The 61-year-old historian and author tied the knot with archaeologist and podcast co-host Cat Jarman during a private ceremony in Arizona on May 15. Wedding photos online appear to place the intimate desert ceremony near Sedona’s famous Cathedral Rock. In a joint statement, the couple said they felt “incredibly lucky” that their relationship evolved from colleagues to close friends and eventually into “deep love and connection,” adding that laughter and a shared passion for life had always been at the center of their bond.
Jarman wore a pale blue sleeveless gown with waist cutouts for the ceremony, while Spencer kept things relaxed in a dark suit paired with an open-collar light blue shirt.
The couple originally met after Spencer reviewed Jarman’s 2021 Viking-history bestseller River Kings. Their connection later expanded into collaborative archaeological projects and co-hosting The Rabbit Hole Detectives podcast together.
Their romance first became public in October 2024 during Spencer’s highly publicized split from his third wife, Karen Spencer. The divorce was finalized in December 2025 after 13 years of marriage.
The relationship later became surrounded by controversy after Jarman filed a lawsuit alleging misuse of private information related to her multiple sclerosis diagnosis. Court filings during the dispute also included accusations from Karen Spencer that her ex-husband had engaged in a “long-term” affair with Jarman during their marriage, allegations both Spencer and Jarman reportedly denied “categorically.”
This marks Spencer’s fourth marriage. He was previously married to Victoria Lockwood, Caroline Freud and Karen Spencer. He has seven children from his previous marriages, including daughter Charlotte Diana, whom he shares with Karen Spencer.
Jarman was also previously married and has two sons.
Over the past few years, Spencer and Jarman increasingly blended their personal and professional lives through public appearances, podcast collaborations and historical projects before finally confirming their relationship publicly.