Some believe that British military officer James Hewitt is Prince Harry’s biological father, and Diana and Hewitt did have an affair that lasted from 1986 to 1991. The two were introduced by Diana’s lady-in-waiting Hazel West while at a party, and the couple began an affair that continued until Hewitt moved to Saudi Arabia for his career.

The public didn’t know much about Diana’s affair until Hewitt released a tell-all book in 1994, called “Princess in Love.” In 1995, Diana addressed the book, saying “I was very let down.” After Diana’s death, Hewitt published another book with even more detail, and later, he tried to sell dozens of Diana's letters for £10 million.

Harry’s Father

Despite the fact that Harry was born two years before Diana and Hewitt even began their affair, rumors about his parentage have persisted. For those that buy into the rumor, their most compelling evidence is that both Harry and Hewitt have red hair, but Diana had many red-haired relatives, indicating a clear genetic link to the hue.

A Resemblance?

Aside from their hair, some people believe that Harry and Hewitt share a strong physical resemblance. However, according to “super recognizer” Simone Malik — who claims she has heightened abilities to recognize facial features — there’s no truth to the claim, and Harry more closely resembles King Charles.

Hewitt’s Denial

Despite his openness about his affair with Diana, James Hewitt did not address the rumors about Harry’s parentage until 2002. In an interview with the Sunday Mirror, Hewitt said, “Harry was already walking by the time my relationship with Diana began,” and added that Harry is “a much more handsome chap than I ever was.”

In “Spare,” Prince Harry claimed that King Charles often joked about Harry’s parentage, writing “Pa liked telling stories, and this was one of the best in his repertoire.” While Harry never found it funny, he understands why others might, saying, “maybe it made them feel better […] that a young prince’s life was laughable.”