Princess Diana James Hewitt: What Most People Get Wrong

If you’ve ever scrolled through the darker corners of royal history, you’ve probably seen the side-by-side photos. One is of a young Prince Harry with that signature shock of red hair. The other is James Hewitt, the former cavalry officer whose name became synonymous with the biggest royal scandal of the 1990s.

People love a good conspiracy. It's human nature. But honestly, the truth about Princess Diana James Hewitt and their five-year affair is a lot more complicated—and frankly, more heartbreaking—than just a collection of tabloid rumors about paternity.

The Riding Lessons That Changed Everything

It started in 1986. Diana was essentially living a double life. On the outside, she was the Princess of Wales, the most photographed woman on the planet. Inside, her marriage to the then-Prince Charles was a hollow shell. Charles had already returned to Camilla Parker Bowles, and Diana was feeling discarded.

She met James Hewitt at a party thrown by her lady-in-waiting, Hazel West. Hewitt was a dashing army officer, a man’s man who just happened to be a world-class riding instructor. Diana, who had been terrified of horses since a childhood fall, saw an opportunity to conquer her fear.

She asked him to teach her. He agreed.

Their first few meetings were strictly professional, taking place at the stables in Knightsbridge. But you can't ignore the chemistry. Ken Wharfe, Diana’s former protection officer, once noted that Hewitt gave Diana the attention and "passion she yearned for." By the summer of 1986, the riding lessons had morphed into a full-blown romantic entanglement.

Why the Paternity Rumors Are Factually Impossible

Let's address the elephant in the room: Prince Harry.

For decades, people have looked at Harry’s red hair and Hewitt’s red hair and jumped to a conclusion. "He's the father," they whisper. It’s a compelling story, but it’s mathematically and biologically impossible.

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• Prince Harry was born: September 15, 1984.
• Diana met James Hewitt: Summer of 1986.

You don't need a PhD in biology to see the gap there. Harry was already a toddler, walking and talking, by the time Hewitt entered the picture. Diana’s hairdresser, Richard Dalton, recently reiterated this in his 2024 memoir, It’s All About the Hair. He pointed out that the "red hair" gene actually comes from the Spencer side—Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, had bright red hair as a young man.

Even Hewitt himself has been blunt about it. In a 2017 interview with Channel Seven, and again in more recent chats, he’s flatly denied it. "It sells papers," he said. "It’s worse for him, poor chap."

The "Betrayal" and the 1995 Panorama Interview

The relationship wasn't just a fling; it lasted five years. They spent time at Hewitt’s mother’s cottage in Devon, away from the prying eyes of the London press. But the bubble burst when Hewitt was deployed to the Gulf War in 1990.

Diana felt abandoned. She was a woman who struggled with a deep-seated fear of being left behind, and Hewitt choosing his career over her was a blow she couldn't recover from. The letters stopped. The calls faded.

Then came the real betrayal.

In 1994, Hewitt collaborated with author Anna Pasternak for the book Princess in Love. It was a tell-all that laid their relationship bare. Diana was devastated. She famously told Martin Bashir in her 1995 Panorama interview: "Yes, I adored him. Yes, I was in love with him. But I was very let down."

Interestingly, Hewitt has recently spoken up about that very interview. In late 2024 and early 2025, he called the Panorama special a "stitch-up job," echoing the findings of the 2021 Dyson Report which proved Bashir used forged documents to manipulate Diana. Hewitt, now 66, seems to have a lot of regrets about how it all went down.

Where is James Hewitt Now?

Life hasn't been particularly kind to the former Major. After the affair became public, he was dubbed "the most hated man in Britain." He tried to sell Diana’s private letters for £10 million in 2003—a move that even Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, called "unforgivable."

He never married. He never had children.

Today, Hewitt’s life looks very different. After suffering a severe stroke and a septic embolism a few years back, he had a "near-death experience" that he says changed his perspective on everything.

1. He lives a quiet life in Devon with his mother.
2. He has dedicated himself to humanitarian work.
3. Since 2022, he has been working with Operation SafeDrop, an organization that delivers aid to war-torn regions in Ukraine.

He’s traded the polo fields and palace hallways for driving vans full of medical supplies into active conflict zones. It’s an unexpected third act for a man who was once the center of a royal firestorm.

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The Legacy of the Affair

What can we actually learn from the Princess Diana James Hewitt saga?

First, it highlights the extreme isolation Diana felt within the Royal Family. She wasn't looking for a scandal; she was looking for a connection. Second, it serves as a cautionary tale about the longevity of tabloid myths. No matter how many times the timeline is debunked, the paternity rumors persist because they are "louder" than the facts.

If you’re looking to understand the real history here, stop looking at hair color and start looking at the calendar. The dates don't lie.

Actionable Insights for Royal History Buffs

• Check the Timelines: Whenever you see a "bombshell" royal claim, cross-reference it with the official Court Circular or reputable biographies like Andrew Morton's Diana: Her True Story.
• Look for Primary Sources: In this case, Ken Wharfe’s Diana: Closely Guarded Secret provides the most accurate account from someone who was actually in the room (or at least outside the door).
• Distinguish Between Gossip and Fact: Red hair is a phenotype; a 1986 meeting date is a historical fact. Always prioritize the latter.

Understanding the nuance of this relationship helps paint a fuller picture of Diana—not as a saint or a villain, but as a person trying to find her footing in a marriage that had already collapsed.