Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Princess Diana's niece: I envy homeless people because they know what they want to do

Lady Kitty Spencer says she can 'live' from Instagram posts and inheritance, but volunteers at charity

Peter Walker
Friday 04 November 2016 09:46 EDT
Comments
Kitty Spencer grew up in South Africa away from the limelight
Kitty Spencer grew up in South Africa away from the limelight (Instagram/Kitty Spencer)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Princess Diana’s niece says she envies young homeless people because they “know exactly what they want to do” and “what their talents are”.

Lady Kitty Spencer, the eldest child of Charles, 9th Earl of Spencer, volunteers as an ambassador at London-based homeless charity Centrepoint.

Speaking to The Times, the 25-year-old said she struggles to find a purpose in life and admits she could live off her Instagram posts.

More than 120,000 children will be homeless this Christmas, according to homeless charity Shelter.

“The young people that have come out of Centrepoint are so focused on one thing,” said Miss Spencer, whose chores include making the teas.

“They know exactly what they want to do and what their talents are.

“So for that I envy them. I do battle with what it is that I really want to set my mind to.”

Ms Spencer, the cousin of Prince William and Prince Harry, grew up in South Africa with mother and former model Victoria Lockwood.

She is dating Italian property tycoon Niccolo Barattieri di San Pietro, who is 20 years her senior and a divorced father of three children.

Her elder brother Louis is in line to inherit the 13,000-acre Northamptonshire Althorp estate, which has been in the family for more than half a millennium.

People make food to give to homeless in France

Ms Spencer’s main job, she says, is four days a week at the charity Give Us Time, founded by International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, to help military families stay together.

“I am putting a lot of pressure on myself to figure out what exactly to do next,” said the University of Cape Town politics and psychology graduate.

“I don’t want to look back and see where I could have done more for people.

“I could be what my Instagram says and nothing more.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in