James Hewitt
Encyclopedia
James Hewitt is a former British
household cavalry
officer in the British Army
. He had an affair with Diana, Princess of Wales
for five years, receiving extensive media coverage after revealing details of the affair.
, Northern Ireland
, but grew up in Kent
and Devon
. He was educated at Millfield School and Sandhurst
.
, and failed his exam for the rank of Major three times. In March 1994 , he was retired from the Life Guards
after 17 years in military service and six months before the publication of Anna Pasternak's Princess in Love, a book for which Hewitt was a major source.
interview that she had committed adultery
with Hewitt. His former military regiment declared him persona non grata
at their barracks.
Persistent suggestions have been made in the media that Hewitt, and not Charles, is the biological father of Prince Harry. However, Hewitt stated to the press in 2002 that Harry had already been born by the time the affair between him and Diana began (a statement corroborated by Diana's police bodyguard).
Hewitt opened a golf driving range
in 1994. In 2003 he tried to sell his 64 personal letters from Diana for £10 million. He opened The Polo House, a bar in the fashionable Golden Mile of Marbella
, Spain in the spring of 2009.
with Alison Bell
, a CNN
journalist, for the possession of cocaine
. A drunken Hewitt had 0.36 grammes of cocaine in his pocket. He was given a warning, and Bell was released without charge. As a result, he was refused reinstatement of his gun licences because of his "intemperate habits" after police found a disassembled 16-bore shotgun
on his living room floor.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
household cavalry
Household Cavalry Regiment
The Household Cavalry Regiment is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, and is one of two regiments that are formed from the Household Cavalry. It was formed in 1992, under the Options for Change reforms, by the amalgamation of The Life Guards and the Blues and Royals. Both regiments were...
officer in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. He had an affair with Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
for five years, receiving extensive media coverage after revealing details of the affair.
Early life
Hewitt was born in DerryDerry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, but grew up in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
and Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. He was educated at Millfield School and Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
.
Career
He served as a Challenger tank commander in the Gulf WarGulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, and failed his exam for the rank of Major three times. In March 1994 , he was retired from the Life Guards
Life Guards (British Army)
The Life Guards is the senior regiment of the British Army and with the Blues and Royals, they make up the Household Cavalry.They originated in the four troops of Horse Guards raised by Charles II around the time of his restoration, plus two troops of Horse Grenadier Guards which were raised some...
after 17 years in military service and six months before the publication of Anna Pasternak's Princess in Love, a book for which Hewitt was a major source.
Personal life
Diana, Princess of Wales, admitted in her 1995 PanoramaPanorama (TV series)
Panorama is a BBC Television current affairs documentary programme, which was first broadcast in 1953, and is the longest-running public affairs television programme in the world. Panorama has been presented by many well known BBC presenters, including Richard Dimbleby, Robin Day, David Dimbleby...
interview that she had committed adultery
Adultery
Adultery is sexual infidelity to one's spouse, and is a form of extramarital sex. It originally referred only to sex between a woman who was married and a person other than her spouse. Even in cases of separation from one's spouse, an extramarital affair is still considered adultery.Adultery is...
with Hewitt. His former military regiment declared him persona non grata
Persona non grata
Persona non grata , literally meaning "an unwelcome person", is a legal term used in diplomacy that indicates a proscription against a person entering the country...
at their barracks.
Persistent suggestions have been made in the media that Hewitt, and not Charles, is the biological father of Prince Harry. However, Hewitt stated to the press in 2002 that Harry had already been born by the time the affair between him and Diana began (a statement corroborated by Diana's police bodyguard).
Hewitt opened a golf driving range
Driving range
A driving range is an area where golfers can practice their swing. It can also be a recreational activity itself for amateur golfers or when enough time for a full game is not available. Many golf courses have a driving range attached and they are also found as stand-alone facilities, especially...
in 1994. In 2003 he tried to sell his 64 personal letters from Diana for £10 million. He opened The Polo House, a bar in the fashionable Golden Mile of Marbella
Marbella
Marbella is a town in Andalusia, Spain. It is situated on the Mediterranean Sea, in the province of Málaga, beneath the La Concha mountain. In 2000 the city had 98,823 inhabitants, in 2004, 116,234, in 2010 approximately 135,000....
, Spain in the spring of 2009.
Controversy
In July 2004, Hewitt was arrested outside a restaurant in FulhamFulham
Fulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
with Alison Bell
Alison Bell
Alison Bell is an English journalist and radio presenter.- Biography :In her teenage years she performed in many stage productions, as she was a professionally trained singer. This reflects in her hobbies, which include music, travel, tennis, swimming and rollerblading. She's also a smoker...
, a CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
journalist, for the possession of cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
. A drunken Hewitt had 0.36 grammes of cocaine in his pocket. He was given a warning, and Bell was released without charge. As a result, he was refused reinstatement of his gun licences because of his "intemperate habits" after police found a disassembled 16-bore shotgun
Shotgun
A shotgun is a firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder, which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number of small spherical pellets called shot, or a solid projectile called a slug...
on his living room floor.
