**VERDICT: FAKE**

VERDICT: FAKE

Viral Headline (circulating on X/TikTok): “Breaking: Earl Charles Spencer cancels wedding to cat after ‘spiritual ceremony’ with pet psychic goes viral.”

What’s Actually True: Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer and brother of Princess Diana, did marry someone named Cat—but Cat is a real person. In June 2024, Spencer married Cat Jarman, a Norwegian archaeologist and author. The confusion stems from her first name being “Cat” (short for Catharine). A satirical account earlier this week fabricated a story claiming Spencer had a “spiritual wedding” with his pet cat, complete with a photo of him holding a cat dressed in a tiny veil. That photo is actually a screenshot from a 2022 Hello! magazine feature where Spencer was photographed with his actual cat, Stanley. No wedding to an animal occurred. The rumor is entirely fabricated for clicks.