James Hewitt, the former British cavalry officer known for his controversial affair with Princess Diana, made a rare public appearance Tuesday, weighing in on the ongoing rift between Prince William and Prince Harry. In an interview on Good Morning Britain, the 66-year-old suggested that the late princess would have taken steps to reconcile her feuding sons, whose strained relationship has persisted since Harry's departure from royal life in 2020.
"I think any mother would be worried and concerned about such a rift, as you put it, and she'd do her best to try and get them together," Hewitt said when asked whether Diana could have brokered peace between the brothers.
Hewitt's remarks come at a time of heightened speculation about the state of the relationship between Harry and William, which has been fraught with tension following the Sussexes' exit from royal duties and their explosive 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey. While there have been some attempts at reconciliation, including brief encounters at royal events, there are no signs of a full-fledged resolution.
Hewitt's Past Ties to Diana and Lingering Speculation
Hewitt first met Diana at a party in Mayfair in 1986, and the two began a secret five-year affair. Diana later acknowledged the relationship in her infamous 1995 BBC Panorama interview, where she stated: "Yes, I adored him. Yes, I was in love with him."
Despite his past association with the royal family, Hewitt has largely stayed out of the spotlight in recent years, particularly following a life-threatening heart attack in 2017. However, rumors about his past resurfaced as he addressed long-standing speculation that he could be Prince Harry's biological father.
For decades, conspiracy theories have swirled about Hewitt's resemblance to Harry, fueled by their similar red hair. However, Hewitt has repeatedly dismissed the rumors as "nonsense." He reiterated this stance in a past interview with Channel Seven, stating, "No, I'm not," when asked about paternity speculation.
Diana's former bodyguard, Ken Wharfe, also refuted the claims, citing the timeline of Diana's relationship with Hewitt. "A simple comparison of dates proves it is impossible for Hewitt to be Harry's father," Wharfe wrote in his book, noting that Harry was conceived around Christmas 1983-years before Diana met Hewitt.
The Fallout of the Affair and Hewitt's Regrets
Hewitt's affair with Diana ended in 1991, but its impact continued to haunt him. He later expressed regret for cooperating with Princess in Love, a book that detailed their relationship. "It was the biggest mistake of my life," he admitted, acknowledging that it ended both his romance with Diana and his military career.
Following Diana's tragic death in a 1997 car crash, Hewitt largely retreated from public life, resurfacing occasionally to discuss his relationship with the late princess. During his Good Morning Britain interview, he also revisited the controversy surrounding the Panorama interview, in which Diana candidly spoke about her unhappy marriage to then-Prince Charles.
Calling the program "a stitch-up job," Hewitt criticized the methods used by journalist Martin Bashir to secure the interview, labeling them as "absolutely appalling." He referenced the findings of a 2021 investigation by Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, which concluded that Bashir used deceptive tactics to gain Diana's trust.
"I hate bullies and bullying and arrogant people, and I think it's appalling," Hewitt said.
Humanitarian Efforts and Life Beyond the Royals
Beyond the lingering media attention over his past with Diana, Hewitt now devotes much of his time to humanitarian work. His appearance on Good Morning Britain was partly to promote Operation Safedrop, an initiative supporting humanitarian aid efforts in Ukraine.
Reflecting on his past, Hewitt stated that while his relationship with Diana created challenges, he has since tried to move forward. "I want to move on from that," he said.
