Paul Hewitt: Will He Score An Invite To Harry's Wedding?

There have been long-standing rumours that Prince Harry is the son of Princess Diana's former lover, James Hewitt. Princess Diana's former butler, Paul Burrell, has denied these claims, stating that Diana did not know Hewitt when Harry was born. Hewitt himself has also denied the claims, saying that he met Diana long after Harry was born. However, Hewitt has been an important male role model and father figure to the young Harry. Despite the denials, the public's fascination with the question of Prince Harry's paternity continues.

James Hewitt's whereabouts during the wedding

It is unclear what James Hewitt's exact whereabouts were during Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018. However, it is known that Hewitt was living a reclusive life in the West of England following a stroke in 2017, from which he was released from the hospital and recovering at home.

Hewitt, a former British Army officer, came into the public eye in the 1990s after disclosing an affair with Princess Diana while she was still married to then-Prince Charles. The affair lasted from 1986 to 1991, and Hewitt later wrote a tell-all book about it, titled "Princess in Love." Despite persistent rumours that Hewitt is Prince Harry's biological father due to their physical resemblance, Hewitt has consistently denied these claims, and it is well-established that Diana did not meet Hewitt until after Harry's birth.

In the years following Diana's tragic death in 1997, Hewitt continued to make news for his revelations about the affair. He attempted to sell love letters from Diana and released another book, "Love and War," further detailing their relationship. Hewitt also ventured into business and reality television, appearing on shows like "The X Factor" and winning the competition "Back to Reality" in 2004.

While Hewitt's exact location during Harry's wedding remains unknown, his reclusive lifestyle and health issues around that time may provide some indication that he was keeping a low profile and focusing on his recovery.

Princess Diana's butler, Paul Burrell's, comments on Harry's paternity

Princess Diana's former butler, Paul Burrell, has consistently denied the persistent rumours that Diana's secret lover, James Hewitt, is Prince Harry's biological father. In 2018, Burrell appeared on the Australian version of the reality TV show 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!' where he was asked point-blank about Harry's paternity. Burrell stated:

> She didn’t know James Hewitt when Harry was born. That’s fact. Five years into the marriage, she had Harry. She hadn’t yet met James Hewitt. That's the truth.

Burrell's statement contradicts the "official" version of the Diana and Hewitt romance, which claims that the pair first met in 1986, five years after Diana's marriage to Prince Charles and two years after Harry's birth. However, it is unlikely that this was their first encounter, as Hewitt moved in royal and society circles due to his position in the Guards.

Despite Burrell's denial, the question of Prince Harry's paternity remains a subject of fascination and speculation. In his book, 'Spare', Harry refers to Burrell as "mummy's butler", which Burrell has said saddens him. Burrell has also expressed his desire to share Diana's secrets with her sons, believing that it could help bring them closer together.

James Hewitt's denial of the claims

James Hewitt has always denied the claims that he is Prince Harry's biological father. In an interview with an Australian TV show, when asked if he was Prince Harry's biological father, Hewitt replied, "No, I'm not. When I met Diana, he was already a toddler. I have to say he's a much more handsome chap than I ever was."

Hewitt has never claimed to be Harry's father and has, in fact, denied it on multiple occasions. He has suggested that the rumour only continues to circulate because it "sells papers". He added, "It's worse for him probably, poor chap."

Princess Diana's former butler, Paul Burrell, has also denied the rumours, stating that Diana "didn't know James Hewitt when Harry was born. That's fact."

Harry's memoir, Spare, addresses the rumour

In his memoir, Spare, Prince Harry addresses the rumour that James Hewitt, his mother Princess Diana's former lover, is his biological father. Harry writes that his father, King Charles III, would often joke about his paternity, saying, "Who knows if I'm really the Prince of Wales? Who knows if I'm even your real father? Maybe your real father is in Broadmoor, darling boy!" Harry found these jokes "unfunny" given the persistent rumour that his biological father was Hewitt, whose red hair he shared.

However, Harry notes in his memoir that this rumour is false, as his mother didn't meet Hewitt until after he was born. He writes, "Never mind that my mother didn't meet Major Hewitt until long after I was born, the story was simply too good to drop." Hewitt has also denied the claims, stating in 2017 that the rumour persists because it "sells papers."

Ex-royal butler Paul Burrell, a close friend of Princess Diana, has also refuted the rumour, stating that Diana "didn't know James Hewitt when Harry was born."

Hewitt's health problems

James Hewitt, the former lover of Princess Diana, has long denied rumours that he is Prince Harry's biological father. Hewitt has stated that he and Diana met in 1986, two years after Harry's birth. He has also denied the claims on multiple occasions, suggesting in 2017 that the rumour only persists because it "sells papers".

Hewitt has reportedly struggled with health problems in recent years. In 2023, it was reported that he had suffered a stroke the previous year and was living a reclusive life in the West of England. He was also said to be close to death at one stage and had undergone emergency treatment at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, where he stayed for several weeks.

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