James Hewitt: Will He Attend Prince Harry's Wedding?

Princess Diana's former lover, James Hewitt, was not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018. Hewitt, a former British Cavalry officer, gained media attention in the 1990s after admitting to a five-year affair with Princess Diana while she was married to Prince Charles. Hewitt has consistently denied rumours that he is Prince Harry's biological father, and sources claim that King Charles prohibited him from attending the royal wedding due to the optics of inviting his son's rumoured father.

James Hewitt's whereabouts during the wedding

James Hewitt, the former lover of Princess Diana, was spotted in Exeter with his mother on the day of Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle. Hewitt, who lives in Exeter with his mother, was seen loading shopping into his car outside his two-bedroom flat. He was dressed smartly, wearing suit trousers, braces, and a shirt and tie, which made him look as if he was heading to a wedding party.

Later in the day, Hewitt was seen in a nearby Devon village with a woman. The pair were spotted spending the afternoon together, 15 miles away from where Harry and Meghan were getting married. Hewitt was seen filling his Audi with beer, wine, and food, and driving off.

Hewitt has consistently denied the rumours that he is Prince Harry's father. He has pointed out that his affair with Princess Diana did not start until two years after Harry was born. However, people have continued to speculate due to the resemblance between Hewitt and the Prince.

Hewitt's relationship with Princess Diana

Princess Diana and James Hewitt's relationship began in 1986, five years into her marriage with Prince Charles. Hewitt, a cavalry officer in the British Army, met Diana at a party hosted by her lady-in-waiting, Hazel West. The two immediately hit it off, with Diana finding their first conversation "natural", and Hewitt offering to help her overcome her fear of horses as a riding instructor. Not long after, the two began a romantic relationship that would last for several years.

Diana's marriage with Prince Charles was already known to be troubled, and Charles was reportedly having an affair with his former girlfriend, Camilla Parker-Bowles (who would later become his wife). This dynamic may have contributed to Diana's willingness to begin an affair with Hewitt. According to Diana's bodyguard, Ken Wharfe, Hewitt gave Diana the "attention, affection, and passion" she desired. Hewitt himself described their relationship more understatedly, claiming that he would cook for Diana, and they would simply relax and laugh together.

However, by the end of the 1980s, Hewitt's military career took precedence as he was given command of a tank squadron abroad. Diana felt betrayed by Hewitt's choice, even threatening to speak to his commanding officer to prevent his deployment. When Hewitt refused to give up his career, Diana ended the affair, although she stayed in contact with him after he was stationed in Saudi Arabia in 1990.

In 1994, Hewitt catapulted into the international spotlight when he revealed details of his affair with Diana in a tell-all book, "Princess in Love", co-written with Anna Pasternak. The book claimed to detail the extramarital affair over five years, from 1986 to 1991, and became a best-seller. In 1995, a year before Charles and Diana's official divorce, Diana herself confirmed the affair in an interview with the BBC's Panorama. She expressed her disappointment in Hewitt's decision to publish the book, stating that she "adored him" and was "in love with him", but felt "very let down".

Hewitt continued to profit off his relationship with Diana after her untimely death in 1997, releasing another book, "Love and War", in 1999, and giving numerous interviews on the subject. He also attempted to sell more than 60 love letters written to him by Diana for £10 million, although the letters have never been made public.

Hewitt's resemblance to Harry

James Hewitt, a former British Cavalry officer, gained media attention in the 1990s after admitting to having an affair with Princess Diana while she was married to Prince Charles. Hewitt and Diana's affair is said to have lasted five years, from 1986 to 1991, although there are disputes about when they first met. The princess herself confirmed the relationship in a 1995 Panorama interview, while Hewitt asserted that they had met before her marriage to Charles, at a polo match.

Hewitt and Harry's resemblance to one another has been noted by many, and some have even speculated that Hewitt, and not Charles, is Harry's biological father. However, this theory has been discredited by royal experts and Hewitt himself, who stated that Harry was born after his affair with Diana ended. Additionally, Diana attributed Harry's red hair to her side of the family. Nonetheless, the physical similarities between Hewitt and Harry have been cited as a reason why King Charles did not want Hewitt invited to Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle. According to sources, Charles did not want the guests whispering about how much Hewitt and Harry look alike and fuelling the paternity rumours.

Despite the rumours, Harry has described the speculation as "hurtful, mean and cruel", and questioned the motives behind them. In his book, 'Spare', Harry also addresses the rumours, claiming that his father, Charles, frequently made ""sadistic" remarks about them. Harry writes that Charles would joke, "Who knows if I'm really the Prince of Wales? Who knows if I'm even your real father?" Harry acknowledges the irony of this statement, given the rumours about Hewitt, but notes that his mother did not meet Hewitt until after he was born.

Hewitt's relationship with Harry

James Hewitt, a former British Cavalry officer, gained media attention in the 1990s after admitting that he had dated Princess Diana while she was married to Prince Charles. Hewitt was not invited to Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018. It is rumoured that Hewitt is Prince Harry's biological father, although Hewitt has always denied this. In his book, 'Spare', Harry reveals that he initially wanted to invite Hewitt because he meant a lot to his mother. However, Harry's father, King Charles, prohibited Hewitt from attending the wedding. According to sources, Charles did not want the guests to compare the physical resemblance between Hewitt and Harry, and did not want to humiliate himself by addressing the rumours.

Despite the denial of paternity, Hewitt was an important male role model and father figure to the young Harry. Hewitt and Diana's relationship lasted for five years, and during this time, Hewitt claims to have played with Harry, swum with him, and taught him to ride. Hewitt was introduced to Diana in 1986, five years after Harry was born, and their relationship ended when Hewitt was sent to Iraq in the 1991 Gulf War. Despite the denial of paternity, there are still speculations about Hewitt's relationship with Harry due to their resemblance.

In his book, Harry addresses the longstanding rumours about his biological father, claiming that his father, Charles, frequently made sadistic" remarks about them. Harry mentions that Charles would joke about not knowing if he was Harry's real father, which Harry found hurtful and cruel. The rumours about Hewitt being Harry's father have persisted for years, and some people even claimed that there was a plot to rob Harry's DNA to check his parentage. However, it is important to note that Hewitt has consistently denied the rumours and pointed out that his affair with Diana started after Harry was born.

In conclusion, while Hewitt and Harry's relationship is complex due to the rumours and speculations, Hewitt has always denied being Harry's biological father. Hewitt was not invited to Harry's wedding, and Harry has expressed his desire to honour his mother's memory by including people who were important to her.

Hewitt's health

James Hewitt's health has been the subject of media speculation in recent years. In 2023, it was reported that Hewitt was unwell following a stroke the previous year and was living a reclusive life in the West of England. He underwent emergency treatment at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, where he stayed for several weeks and, at one stage, was close to death. Hewitt had a slim chance of survival and was given emergency surgery following a heart attack and stroke.

Despite his health struggles, Hewitt has consistently denied the persistent rumours about his relationship with Prince Harry and Princess Diana. He has lived a reclusive life and denied being Prince Harry's father. Hewitt has stated that he met Princess Diana after Harry was born, and this timeline has been confirmed by various sources, including Princess Diana's butler, Paul Burrell.

The rumours surrounding Hewitt and Princess Diana have been persistent, with some speculating about their relationship's nature and duration. However, Hewitt has always maintained that his affair with Diana began after Harry was born. Despite the denials, the public's fascination with the rumours continues, fuelled by perceived physical similarities between Hewitt and Prince Harry.

Frequently asked questions