The late Princess Diana of Wales was one of the most beloved members of the British royal family. She married Prince Charles in 1981, and together they had two sons: Prince William and Prince Harry.
However, rumors have circulated for decades that Harry’s biological father is not Prince Charles, but rather Princess Diana’s riding instructor and former lover, the horse trainer James Hewitt.
Despite the persistent speculation, Hewitt has always maintained that he is not Harry’s biological father.
In a 2017 interview with Vanity Fair, Hewitt dismissed the rumors as “a load of rubbish” and said that Harry’s resemblance to him is simply a coincidence. He also stated that his relationship with Diana did not begin until after Harry was born.
While Hewitt’s denial may have put the rumors to rest for some, others remain convinced that he is, in fact, Harry’s father.
This belief was fueled by a statement made by Diana’s former butler, Paul Burrell, in his 2003 book “A Royal Duty.” Burrell claimed that Diana had told him that Hewitt was Harry’s father, although he later admitted that he did not have any evidence to support this claim.
In recent years, Prince Harry himself has addressed the rumors surrounding his paternity.
In a 2021 interview with Dax Shepard on his “Armchair Expert” podcast, Harry said that the rumors were “not a conversation that would be had” in his family, and that he did not pay attention to them.
Harry also spoke about the toll that the rumors and media scrutiny had taken on him and his family, particularly after his mother’s death in 1997. He described feeling like he was constantly being watched and judged, and how he struggled with his mental health as a result.
While the question of Harry’s paternity may never be definitively answered, it is clear that the rumors have had a lasting impact on him and his family.
As a public figure, Harry has used his platform to raise awareness about mental health and the importance of seeking help when needed.