You can always count on Charles Spencer to share a throwback photo featuring a member of his family.
On October 23, the brother of Princess Diana posted a previously unseen black-and-white portrait of their great-great-grandfather, Frederick Spencer, with his dog “Chatty.” In the photo, Frederick is seen looking spiffy in a black topcoat, a matching top hat, trousers and a pair of leather loafers. Carrying a cane in his hand, Frederick is sporting mutton chops and a serious expression.
Now, this isn't the first time Charles has given us a peek at a photo we’ve never seen before. In September, the royal shared a portrait of Frederick on Instagram with the caption, "My great-great-grandfather, Frederick Spencer: he was the fourth son, but inherited @althorphouse in 1845 after the death without children of the third of his three elder brothers. (One died as a child; another of disease off the Egyptian coast; the other of oldish age.) Born in 1798, Frederick joined the Royal Navy as a 13-year-old midshipman during the Napoleonic Wars. He rose to become a vice-admiral and fought at the Battle of Navarino in 1827, an engagement which helped to gain Greek independence."
He continued, "He was the Whig MP for Worcestershire and for Midhurst; then he became a senior courtier. Queen Victoria favoured him and remarked that he had the finest legs in Britain." And in August, he posted a picture of another one of his ancestors: John Charles Spencer, aka Jack, Viscount Althorp. "One of the lovelier portraits at @althorphouse—by Sir Joshua Reynolds—is of John Charles (known as Jack), Viscount Althorp, who later became 3rd Earl Spencer,” Charles wrote in his caption. “He is shown wearing a Van Dyck pageboy costume."
Fans appreciated the history lesson, writing in the comments, “So interesting with this long family history. To find a fine and decent man among your ancestors to be proud of… Not many of us can follow our traces in this detailed manner.”
Keep the posts coming, Charles!
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