For decades, speculation has surrounded the paternity of Prince Harry, with many tabloids and media outlets suggesting that James Hewitt, a former riding instructor and lover of Princess Diana, could be his biological father. These rumors were fueled by the physical similarities between Harry and Hewitt, particularly their red hair and freckles.
Prince Harry's Personal Struggle
Prince Harry has recently opened up about the emotional toll these rumors took on him. In a written statement submitted to the High Court in London during a trial against Mirror Group Newspapers, Harry revealed that he spent most of his life believing the rumors. He stated that it was only in 2014 that he learned his mother, Princess Diana, had met James Hewitt after he was born.
"At the time, when I was 18 years old and had lost my mother just six years earlier, stories such as this felt very damaging and very real to me," Harry shared. "They were hurtful, mean and cruel. I was always left questioning the motives behind the stories.
Timeline of the Relationship
The rumors were further complicated by the lack of clear information about the timeline of Diana's relationship with Hewitt. Diana and Hewitt met in 1986, two years after Harry's birth in 1984. Their romance lasted until 1991, but it began long after Harry was born. Richard Dalton, Diana's hairdresser, emphasized this point, saying, "Harry was already born a while before her relationship with Hewitt. And I don't think it's possible.
The Spencer Family's Red Hair
Dalton also highlighted that the red hair often cited as evidence of Hewitt's paternity is actually a trait from the Spencer family. "Harry and the Spencer family have red hair. Charles, Diana's brother, had bright red hair when he was in college," Dalton explained. He added that Diana's sisters, Sarah and Jane, also had similar coloring.
Princess Diana's Distress
The rumors were not just damaging to Prince Harry but also caused significant distress to Princess Diana. According to Dalton, Diana "used to get very upset" about the reports suggesting Hewitt was Harry's father. The speculation was particularly painful given her already troubled marriage to King Charles and the lack of affection and intimacy she experienced.
Public Denials
Both Prince Harry and James Hewitt have publicly denied the rumors. In his memoir *Spare*, Harry addressed the issue directly, recounting how King Charles III would sometimes joke about the rumors, which Harry found unfunny given the circumstances.
Hewitt himself has also denied the rumors, stating, "There really is no possibility whatsoever that I am Harry's father. I can understand the interest, but Harry was already walking by the time my relationship with Diana began.
Media Intrusion and Ethics
The rumors were often perpetuated by sensationalist media stories. Prince Harry cited a 2002 article by *The People* as an example of unlawful journalistic practices, where the writer allegedly plotted to steal his hair to test his parentage. Harry's lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers highlighted the damaging impact of such stories and the unethical methods used to gather information.
In conclusion, the rumors surrounding James Hewitt's potential paternity of Prince Harry have been a long-standing and painful issue for both Harry and his late mother, Princess Diana. The clear timeline of their relationship and the genetic explanation of the Spencer family's red hair have consistently debunked these rumors, yet they continue to circulate due to their sensational nature.
