James Hewitt and Princess Diana: Love, Betrayal, and Secrets Still Untold

Princess Diana’s love life was always a subject of fascination, but few relationships were as controversial as her romance with James Hewitt. Nearly three decades after her tragic death, Hewitt’s connection to Diana continues to spark intrigue.

While he was once a trusted confidant and passionate lover, their relationship ultimately ended in heartbreak, betrayal, and public scandal. Now, as Hewitt speaks out again, many wonder if he is preparing to reveal even more secrets about the late princess—secrets she may have wanted to stay buried.

Diana first met James Hewitt in 1986 at a cocktail party. The dashing British Army cavalry officer was already familiar with the royal family, having played polo with Prince Charles and even led part of their wedding procession in 1981.

But it wasn’t until Diana asked him for riding lessons that their friendship took a more intimate turn.

By then, Diana’s marriage to Charles was crumbling, and she was seeking comfort in Hewitt’s arms. Their passionate affair unfolded over five years, with Hewitt becoming not only her lover but also her closest confidant.

She poured her heart out to him, sharing her insecurities, her struggles with bulimia, and her jealousy over Charles’s ongoing relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles.

Hewitt later described their first night together in his memoir Love and War, recalling how Diana had been the one to initiate the affair. According to reports, she wrote him letters almost every day, baring her soul in ways she never could in her royal marriage.

Her butler, Paul Burrell, later revealed that he had helped arrange their secret meetings, smuggling Hewitt into Kensington Palace to avoid prying eyes.

At a time when she felt abandoned by Charles, Hewitt became Diana’s rock. He reassured her of her beauty, listened to her frustrations about royal life, and gave her the emotional support she desperately craved.

Burrell believes she truly loved Hewitt and saw him as a man who valued her for who she was, not just her title.

The relationship became so serious that Hewitt even spent time with her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. He played with them, taught them to ride, and swam with them during family outings.

Despite persistent rumors, Hewitt has always denied being Harry’s father, stating unequivocally that their affair did not begin until after Harry was born.

But while their love story seemed like a fairytale behind closed doors, it was destined for disaster.

By 1991, the affair was over. Hewitt was deployed to Iraq, and the physical distance, combined with the pressures of Diana’s royal life, led to their separation. But their story didn’t end there.

In 1994, Hewitt made the ultimate mistake—selling their love story to the press. He collaborated with author Anna Pasternak to publish Princess in Love, a book that detailed intimate aspects of their relationship.

Diana was devastated. In her famous 1995 Panorama interview, she admitted that she had loved Hewitt but said his decision to profit from their affair was a crushing betrayal. “It was very distressing for me that a friend of mine, who I had trusted, made money out of me,” she said.

Despite this, their connection never completely faded. They remained in occasional contact, with Diana even writing to him under the alias “Julia” while he was stationed overseas. However, the damage had been done.

Hewitt’s reputation was in shambles, and Diana—who had once seen him as her protector—now viewed him as someone who had used her for his own gain.

Even after Diana’s death in 1997, Hewitt’s name continued to be associated with her in controversy. In 2003, he was accused of attempting to sell Diana’s private letters for £10 million, an allegation he strongly denied.

Many of these letters have never been publicly revealed, leaving the possibility that they contain deeply personal confessions and insights into Diana’s true feelings about her marriage, her affair, and the royal family.

Now, decades later, Hewitt is speaking out once again. In a recent interview, he criticized the BBC for its handling of the infamous Panorama interview, in which Diana famously said, “There were three of us in this marriage.”

His reappearance in the media has led to speculation that he may be planning another tell-all book.

According to Burrell, if Hewitt were to release more of what he knows, he could “clear up a lot of myths” surrounding Diana. But the question remains: is Hewitt looking to honor her legacy, or is he once again seeking the spotlight?

Despite everything, Hewitt has always maintained that Diana was the love of his life. He never married, and in interviews, he often speaks about her with a mix of affection and regret.

He claims she manipulated him at times to gain public sympathy, but he also acknowledges that she was a woman desperately searching for love.

Burrell, who witnessed their affair firsthand, insists that Diana’s greatest wish was simply to be loved. “All I ever wanted in life is to be loved,” she once confided in him.

Perhaps that is the real tragedy of Diana and Hewitt’s relationship. It was built on passion, trust, and mutual need—but it ultimately ended in heartbreak, betrayal, and unanswered questions that still linger today.