Major James Hewitt’s name has been associated with Britain’s royal family for more than three decades.
This led him to be vilified in the press.
So, who is Major James Hewitt?
Here are things we know about Princess Diana’s former lover.
James Hewitt’s father was a world-class athlete who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympic Games in Helsinki Finland.
Hewitt and the other celebs were split into two teams and underwent intensive training from actual Olympic coaches.
As theDaily Mailreported, Hewitt comported himself admirably.
AsPeoplenoted, both his father and grandfather had served in the Royal Navy.
Hewitt retired from the military in 1994.
AsBBC Newspointed out, there was a potential problem with his new gig.
Since he was still a reservist, he could be called to return to service.
That, however, turned out to be a moot point.
AsThe Guardianreported, Hewitt was fired before even filing a single report.
“Their first conversation felt natural, she said, and it was this that sparked her attraction.
As she put it, they got along famously,” wrote Wharfe.
As Hewitt and the princess spent time together, sparks flew.
“Shattered by her husband’s betrayal, the princess was ready for an affair,” wrote Wharfe.
“I’d cook and [Diana] would wash up,” Hewitt said of that period.
“Just dinner and relaxing and laughing.”
When James refused to give up his career, Diana let the affair wane."
According toPBS' transcript, she also confirmed her affair with Hewitt.
“Yes, I adored him.
Yes, I was in love with him.
But I was very let down,” Diana confessed.
For Diana, this proved to be an even bigger betrayal than Hewitt’s serving overseas.
“I really minded about that.”
He was rewarded by the press with such nicknames as “the cad” and “love rat.”
Meanwhile, Hewitt’s post-military business ventures flopped.
Chief among those was a golf driving range, in which he invested 30,000.
The business went belly up not long after it was launched.
It shut down in 2013.
In 2021, theDaily Mailreported that Hewitt was working as a gardener for about 4,000 per year.
“Am I the only person in the world not allowed to write a book about myself?”
Hewitt griped (viaCNN).
“I mean, I think that most of this hate and vilification is generated by the tabloid papers.
Who need someone to paint as a baddy because every good story needs a baddy.
Unfortunately I’m that person.”
“I don’t feel James Hewitt should go to jail; jail will teach him nothing.
But I do hope he is found guilty because he is guilty.”
Gill, not surprisingly, photographed Hewitt’s arrest.
Hewitt agreed to sell and asked for $16 million for all of them.
Hewitt, however, disputed the tabloid’s account.
“I wasn’t willing to sell the letters.
However, he also indicated that he was now willing to find a buyer for the letters.
“I was intrigued to see if it was possible to achieve this,” he added.
“So in the end, I suppose, yes, I am willing to sell.”
There were two potential buyers who reportedly emerged: Diana’s sons.
Ultimately, Hewitt never did find a buyer.
However, as he subsequently toldThe Telegraph, that didn’t mean that he someday wouldn’t.
“I’m pig-headed in that respect.”
“They keep asking me to do ‘I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!’
However, a member of Hewitt’s family told theMirrorthat they were optimistic about his recovery.
“He’s getting better, from what we know,” the family member said.
AsPeoplereported, a spokesperson for Hewitt confirmed that he hadn’t been feeling great in recent weeks.
“He said he thought he had a bug and was resting in bed.”
Hewitt’s health scare was apparently quite serious.
After spending eight weeks in intensive care, he was finally released from hospital.
“Now he just wants to put this behind him and get on with his life.”
This claim continues to circulate, mainly because Harry and Hewitt both have similarly ginger-hued hair.
Hewitt has long refuted the claims.
“It’s been suggested before and I said many times I’m not.
And I think it’s just laughable.”
“They were hurtful, mean and cruel.
