Prince Harry tackles multiple rumors and reveals shocking truths in his memoir Spare, including the long-standing speculation that his “real father” is not King Charles, but Major James Hewitt — his late mother Princess Diana’s former lover.
In his book, officially released on Tuesday, the Duke of Sussex revealed that Charles would often joke about the speculation.
“Pa enjoyed telling tales, and this was one of his favorites,” Harry, 38, shared. “He’d always wrap it up with some deep musings … Am I truly the Prince of Wales? What if I’m not even your actual father?”
“He’d chuckle endlessly, despite it being a rather cruel joke, especially considering the ongoing rumor at the time — that my real father was one of Mummy’s past lovers, Major James Hewitt,” he continued. “People fueled this claim because of Major Hewitt’s striking red hair, but also because of pure malice.”
Although Harry didn’t find the joke amusing, he noted that “tabloid readers were thrilled by the notion” that Charles might not be his biological father, emphasizing that people “never tired of this so-called ‘joke.’”
“Perhaps it gave them a sense of satisfaction to mock a young prince’s existence,” he added, before highlighting the flawed timeline. “Never mind that my mother hadn’t even met Major Hewitt until well after I was born.”
Prince Harry was born in September 1984, whereas reports suggest Princess Diana and Hewitt didn’t cross paths until 1986. Over the years, Hewitt has repeatedly dismissed the allegations.
