Princess Diana’s Heartbreak Over Rumors About Prince Harry’s Biological Father

Princess Diana was deeply distressed by persistent rumors suggesting that her riding instructor, James Hewitt, was Prince Harry’s biological father. The false speculation, fueled by the similarity in hair color between Hewitt and Harry, caused Diana great emotional pain.

However, her longtime hairdresser, Richard Dalton, has clarified that such claims were impossible, as Diana met Hewitt only after Harry was born.

Dalton, who worked closely with Diana for years, recently shared his insights in his memoir It’s All About the Hair, shedding light on unknown aspects of the princess’s life. In an interview with Fox News, he dismissed the tabloid gossip, emphasizing that Harry’s red hair is a Spencer family trait, not something inherited from Hewitt.

“Harry and the Spencer family have red hair. Charles, Diana’s brother, had bright red hair when he was in college, and I used to cut his hair then. Diana’s sister, Sarah, also has bright red hair.

Even Diana’s other sister, Jane, had similar coloring to Diana,” Dalton explained.

The speculation surrounding Harry’s parentage has long been a favorite topic for tabloids. Many pointed to Hewitt’s ginger hair and the affair he later had with Diana as supposed proof of their connection.

However, Dalton confirmed that Diana and Hewitt did not meet until 1986—two years after Harry’s birth in 1984. The princess’s affair with Hewitt reportedly lasted from 1986 to 1991, meaning there was no possible way for him to be Harry’s father.

Diana was deeply hurt by the rumors, finding them not only invasive but also disrespectful to her family. According to Dalton, she became particularly upset whenever such insinuations surfaced in the media.

“Diana used to get very upset with any suggestion that Harry was not Charles’s son,” he said.

Despite her royal status, Diana struggled with the lack of emotional support in her marriage. She and Charles had a complicated relationship, and over time, their bond weakened.

In search of affection, she found solace in Hewitt, a man who, at first, seemed to offer her the love and attention she longed for.

Dalton recalled being initially confused when Diana suddenly developed an interest in horse riding, a hobby she never truly enjoyed. It later became clear that her lessons were merely an excuse to spend time with Hewitt.

While Dalton did not know about the affair at the time, he noticed that Diana seemed happier whenever she spoke about Hewitt. “She was certainly giddy at times when she talked about him because it was all new to her,” Dalton wrote in his memoir.

He described Diana’s emotional state as one of vulnerability, noting that she had felt starved of affection from Charles. “Diana was an heir-making machine for Charles and was coming to terms with the betrayal within her marriage,” he wrote.

However, despite her feelings, it became evident that Hewitt did not share the same depth of emotion. According to Dalton, Hewitt saw his relationship with Diana as a conquest rather than a love story.

The proof came when Hewitt later wrote a tell-all book about their affair, exposing intimate details of their time together.

“It saddened me to see James Hewitt, by virtue of his tell-all book, clearly signal that this relationship was a conquest and not a matter of love at all. He got her at her most vulnerable,” Dalton explained.

“For her, he was just the first man who rolled along—a twist of fate, time, and place. If it had not been him, it would have been someone else.”

Despite Diana’s efforts to shield Harry from such painful rumors, they followed him into adulthood. The speculation gained traction again in 2023 when Harry took legal action against the Daily Mirror for publishing misleading stories about his personal life.

During the trial, Harry addressed the longstanding rumor head-on. “Numerous newspapers had reported a rumor that my biological father was James Hewitt, a man my mother had a relationship with after I was born,” he stated.

“At the time of this article and others similar to it, I wasn’t actually aware that my mother hadn’t met Major Hewitt until after I was born.”

By addressing the issue publicly, Harry put to rest decades of speculation, making it clear that his biological father was, without question, King Charles.

Even in death, Diana’s life continues to be the subject of media fascination. Her struggles, triumphs, and personal battles remain points of interest for the public, but those closest to her have worked to preserve the truth about her life.

Dalton’s memoir sheds light on the immense pressures Diana faced, both from the royal family and the relentless press. It also serves as a reminder of her resilience, as she fought to protect her sons from the same invasive scrutiny that plagued her own life.

Despite the hurtful rumors, Diana’s legacy remains untarnished. She is remembered as a devoted mother, a compassionate humanitarian, and a woman who defied royal expectations to follow her own path.

Her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, continue to honor her memory, ensuring that the world remembers her not for the scandals, but for the kindness and love she shared with those around her.