The Earl of Devon, Charles Courtenay, has announced his engagement to Jemima Hannon, the former wife of renowned British racehorse trainer Richard Hannon. This development comes after his separation from his wife, former Baywatch actress Allison Joy Langer, in 2023.
A New Chapter for the Aristocrat
Charles Courtenay, 50, confirmed his engagement to Jemima Hannon, 43, through a spokesman. The statement read, "We are pleased to announce that Charlie, Earl of Devon, and his wonderful girlfriend, Jemima Hannon, are engaged. Along with their four children, they are delighted to unite their families and look forward to the many joys ahead."
Jemima Hannon's Background
Jemima Hannon is a Bristol University graduate and former three-day eventer who met her previous husband through a shared passion for horses. After her marriage, she transitioned into a career as an estate agent and co-founded a business specialising in purchasing country houses for clients. Her former husband, Richard Hannon, trained horses for high-profile owners including Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson and Sheikh Fahad Al Thani of Qatar.
Upon her marriage to the earl, Jemima will reside at Powderham Castle, a historic Devon landmark near Exeter. The estate features a deer park situated on the banks of the River Exe, marking a significant change from her previous professional dealings in property.
The End of a Hollywood Romance
The earl's previous marriage to Allison Joy Langer, known as AJ, began in 2005 after they met in Las Vegas during a rugby tour. AJ, an American actress who appeared in the second series of Baywatch and the US drama My So-Called Life, initially lived with Charles in California before relocating to Britain upon the death of his father, the 18th Earl of Devon, in 2015.
Struggles with Aristocratic Life
In public statements, AJ Langer expressed her difficulties adapting to life in Britain, describing it as "like an anthropological study of the culture." She recounted her shock at her husband's transformation from a "hippy, feminist husband" in California to what she perceived as a "patriarchal" figure within the aristocratic setting.
"I may have underestimated the realities for myself," she admitted. "It was the same for my husband, who had been my hippy, feminist husband in California for ten years. I was, like, 'Where did my hippy, feminist husband go?' And all of a sudden these patriarchal things start coming out of his mouth. I'm, like, 'Who are you? Where's my Charlie?' So it's a lot of recalibrating."
She particularly highlighted her father-in-law's funeral, which she likened to "The Godfather," noting, "It was 800 people coming into the castle, and all lined up just to shake [the new Earl's] hand. Here I was in the middle of a really intense, very, very deep-rooted patriarchy."
Family and Public Life
The couple moved to Britain with their two children, Lady Joscelyn Courtenay, now 19, and Jack, Lord Courtenay, 16. They opened Powderham Castle's grounds for pop and rock concerts, blending modern entertainment with historic tradition. However, they announced their separation in 2023, ending an 18-year marriage.
With his new engagement, Charles Courtenay looks forward to uniting his family with Jemima Hannon's, embracing a future that combines aristocratic heritage with personal renewal.
