The Spencer family has been prominent in British royal society since the 15th and 16th centuries (via Oprah Daily). The Spencer family was frequently included in royal society circles, and eventually established a close relationship with the Queen. Charles Spencer was born to Viscount and Viscountess Althorp John and Frances Spencer in 1964 (per IMDb). John would later become the 8th Earl of Spencer, and together he and Frances had five children in total, including Charles' older sisters Lady Sarah and Lady Jane, as well as Princess Diana. The Viscount and Viscountess also had a son John, who died shortly after birth (via PopSugar). When Charles was 2-years-old, his parents divorced, creating a messy custody battle. 

When speaking of his family life, Charles said, "Our father was a quiet and constant source of love, but our mother wasn't cut out for maternity. Not her fault, she couldn't do it. She was in love with someone else — infatuated, really," (via The Sunday Times). Upon the death of the children's grandfather, the children would be introduced to the Althorp Mansion. "The children rarely visited the big house as a family when the old Earl was alive. Growing up they knew nothing about their heritage," author Tina Brown writes in "The Diana Chronicles" (via Oprah Daily). At this time, Lady Diana was 14-years-old and would meet a Prince named Charles about two years later (via Insider), propelling her family into the spotlight.

By 1992, Charles Spencer would inherit Althorp, and the Earldom, at the age of 27 (via Tennessean).