James Hewitt: Rise, Fall, And Where He Is Now

Major James Hewitt remains one of the most polarizing figures in modern British royal history. Best known for his five-year affair with Diana, Princess of Wales, during the late 1980s, his trajectory shifted from a prestigious career as a British Army cavalry officer to tabloid infamy. Today, he lives a quiet, low-profile life in the English countryside, far removed from the media spotlight that defined much of his adult life.

Understanding Hewitt's story requires looking beyond the sensational headlines. From his early military service and deployment in the Gulf War to the explosive public unravelling of his private life, his journey offers a stark look at the cost of royal proximity. This comprehensive profile examines his rise, his fall from grace, and his current reality.

Early Life and Military Career

Born in Northern Ireland in 1958, James Lifford Hewitt followed a traditional path for someone of his background. He attended Millfield School before entering the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Commissioned into the Life Guards of the British Army in April 1978, he built a steady early career as a cavalry officer, rising through the ranks to captain.

By all accounts, Hewitt was a competent and active service member. In 1991, he served as a Challenger tank squadron commander during the Gulf War, earning a mention in despatches for his operational service. However, his military ambitions hit a ceiling when he failed promotion exams for the rank of major multiple times. He retired from the British Army in March 1994 after 17 years of service, a departure that coincided with the shifting tides of his personal life.

The Affair with Princess Diana

Hewitt's life changed forever in 1986 when he met Diana, Princess of Wales. As a cavalry officer, he was asked to give her riding lessons. What began as a professional acquaintance developed into a romantic relationship that lasted roughly five years.

At the time, both Diana and then-Prince Charles were navigating an increasingly fractured marriage. The relationship remained an open secret within tight upper-class circles until it burst into the public consciousness after Hewitt left the military. In 1994, author Anna Pasternak published Princess in Love, a book heavily reliant on cooperation from Hewitt detailing the affair.

The public fallout was immediate and brutal. For the British establishment and the royal family, the disclosures were a severe breach of protocol and discretion. Hewitt became public enemy number one in the tabloid press, branded as a cad who had capitalized on his intimate association with the most famous woman in the world.

Post-Military Ventures and Public Struggles

Stripped of the protective bubble of military life and facing intense public scrutiny, Hewitt attempted various commercial ventures with mixed success. In the mid-1990s, he opened a golf driving range, which failed to gain long-term traction. He later moved to Spain, where he managed a bar named The Polo House on Marbella’s Golden Mile.

While the bar provided a temporary sanctuary under the Mediterranean sun, it eventually closed in 2013, prompting his return to the United Kingdom. His post-military years were also punctuated by occasional, often ill-advised media appearances. In 2006, he participated in The X Factor: Battle of the Stars, a reality television show, which critics viewed as a desperate bid for cash and relevance.

Financial pressures mounted, and legal troubles followed. In 2004, he was arrested for possession of cocaine, a conviction that further damaged his public standing and led to the revocation of his firearms licenses due to police concerns.

Health Crises and Turning Point

Life took a severe physical toll in May 2017, when Hewitt suffered a sudden heart attack and a stroke. Admitted to a hospital in a critical condition, he spent weeks fighting for his life.

Fortunately, he made a steady recovery and was discharged to recuperate. This near-death experience served as a sobering turning point, prompting him to retreat even further from public view and adopt an exceptionally low-key lifestyle.

Where Is James Hewitt Now?

Today, James Hewitt lives a quiet, remarkably ordinary life in the English countryside. Following his return from Spain and his health recovery, he moved into a two-bedroom flat within a 17th-century manor house near Exeter, living alongside his mother.

Far removed from his days of high society and media notoriety, Hewitt has embraced manual labor. He has been reported working as a local gardener, earning a modest income while tending to private estates and grounds. Neighbors and local reporters have described him as a polite, solitary figure who keeps to himself, drives an older vehicle, and avoids the cameras entirely.

Public interest occasionally flares up, particularly driven by persistent online conspiracy theories regarding royal lineage, but these claims have been repeatedly debunked by royal protection officers and chronological facts. Hewitt remains a quiet footnote to an extraordinary era in British history, having traded the turbulent heights of royal scandal for quiet anonymity.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did James Hewitt and Princess Diana meet?

They met in 1986 when Hewitt, then a cavalry officer in the British Army, was introduced to Diana to give her riding lessons. Their affair lasted for approximately five years before ending prior to Diana's formal separation from Prince Charles.

What was James Hewitt's military rank?

Hewitt served in the British Army for 17 years and retired with the rank of captain in 1994. The honorary rank of major was later conferred upon him in retirement, in line with common army administrative practices.

Is James Hewitt still alive?

Yes. Despite occasional internet hoaxes and unverified tabloid rumors claiming otherwise over the years, Hewitt is alive and resides quietly in the United Kingdom following his recovery from a stroke and heart attack in 2017.

Where does James Hewitt work now?

Hewitt has stepped away from business ventures like his former Marbella bar. In recent years, he has earned a living working discreetly as a gardener in southwest England.