Television career
- Hewitt lifted 82.5 kg in the 2003 weightlifting event of Channel 4Channel 4Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's The Games (a celebrity athletics tournament), setting a record which he held jointly with 2004 competitor Shane LynchShane LynchShane Lynch is an Irish singer-songwriter, actor and professional drift driver, best known for his distinctive body art, outlandish sense of style, and as a member of Boyzone...
, until this was beaten in 2005 by Philip OlivierPhilip OlivierPhilip Olivier is an English actor, model and stage performer best known for playing the role of Tim O'Leary in the soap opera Brookside.-Early life:...
. He eventually came second. - In 2003, Hewitt took part in the Five reality TV show Back To Reality and eventually won it.
- In July 2004, he took part in the Swedish TV show High ChaparallHigh ChaparallHigh Chaparall is a Swedish television program which first aired in 2003 on the Kanal 5 network. The show is an interview/adventure series featuring the Swedish comedy duo of Filip Hammar and Fredrik Wikingsson. Although the pair continued to be provocative, this program proved to be less...
, in which he was interviewed. - In December 2004, he took part in a celebrity Christmas edition of the ITV show Stars In Their EyesStars In Their EyesStars in Their Eyes is a British television talent show that ran on Saturdays nights from 21 July 1990 until 23 December 2006 in which contestants impersonate showbiz stars...
as Bing CrosbyBing CrosbyHarry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
, singing "White ChristmasWhite Christmas (song)"White Christmas" is an Irving Berlin song reminiscing about an old-fashioned Christmas setting. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the version sung by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide.Accounts vary as...
". - In 2005, he took part in the ITV wrestling competition Celebrity WrestlingCelebrity WrestlingCelebrity Wrestling is a British television programme, broadcast on ITV in 2005. It involved two teams of celebrities, competing against each other in wrestling style events. The series was presented by Kate Thornton and Rowdy Roddy Piper...
where he went under the moniker "Gentleman Jim", and appeared on Heads Up with Richard HerringHeads Up with Richard HerringHeads Up with Richard Herring or HUWRH, was a British celebrity chat show written by and starring Richard Herring, who is best known as one half of comedy duo Lee and Herring, the stars of BBC Two shows Fist of Fun and This Morning With Richard Not Judy...
to discuss his life and love of pokerPokerPoker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
. - In 2005 Hewitt appeared on Car Cruzin', a UK documentary series showcasing cars of rich and notable individuals. Hewitt presented his Range Rover SportRange Rover SportThe Range Rover Sport is a luxury-type sport utility vehicle produced by the Jaguar Land Rover business unit of India's Tata Motors.-Chassis:...
, and also revealed that he is not allowed to own firearms. - In 2005 he appeared in Bullrun: Cops, Cars & Superstars II, riding with Ryan DunnRyan DunnRyan Matthew Dunn was an American reality television personality and daredevil best known for being a member of the Jackass and Viva La Bam crew. He hosted Homewrecker and Proving Ground...
in one out of the five Bravo cars. - In 2006, he appeared on the BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
show Top GearTop Gear (current format)Top Gear is a British television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style...
as a celebrity guest, achieving a lap time around the Top Gear test track in the Chevrolet Lacetti of 1:47.69. The presenters, Jeremy ClarksonJeremy ClarksonJeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster, journalist and writer who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
and Richard HammondRichard HammondRichard Mark Hammond is an English broadcaster, writer, and journalist most noted for co-hosting car programme Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson and James May, as well as presenting Brainiac: Science Abuse on Sky 1.-Early life:...
, failed to recognize him and he was thereafter referred to and added to the scoreboard as the "Well Spoken Man". - In May 2006, Hewitt starred as a contestant in The X Factor: Battle Of The StarsThe X Factor (UK)The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
, alongside fellow kiss-and-tell celebrity Rebecca LoosRebecca LoosRebecca Loos is a Spanish-born Anglo-Dutch model and media personality, who was brought to media attention following claims that she conducted an affair with the married football player David Beckham—while employed as his personal assistant...
, but was evicted after the final showdown on Thursday night (Night 4). He was mentored by Simon CowellSimon CowellSimon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
who, despite being supportive, did not deny Hewitt's lack of vocal talent. - In February 2007, he appeared on Al Murray's Happy HourAl Murray's Happy HourAl Murray's Happy Hour was a chat show presented by comedian Al Murray and produced by Avalon TV. The first series aired in early 2007. It is broadcast on the British terrestrial TV network, ITV, and the first series was broadcast on Saturday nights at 10pm. The second series aired on Fridays at 10pm...
. - Featured in ITV "prank show" Celebrity Stitch Up in which Hewitt was "arrested" by two actors pretending to be policemen. Accusing Hewitt of using live firearms, they proceeded to have him fire paintball guns planted in the car. The arresting officer declared that this was a prime case of "Guns, Birds, and Hewitt" and he was released without charge.