fashion show in London. Eliza is in a relationship with Channing Millerd, the chief operating officer of DataLedger, a blockchain service provider. The couple celebrated their eight-year anniversary this year. “What an incredible journey it has been,” Eliza wrote of her partner on Instagram. “I can’t wait for all that is still to come. I love you forever and always.”
Read also: Beef jerky: A high-protein option for shedding pounds?
Lady Amelia Spencer: Wedding Planner and Advocate for Children
Although Amelia is also signed to Storm Model Management, she’s currently employed as a wedding planner in her hometown of South Africa. “I’m a romantic,” she told The Telegraph in 2021. “I love the structure of wedding planning, the timeline. I’m a people person. I enjoy working with everyone from the bride and groom to the parents.” In 2023, Lady Amelia married her college sweetheart, fitness and nutrition coach Greg Mallett, who she met while studying at the University of Cape Town. Amelia walked down the aisle in a custom Atelier Versace wedding dress (her late aunt was also a fan of the Italian house and a close friend of founder Gianni Versace). Alongside her twin, Amelia is an ambassador for the Little Princess Trust, a charity that provides wigs to children with cancer. Amelia and Eliza were frequently dressed alike as children, a tradition, the former says, that still rings true today. “We are each other’s other halves,” Amelia told the National Association of Jewelers in 2023. “We have the exact same taste in clothing, and will arrive at a dinner or meet up in the day dressed to match. When choosing outfits for an event, we’ve found the only way to do this fairly is to take it in turns who gets to choose first.”
Continuing Diana's Legacy: A United Front for Centrepoint
On Oct. 16, 2024, Prince William, the Prince of Wales, attended the Centrepoint Awards in London, supporting the U.K.'s leading youth homelessness charity. Prince William follows in the footsteps of his late mother, Princess Diana, as the patron of Centrepoint, and her nieces Lady Kitty Spencer, Lady Amelia Spencer and Lady Eliza Spencer all attended the ceremony celebrating the achievements of young people who have transformed their lives after experiencing homelessness. The Spencer sisters' presence at the event highlighted their commitment to continuing Diana's philanthropic work. Kitty, Amelia and Eliza had a princess moment of their own in complementary dresses, and the twins took it even further by wearing the same shade.
Centrepoint ambassador Kitty hit the stage to introduce a young person who was honored that evening, and the Spencers reportedly weren't William's only family members there that night. According to Tatler, Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi were also in the audience at the British museum and sat with the Spencer sisters.
The Centrepoint Awards commemorate winners and finalists who have made strides in their careers, personal developments and contributions to society, and the event highlights the cohort's "courage, resilience, strength and determination," Kensington Palace said. Eradicating homelessness and supporting the community was one of Princess Diana's many philanthropic interests, and she was Centrepoint's proud patron until her death in 1997. The late Princess of Wales memorably brought her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, to homeless shelters when they were children in order for them to learn more, and her elder son continues her work in this sector as patron of both Centrepoint and The Passage, another London-based organization working to end homelessness.
Read also: Inspiring Health Transformation