In a rare television appearance, former cavalry officer James Hewitt shared his thoughts on what the late Princess Diana would think about the ongoing feud between her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Hewitt expressed that Diana, who tragically passed away in 1997, would have been deeply concerned about the strained relationship between her sons.
“I think any mother would be worried and concerned about such a rift, and she’d do her best to try and get them together,” Hewitt, 66, remarked during the interview with host Richard Madeley. Hewitt, who had a well-publicized five-year relationship with Diana between 1986 and 1991, suggested that the late Princess would have likely sought reconciliation between William and Harry.
While Hewitt’s primary reason for appearing on the program was to discuss Operation Safedrop—a humanitarian aid initiative supporting Ukraine—he also shared insights into how perspectives on mental health have evolved since Diana’s death. “I think we’ve progressed, and it’s seemingly possible to talk about those kinds of problems now. In a way, that’s a good thing,” he reflected.
The interview also touched on the controversy surrounding Diana’s infamous 1995 Panorama interview with Martin Bashir. The BBC later admitted wrongdoing and issued an apology after an inquiry revealed that Bashir had used deceitful tactics to gain access to Diana. Hewitt condemned Bashir’s actions, calling them “appalling,” and described the deceit as criminal and an act of bullying.
Reflecting on his final interactions with Diana, Hewitt described their last conversation as “distant,” hinting at the emotional strain caused by the media frenzy surrounding their relationship.
Hewitt also addressed long-standing rumors about Prince Harry’s paternity, firmly denying being Harry’s father during a 2017 interview with Australia’s Channel Seven. He dismissed the rumors as sensationalist, saying, “It sells papers.”
These rumors resurfaced during Prince Harry’s legal battle against Mirror Group Newspapers in 2023. In his testimony, Harry described such speculation as “hurtful, mean, and cruel,” especially considering he was still grieving his mother’s death at the time. The Duke of Sussex emphasized that Diana had not met Hewitt until after his birth in 1984. Harry was awarded £140,600 in damages after the court found the newspaper guilty of unlawful information gathering.
Hewitt previously described his relationship with Diana as “exciting and sexy” due to the risks involved, adding that the danger intensified the thrill of their secret affair.
The Panorama interview remains one of the most controversial moments in royal history. Diana’s candid revelations about feeling isolated within the royal family and her acknowledgment of her struggles with Prince Charles’s affair with Camilla Parker Bowles made headlines worldwide. The BBC has since vowed never to broadcast the interview again following a damning inquiry by Lord Dyson, which concluded that Bashir’s actions were in “serious breach” of journalistic ethics.
Both Prince William and Prince Harry have publicly condemned the BBC’s handling of the interview and its lasting impact on their mother’s legacy.
