John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, was a British nobleman, military officer, and courtier who is best recognized as the father of late royal family member Diana, Princess of Wales, as well as the maternal grandfather of William, Prince of Wales, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. He was known as Viscount Althorp until he inherited his father’s earldom following the latter’s death in 1975. He had earlier served in the British Army during the World War II and was instrumental in liberating two French towns, La Neuve-Lyre and La Vieille-Lyre, as a captain in the regiment the Royal Scots Greys. He also served as aide to the governor of South Australia and was equerry to King George VI and then to Queen Elizabeth II for two years each. He was a member of the Royal Victorian Order, and since his father’s death to his own, was a Member of the House of Lords, the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. He was succeeded by his only surviving son Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer.