Haunted by his past: “I became the most hated man in the world” – Lady Di’s lover breaks the silence

During her marriage to Prince Charles, Princess Diana had a five-year affair with her fencing master, James Hewitt. At 66, the latter speaks in particular about the persistent rumors which accuse him of being the biological father of Prince Harry.

In November 1995, Princess Diana gave a television interview to BBC journalist Martin Bashir, which subsequently not only changed her life, but also shook the British monarchy to its foundations.

During the interview, Lady Di admitted to having had an affair with James Hewitt, her riding instructor. “Yes, I loved him. Yes, I was in love with him. But I was terribly disappointed,” confided the princess.

“I became the most hated man in the world”

James Hewitt, now involved in charity work in Ukraine, remembers that time as media hell. In an interview with The Sun, he said: “I became the most hated man in the world after the Diana interview.”

The affair between Diana and James Hewitt, which occurred in the 1980s, fueled speculation, in particular because of the physical resemblance between the 66-year-old man and Prince Harry: both are redheads. But the former British army cavalry officer specifies that he met Diana for the first time in 1986, two years after Harry’s birth in 1984. Which rules out any possibility that he is the biological father of Harry.

Despite repeated denials, rumors of his paternity continued to circulate over the decades. They even made Prince Harry question their veracity.

“I regret not having had a more normal existence”

James Hewitt today deplores that this controversy, associated with his image as a “womanizer”, prevented him from leading a normal life. Asked about the reasons for his celibacy, he explains: “Given my career, the trials I have gone through and my reputation as the most hated man in the world, it becomes obvious.” Before continuing: “I regret not having had a more normal existence: a successful marriage and children.”

James Hewitt has also had to overcome serious health issues, including a stroke in 2017, followed by open heart surgery.

Today, he is dedicated to his humanitarian mission, having spent the last two years participating in risky missions in Ukraine. “I feel like I’ve been given a new lease of life. Now I have to try to become a little better and more useful.”