Buckingham Palace
The Marten Family is said to have a connection with the British Royal Family.

British aristocrat Constance Marten, once heir to a grand estate and descended from royal connections, has been found guilty of manslaughter after the tragic death of her infant daughter.

Her shocking fall from privilege to homelessness has placed a spotlight on her family's history and the circumstances surrounding her reclusive life with convicted sex offender Mark Gordon.

An Aristocratic Lineage Tied to Royalty

Constance Marten was born into one of Britain's most distinguished aristocratic families. Her father, Napier Marten, served as a Page of Honour to Queen Elizabeth II in the 1970s and was heir to Crichel House, a sprawling Georgian mansion in Dorset. The estate had been in the Marten-Sturt family for generations and represented old money and influence.

Her grandmother, Mary Anna Marten, was a goddaughter to the Queen Mother and a close confidante of Princess Margaret. The family enjoyed deep-rooted ties to the monarchy and the British upper class. Although Crichel House was eventually sold by her brother Maximilian in 2013 for £34 million ($45 million), the family retained significant prestige and financial standing.

Constance's Privileged Upbringing

Constance was raised within this world of wealth and status. She attended the elite St Mary's School in Shaftesbury and later studied Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Leeds. She also briefly pursued acting and photography, and was once featured in Tatler magazine as a rising young socialite.

Despite this privileged start, her relationship with her family grew strained over time, particularly after meeting Mark Gordon in 2014.

Relationship with Mark Gordon and Estrangement

Mark Gordon, an American-born convicted rapist, served over 20 years in a US prison for a violent attack committed when he was just 14. After being deported to the UK, he met Marten in London. The pair reportedly married in Peru in 2016, but remained elusive and anti-establishment in their lifestyle.

They had five children together, four of whom were removed by social services. The couple grew increasingly isolated, distrusting authorities and cutting ties with their aristocratic roots.

The Tragic Death of Baby Victoria

In January 2023, the couple's car was found burnt out near Bolton. Inside was a placenta, suggesting a recent birth. What followed was a seven-week nationwide manhunt. The couple travelled across the UK, evading authorities and living off-grid in tents during freezing conditions. Their aim was to avoid having their newborn daughter, Victoria, taken away.

Victoria's body was later found in a shed in Brighton, wrapped in a plastic bag and covered with rubbish, according to The Guardian. Despite having access to a trust fund, the couple refused help from both authorities and medical professionals.

Court Verdict and Sentencing

Following an initial trial in 2024 that ended without a verdict on manslaughter charges, a retrial concluded in July 2025. Both Marten and Gordon were found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter, child cruelty, and perverting the course of justice. They are due to be sentenced in September 2025.

The court heard that their refusal to seek medical care and insistence on remaining hidden directly contributed to Victoria's death.

Constance Marten's Fall from Aristocracy

Constance Marten's journey from aristocratic privilege to a life on the run has shocked the British public. Her family's royal ties and immense wealth stood in stark contrast to the tragic circumstances of her daughter's death. With sentencing looming, questions remain about how such a fall from grace could happen, and what more could have been done to prevent it.

Writer's pick