Red Hair And Royalty: Who is Prince Harry's 'Biological Father'? New Memoir Reveals The Truth

For years, rumours have circulated about Prince Harry’s true parentage, with some suggesting that James Hewitt, Princess Diana’s former riding instructor, and not King Charles, might be his biological father. These claims were fueled by physical similarities between Hewitt and Harry, particularly their ginger hair and freckles. However, a new memoir provides fresh insights into Diana and Hewitt’s relationship.

Richard Dalton Refutes Rumours in Memoir

Richard Dalton, Princess Diana’s hairdresser and confidant, addresses these persistent rumours in his book, It’s All About the Hair. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Dalton firmly dismissed the speculation, stating, “It’s not possible. Harry was already born a while before her relationship with Hewitt. And I don’t think it’s possible.”

Spencer Family's Red Hair Explained

Dalton also pointed out that red hair runs in the Spencer family, supporting his claim that Harry’s appearance is a family trait. “Harry and the Spencer family have red hair. Charles, Diana’s brother, had bright red hair when he was in college,” Dalton shared, mentioning that he used to cut Charles' hair. He added that Diana’s sister Sarah also has red hair, while their other sister Jane shares similar colouring to Diana.

Diana’s Frustration with Paternity Rumours

Dalton revealed in his memoir that Princess Diana was often upset by the rumours linking Hewitt to Harry’s paternity. According to him, Diana was particularly frustrated because “the red hair was a trait from the Spencer family.”

Diana and Hewitt's Relationship

According to Dalton, Diana met Hewitt for the first time in 1986, two years after Prince Harry was born in 1984. He clarifies in his book that Harry was born "long before Diana even met James Hewitt." Their romantic relationship began in 1989 and lasted for three years before ending in 1991.

Prince Harry and James Hewitt Address Rumours

Both Prince Harry and James Hewitt have addressed the paternity rumours in the past. Last year, Harry sued a media outlet for using illegal tactics to pry into his life. In a written statement, he acknowledged the rumours, stating, "Numerous newspapers had reported a rumour that my biological father was James Hewitt, a man my mother had a relationship with after I was born." Harry also revealed, "At the time of this article and others similar to it, I wasn’t actually aware that my mother hadn’t met Major Hewitt until after I was born."

In 2002, James Hewitt also categorically denied the claims, stating, “There really is no possibility whatsoever that I am Harry’s father. I can understand the interest, but Harry was already walking by the time my relationship with Diana began.”