In a new interview with Channel Seven’s Sunday Night show, Princess Diana’s lover James Hewitt shut down the wild claim he’s Prince Harry’s father.
Reporter Melissa Doyle didn’t hold back as she bluntly asked: “Are you Harry’s father?”
To which the 58-year-old responded: “No I’m not.”
When quizzed about why the rumour refuses to go away, the former cavalry officer explained: “It sells papers. It’s worse for [Harry], probably, poor chap.”
Princess Diana met the handsome red-headed army man in 1986 – after Prince Harry’s birth in 1984 – when he was hired to be her horse riding instructor. It was during this period that Prince Charles’ affair with his now wife, Camilla Parker-Bowles, was also said to have heated up.
“It’s a gradual period and then, you know, suddenly you can’t get enough of each other or see each other as much as you want,” he insisted.
WATCH: James addresses claims he’s Prince Harry’s father. Post continues after the video…
In 2002, the disgraced Brit also addressed the allegations and pointed out the fact the timeline didn’t match up.
“There really is no possibility whatsoever that I am Harry’s father. Although I was with Diana for a long time I must state once and for all that I’m not Harry’s father. I can absolutely assure you that I am not,” he told the press at the time.
Before adding to the Sunday Mirror that Prince Harry was “already walking” by the time he was seeing Di.
“Admittedly the red hair is similar to mine and people say we look alike. I have never encouraged these comparisons and although I was with Diana for a long time I must state once and for all that I’m not Harry’s father.”
Diana once said she adored her horse riding teacher.
“When I met Diana, he was already a toddler,” he explained to the publication at the time.
As for what his relationship with the late princess was like, James revealed it was a very understated dynamic.
“Well, I’d cook and she’d wash up. Just dinner and relaxing and laughing,” he told Sunday Night.
WATCH: Diana opens up about her affair with James. Post continues after the video…
During the mother-of-two’s infamous Panorama interview in 1995, she admitted to being unfaithful with James.
“I adored him. Yes, I was in love with him. But I was very let down,” she confessed to journalist Martin Bashir.
Indeed, over the years the now reclusive James has attempted to profit off his liaison with the People’s Princess. In 2003, he attempted to auction off over 60 personal letters from Princess Diana for millions of dollars.
The following year, he was attested for possession of cocaine.
Speaking out over the long-running rumour, James insists he isn’t Prince Harry’s father. (Image/Sunday Night)
These days, James lives with his mother in southwest England after his failed Polo House venture in Spain closed.
Looking back on their whirlwind romance, he says he has no regrets.
“No, I don’t regret that. I regret some of the things that have been caused by that but not that at all. No way.”
“I think she was quite easy to fall in love with really so I think I can be forgiven for that.”
The 58-year-old says he has no regrets over his affair with Princess Diana. (Image/Sunday Night)
This article first appeared on Now To Love Australia
