Prince Harry's recently published memoir Spare has become the fastest-selling non-fiction book ever, after its release in the UK on January 10. Packed with fascinating royal tidbits, scandals and shocking revelations aplenty, it has covered everything from Princess Diana's death and Prince Harry's ongoing tumultuous relationship with his brother William, through to his experimentation with drugs and the difficulties that he and his wife Meghan Markle faced as part of 'The Firm'.
Among the autobiography's most surprising revelations, however, is the fact that Prince Harry confirms he is not only aware of the rumours that have been circulating for decades about who his 'real father is', but has also decided to put them to bed once and for all – all the while, sharing details about his father King Charles too.
On old rumours that he is in fact the child of Princess Diana's former lover James Hewitt, Prince Harry recounts that his father was often the first to joke about it.
'Pa liked telling stories, and this was one of the best in his repertoire,' he writes in Spare, recalling that his father would say, '"Who knows if I'm really the Prince of Wales? Who knows if I'm even your real father? Maybe your real father is in Broadmoor, darling boy!"'
It was 'a remarkably unfunny joke, given the rumour circulating just then that my actual father was one of Mummy's former lovers: Major James Hewitt,' writes the Prince.
'One cause of this rumour was Major Hewitt's flaming ginger hair, but another cause was sadism,' Harry continues. 'Tabloid readers were delighted by the idea that the younger child of Prince Charles wasn't the child of Prince Charles. They couldn't get enough of this "joke," for some reason. Maybe it made them feel better about their lives that a young prince's life was laughable.'
Spare: by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex
Prince Harry then goes on to set the record straight: 'Never mind that my mother didn't meet Major Hewitt until long after I was born, the story was simply too good to drop.'
Clementina Jackson is the Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan and Women’s Health UK, covering everything from celebrity style and catwalk trends to buzzy brands and the cult products you need to know about (and shop before they sell out). She also commissions first-person and long-form fashion features, oversees shopping content and tests out the latest industry innovations. Clementina previously worked as Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, during which time she profiled high-end designers, interviewed everyone from Priyanka Chopra to Jane Fonda, and launched the Cut To Size franchise to shine a light on size-inclusive fashion. During this time, she was also named as a PPA 30 Under 30 award winner. Having worked in journalism for more than six years, Clementina has also written for the likes of Harper’s Bazaar, Red, Vanity Fair, Condé Nast Traveller and Italy Segreta, covering everything from luxury travel, lifestyle and restaurants to photography and interiors.
