Prince Harry addressed rumors about his paternity, which have been repeatedly published in the tabloid press, in his memoir Spare, which caused a huge scandal in Britain and became the fastest-selling non-fiction book.

In a memoir published on January 10, 2023 in 16 languages, Prince Harry spoke about who his “real father” is, Harper’s Bazaar notes.

Harry’s autobiography, which became the fastest-selling non-fiction book of all time, covered a range of topics, from the death of Princess Diana to his strained relationship with Prince William.

Although the Duke of Sussex cut several passages from his memoirs, fearing that his father Charles III and his brother William would never “forgive” him for some embarrassing revelations, Harry also addressed one of the old royal rumours: his parentage.

It has been speculated for decades that Princess Diana’s ex-boyfriend, Officer James Hewitt, is Harry’s biological father.

Adventures of Princess Diana with James Hewitt

Princess Diana’s affair with James Hewitt allegedly began in 1987, three years after Harry was born, the press reported at the time, but they were often compared because of their red hair, now Harry has put an end to any speculation in his first public denial. .

In an excerpt from Speir’s memoirs, Harry recounted how King Charles III laughed at rumors that Hewitt was his father.

“Dad (not what Harry calls King Charles III) loved to tell stories and this was one of the best in his repertoire,” Harry recalled.

“Who knows if I really am the Prince of Wales? Who knows if I’m even your real father? Perhaps your real father is in Broadmoor, my dear boy!’

The reason for the rumor: sadism

Harry recalls the incident as “a silly joke, given that it was rumored at the time that my real father was one of my mother’s former lovers: Major James Hewitt”.

“One reason for those rumors was Major Hewitt’s bright red hair, but another reason was sadism,” Harry continued.

“Tabloid readers were delighted to hear that Prince Charles’ youngest child was not his child. “They couldn’t get enough of that ‘joke’, I don’t know why. Maybe it made them feel better about their lives, the fact that the young prince’s life was a laughing stock,” Harry added.

“Never mind that my mother didn’t meet Major Hewitt until long after I was born, the story was too good to pass up,” Harry concluded.

What James Hewitt was talking about in 2017

Hewitt, now 64, lives with his mother in Devon, UK.

In 2017, Channel Seven asked him if he was Harry’s father, to which the major replied: “No, I don’t”, saying the rumors continued to spread because he “sells newspapers”.