Divorce battle ‘financially ruins’ relative of Camilla Parker Bowles and his estranged wife

An aristocrat and his estranged wife who became embroiled in a Supreme Court battle following the breakdown of their marriage are both ‘financially ruined’, a judge said today.

Charles Villiers, 57, who is related to Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, filed for divorce from his wife Emma Villiers, 62, in Scotland in 2014. 

He argued last year that as they were divorcing in Scotland they should therefore fight over money in a Scottish court, but Supreme Court justices ruled against him. 

Mr Justice Mostyn, who is based in the Family Division of the High Court in London, has now considered arguments over money at a private hearing.

He concluded today that Mr Villiers, who lived with his wife in an 18th century mansion in Milton, near Dumbarton, could not afford to pay maintenance Mrs Villiers said she could get. 

Charles Villiers, 57, who is related to Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, filed for divorce from his wife Emma Villiers, 62, in Scotland in 2014. Pictured: Mr Villiers with his partner Heidi 

In a written ruling, the judge said that the ‘terrible’ litigation had ‘endured for nearly six years’.

He said Mr and Mrs Villiers had been left ‘financially ruined’, and said he suspected that both were also ‘psychologically damaged’. 

Judges previously heard how Mr and Mrs Villiers separated in 2012 after 18 years of marriage. Mr Villiers still lives in Scotland, but Mrs Villiers now lives in London.

Another judge, who considered the litigation at an early stage, concluded in 2015 that Mr Villiers should pay his estranged wife £2,500 per month in maintenance pending the conclusion of the dispute.

Mr Villiers had not paid the cash, and Mrs Villiers claimed she was owed several hundred-thousand pounds.

But Mr Justice Mostyn has not ordered Mr Villiers to pay the money his estranged wife says she is entitled to. He concluded that Mr Villiers was ‘not able to pay’.

A judge said Mr and Mrs Villiers (seen with her daughter Clarissa)  had been left 'financially ruined', and said he suspected that both were also 'psychologically damaged'

 A judge said Mr and Mrs Villiers (seen with her daughter Clarissa)  had been left ‘financially ruined’, and said he suspected that both were also ‘psychologically damaged’

Country Manor: Milton House, Scotland, where Emma Villiers was said to like being ‘chatelaine’

Country Manor: Milton House, Scotland, where Emma Villiers was said to like being ‘chatelaine’

The judge said both Mr and Mrs Villiers had made accusations against the other after ‘love’ turned to ‘hatred’.

‘This case has been played out in the public eye and has attracted much lurid publicity,’ he said in his ruling.

‘That has been a product of an exceptionally strong mutual antipathy.

‘This has been a case where love has to hatred turned to an extraordinary degree.’

He said ‘hours’ had been spent ‘picking over ancient grievances’ during the hearing he oversaw.

‘The husband has vented his spleen by alleging that the wife is a bigamist,’ Mr Justice Mostyn said.

‘The husband has accused the wife of being a fraudster, a fantasist and generally useless.

Mr Villiers' late mother was cousin to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, pictured with Prince Charles

Mr Villiers’ late mother was cousin to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, pictured with Prince Charles

‘The wife, with some justification, has accused the husband of being dishonest, manipulative, vindictive and bullying.

‘But she is not beyond criticism herself.

‘She has conducted her pursuit of the husband in this litigation in a completely disproportionate manner and has wilfully blinded herself to the reality that the vast amounts of inherited funds that she believes that the husband has at his disposal are, in fact, a chimera.’

He added: ‘The result of this terrible litigation, which has endured for nearly six years, is that both parties are now financially ruined and, I suspect, psychologically damaged.’

The judge had heard that Mr and Mrs Villiers were divorcing in Scotland but were at odds over whether arguments over money should be heard in an English or Scottish court.

Mr Villiers said that because divorce proceedings were taking place in Scotland, any fight over money should also be staged in Scotland. Mrs Villiers disagreed.

Supreme Court justices ruled against Mr Villiers in July, after analysing the dispute over jurisdiction at a Supreme Court hearing in London.  

He had appealed to the Supreme Court after losing fights in the High Court and Court of Appeal in London.