James Hewitt speaks Spanish!

THE INCREASING interest in the romance between Prince Harry and Cressida Bonas (especially among those more febrile sections of the American media who are predicting a royal engagement) may prove a bonus for a jaded figure from the past, James Hewitt.

The former lover of Princess Diana has returned to Britain after a failed business venture in Marbella and is living with his 85-year-old mother in a two-bedroom apartment in a Devon village.

Hewitt, who will be 56 next month and no longer looks “like a thoroughbred racehorse” as Diana used to call him, is now a recluse. He is virtually broke, but his fortunes may be about to change if he succumbs to the lucrative offers to peddle his story to the readers of foreign gossip magazines.

“James is back in demand; he’s received a number of offers from publications to tell everything about his time with Harry,” says an ex-Army colleague, with whom he is still in touch.

“Remember that he was a mentor to Harry when Prince Charles wasn’t around, almost a father figure, although obviously not the father.” That reference to paternity is, of course, an aside to that urban myth that Harry was Hewitt’s son.

James himself attempted to end this speculation in 2002 when he released a statement announcing that, contrary to recurring rumour, he was definitely not the Prince’s father.

“Admittedly the colour of Harry’s hair is similar to mine and people say we look alike,” he said. “I have never encouraged these comparisons and although I was with Diana for a long time I must state that I’m not Harry’s father. When I met Diana he was already a toddler. He’s a much more handsome chap than I ever was.”

I must state that I’m not Harry’s father. When I met Diana he was already a toddler. He’s a much more handsome chap than I ever was
James Hewitt
The speculation has also been dismissed by Ken Wharfe, Diana’s bodyguard during her five-year romance with Hewitt, who comments: “What we saw after the birth of Harry was a lot of rumour that he was Hewitt’s son. Statistically, we know that was impossible. I know personally because the Princess told me so.”

The former army major was called a cad and shunned by his fellow officers for writing a book about the romance (and helping with another book, Princess In Love, for which he received £100,000).

For a while he was seeking £10million for the 60 letters Diana wrote to him while he was serving in the Gulf War, and he still has those letters – which he knows could prove a sensation were he to publish them.