Princess Diana's brother says he was sexually abused at boarding school

Earl Spencer, the brother of Diana, Princess of Wales, has said he was sexually when he was at boarding school by a female member of staff. In an extract from his memoir, which has been serialised in the Mail on Sunday, he details the sexual assaults and beatings he suffered at Maidwell Hall, which he says left him with lifelong “demons”.

The 59-year-old former peer says he was abused by an assistant matron at the school when he was 11, leaving him with such trauma that he self-harmed over the notion she may leave the school. Earl Spencer writes: “There seemed to be an unofficial hierarchy among her prey… she chose one boy each term to share her bed and would use him for intercourse. “Her control over mesmerised boys was total, for we were starved of feminine warmth and desperate for attention and affection.”

As a result of the experience, Earl Spencer says he lost his virginity to an Italian prostitute at the age of 12. He writes, “There was no joy in the act, no sense of arrival, no coming of age. I believe now that I was simply completing the process set in motion by the assistant matron’s perverted attention.” Earl Spencer also says he was beaten with the spikes of a cricket boot by the school’s Latin master. The historian went on to study at Eton College after his time at Maidwell Hall. He described reliving his experiences at the school as “an absolutely hellish experience”, writing: “I’ve frequently witnessed deep pain, still flickering in the eyes of my Maidwell contemporaries. Many of us left Maidwell with demons sewn into the seams of our souls.” Earl Spencer’s book, A Very Private School, will be published on March 14.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...