Earl Spencer and Cat Jarman say sad goodbye in alpaca breeding hope
Earl Spencer and Cat Jarman have said "A sad goodbye" to two male alpacas at Althorp House. They had borrowed the "handsome boys" for the summer to pair with their females, Tyra and Andora. Jarman shared the update with the words: "Fingers crossed for 2027 [alpaca] babies."
Hello Magazine reported the story, citing Richard Eden. The report framed it as the couple wrestling with one tricky breed on the estate. Breeding, it seems, takes planning.
Charles Spencer, the younger brother of Princess Diana, keeps the small herd at Althorp House, his family seat. His wife, archaeologist Cat Jarman, helps look after them. The estate has been home to the Spencer family for more than 500 years.
The two males have now returned to a stud farm in Warwickshire. Alpacas often visit for breeding rather than living full-time with females. A pregnancy lasts around 11 months, which points to a possible 2027 arrival if the summer pairings worked.
This is not their first cria, the term for a baby alpaca. Tyra gave birth to a female named Sedona in May, shortly after the couple's surprise wedding at Cathedral Rock in Sedona. Jarman announced the birth on Facebook, calling Sedona "the first of our little crias" and adding she was "impossibly tiny but doing really well." Spencer had earlier announced a morning birth at Althorp on Instagram, saying the newborn had been up and about most of the day.
The herd started as a gift. Spencer gave Jarman the alpacas as an early birthday present in June 2025. Later that month he called them the best new addition to Althorp that year in another Instagram post.
Spencer has also hosted his first big party at the estate since the wedding. It capped a busy first year for the newlyweds at Althorp. The alpacas have featured heavily in their updates throughout.
What makes this stand out is how hands-on the couple are. They name them. They post photos and updates. They track the pregnancies. Althorp House itself is currently closed to visitors, with plans to welcome the public again in 2027. If all goes well, there may be tiny new residents to meet.
