James Hewitt Biography

James Lifford Hewitt was born on 30 April 1958, in Derry, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

His father, John Alfred Hewitt, was a modern pentathlete who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He was also a captain in the Royal Marines. He married Shirley Stamp, the daughter of a London dental surgeon, in 1956.

James Hewitt went to Norwood Preparatory School in Exeter, following which he attended Millfield, a public school, in Somerset.

James Hewitt joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and upon his graduation, enlisted in the Brigade of Guards as a second lieutenant on 8 April 1978. Two years later, he was promoted to lieutenant.

In October 1981, he was transferred to a special regular commission from a short service commission. Three years later, he was promoted to acting captain.

During the Gulf War in 1991, he served as a Challenger tank squadron commander and oversaw 14 armoured vehicles in Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm. He received appreciation for his meritorious action in the war.

He attempted to become a major but he failed the exam for promotion three times. After 17 years of service in the military, he retired from the British Army in March 1994. He was granted the rank of major in retirement, in line with common military practice.

After leaving the military, James Hewitt struggled to rebuild a successful career as a civilian. In 1994, he opened a golf driving range. However, this venture failed to take off and he was forced to close it down soon after.

In the ensuing years, he appeared in a few reality shows and emerged as the winner of the Channel 5 reality show Back to Reality in 2004. He was a contestant in the celebrity version of The X Factor called The X Factor: Battle of the Stars in 2006.

In May 2006, he appeared in the first episode of the UK Top Gear in Series 8. Along with other celebrities, he participated in setting power lap times around the Top Gear Test Track. According to an anecdote, the show’s presenters failed to recognize him as a “celebrity” upon his arrival.

James Hewitt opened a bar called the Polo House in 2009. It was located in the Golden Mile of Marbella, Spain, a fashionable and luxurious residential area. This venture could not be sustained for long and closed down in 2013.

James Hewitt first met Princess Diana at a party hosted by Diana's lady-in-waiting, Hazel West, in 1986. They had an instant connection and their first conversation was free-flowing and comfortable. This is what attracted both to each other.

Diana confessed to Hewitt that she was afraid of riding horses. Hewitt, who was a trained riding instructor, offered to give her lessons. Thus began their association, which soon escalated into a full-fledged affair.

Hewitt was also known to Prince Charles and admired him. When Prince Charles came to know of their affair, he chose to encourage it. At that time, Prince Charles was having an affair with Camilla Parker Bowles and wanted to distract Diana from interfering in his relationship with Camilla.

James Hewitt’s relationship with Diana continued for five years. They were deeply in love and kept in touch even when Hewitt was fighting in the Persian Gulf War. Diana wrote him many passionate letters during this time.

Their relationship began to falter in 1989 as Hewitt was unable to give Diana the attention she sought. Despite their issues, the couple carried on their affair for two more years before finally breaking up in 1991. The breakup was devastating for both. Hewitt even considered dying by suicide but didn’t take the extreme step because of his mother’s love.

After Diana’s untimely death in 1997, James Hewitt came into the spotlight due to his affair with her. He became a minor celebrity and was even invited to participate in reality TV shows.

He published a memoir detailing their relationship in 1999. Titled Love and War, the book gave several intimate details about their relationship, including what the couple ate on the day their relationship began. There were plans to serialize the book, but the plans were dropped after Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, protested.

James Hewitt tried to sell 64 personal letters from Diana in 2003. He demanded a price of £10 million for the letters. This act was condemned by many people, including Sarah, Duchess of York. He was criticized for betraying the late Princess Diana’s trust.

There have been rumours that James Hewitt and not Prince Charles is the actual biological father of Prince Harry, Diana’s younger son. However, this rumour was refuted by both Diana and Hewitt.

Hewitt has claimed that he met Princess Diana when Harry was already a toddler, so there is no question of him having fathered the boy. The fact that Prince Harry bears some resemblance to Hewitt kept the rumours afloat for many years.

James Hewitt never married or had children.

He was arrested for the possession of cocaine in 2004. However, he was given a warning and released without charge.

He suffered a heart attack and stroke in May 2017 and was hospitalized. He eventually recovered and returned home.