Inside Princess Diana's relationship with ex-lover James Hewitt - from her being 'let down' to his suicidal thoughts
They had a relationship between 1986 and 1991Back in the late 1980s, Princess Diana had a passionate relationship with cavalry officer James Hewitt.
From their first meeting to him eventually leaving and the princess feeling “let down”, here’s an inside look at their secret relationship…
Princess Diana’s relationship with ex-lover James Hewitt
In 1986, Princess Diana – who was still married to the now King Charles at the time – met James Hewitt.
Hewitt, a cavalry officer in the British Army, was part of the Household Cavalry. He had been asked to give Diana riding lessons.
Shortly afterward, they began their affair.
It’s believed that Charles was having an affair with his now wife Queen Camilla at the time, so the royal couple’s marriage was in rocky territory.
It’s believed that their affair lasted for close to five years between 1986 and 1991.
However, their relationship came to an end when Hewitt was sent abroad to serve as a Challenger tank squadron commander in the Gulf War.
Princess felt ‘let down’ by James
After his retirement in 1994, the book Princess In Love was published. Hewitt was a major source for the book, which contained details on his affair with Diana.
During her infamous Panorama interview in 1995, Diana opened up about her relationship with Hewitt, admitting to the affair for the first time.
Yes. I was in love with him. But I was very let down.
“Yes. I was in love with him. But I was very let down,” she confessed at the time.
She also added that his involvement in the Princess in Love book was “very distressing”.
James Hewitt had ‘suicidal thoughts’ after relationship with Princess Diana ended
In an interview with Inside Edition in 2011, Hewitt revealed he’d considered taking his own life following the ending of his affair with Diana.
“I got in my car and loaded a few things up to get on the ferry to go to France – to shoot myself,” he said.
“And then my mother insisted on coming with me. And, had she hadn’t, I would have probably shot myself. So I owe her my life really,” he continued.
“I felt I had let people down. Probably myself, my family, my friends, the nation, the army, my regiment. Other than that, no one at all. I think we all miss her. But I’ve tried to move on with my life.”
James Hewitt addresses rumours he’s Prince Harry’s ‘real father’
Since news of Diana’s affair with Hewitt came to light, there have been persistent rumours claiming that he is Prince Harry’s real father.
The key attributor to these rumours is the fact that both James and Harry – Diana’s youngest son with Charles – have ginger hair.
However, Harry was born in 1984 and Diana didn’t meet James until 1986. Nevertheless, the rumours have remained.
In 2017, James Hewitt addressed them for the first time. During an interview with Channel 7, he was outright asked if he was Harry’s dad.
“No I’m not,” he replied. He then added that the rumour continues to circulate as it “sells papers”.
James says princess would be ‘concerned’ over brothers’ rift
On February 25, James appeared on Good Morning Britain, primarily to talk about his involvement in Operation Safedrop – which is delivering humanitarian aid to Ukraine. However, inevitably, the subject of Diana came up.
During the interview, he slammed journalist Martin Bashir and the BBC for their treatment of Diana with the 1995 Panorama interview.
“It was a stitch-up job. It was appalling of Bashir to inveigled, lied to her, criminal activity, absolutely appalling. As I’ve said, I hate bullies and bullying and arrogant people and I think it’s appalling,” he said.
When asked when he’d last spoken to Diana, he said: “After that, just after.” He confessed the conversation had been “distant”.
He also admitted it had “caused problems”. “Yes, it did create problems, but I’m trying to move on from that, and this is admittedly personal for me to try and move on and to help as best I can,” he said.
Hewitt was also asked about Diana’s reaction to Harry and William’s ongoing rift.
He replied saying that the late princess “would be concerned” at the rift.
He then added that she would likely have tried “her best to try and get them together”.
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