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CNN Larry King Live
Interview With James Hewitt
Aired January 08, 2003 - 21:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LARRY KING, HOST: Tonight exclusive, James Hewitt, Princes Diana's former lover. She said she adored him. Now there is word he may sell the love letters that she hand wrote to him. We'll get into that and whole lot more with your phone calls. Princess Diana's former lover James Hewitt, here and only here for the hour. Next on LARRY KING LIVE.
KING: A pleasure to welcome James Hewitt to LARRY KING LIVE tonight. He is the former lover of Princess Diana, former British army officer, cooperated in the writing of the book, 1994 "Princess in Love." He wrote a 1999 biography "Love and War" about his affair with Diana and service during the Gulf War.
What did you do during the war?
JAMES HEWITT, PRINCESS DIANA'S FORMER LOVER: I was a tank squadron leader with the British army. And we led the British advance into Iraq and then back into Kuwait.
KING: Many Brits.
HEWITT: There were. I can't remember exactly. Basically two brigades, a division there, but two battle brigades. Armor heavy.
KING: Were you part of the thinking that said you wanted to go further into Iraq?
HEWITT: Further into Kuwait?
KING: Yes. Well and then further into Iraq when the war was won and we stopped?
HEWITT: Well, I mean, I've been asked that question many times before, actually, Larry, and what we did was achieve the mandate which was to liberate Kuwait. Had we done anything more than that, we would have had to get back to the United Nations to get another mandate.
KING: How long did you serve on the tank force?
HEWITT: I was in the army for 17 years.
KING: When and where did you meet Princess Di?
HEWITT: The first time I met Diana was at a polo match at Tidworth, just before she got married. A long, long time ago. KING: Did you exchange pleasantries and what happened at that meeting?
HEWITT: Yes. Just said hello and that's about it.
KING: And then the next time when?
HEWITT: The next time was at Buckingham Palace. I was...
KING: She was now married.
HEWITT: She was now married and I was working in London as a staff captain, organizing ceremonial...
KING: Still in service then?
HEWITT: Still in service, yes. This was about '85, I think.
KING: When did the -- for want of a better term, when did the romance begin?
HEWITT: I should think about six or seven months after that. I can't remember exactly. The dates. But about that.
KING: How did it begin?
HEWITT: Well, I was her riding instructor. She -- we met again at her drinks party. And she showed an interest to want to learn it ride again. She lost her -- she lost her love as a child, and discovered that I was a riding instructor. And asked me if I would take her in hand and get her confidence back again.
KING: Were you married, James?
No, I haven't been married.
KING: Never married?
HEWITT: No.
KING: At the time that this spark took place, what was that -- was it her first, you first, together? How does something like that...
HEWITT: Think it is a mutual thing really. Yes. It is a...
KING: Did you ever say to yourself, this is a princess? She's married to what could be the next king? I'm stepping into trouble?
HEWITT: Yes, I did. But what was foremost in my mind was the fact that she was a lonely, unloved woman who needed company and friendship and love at a very important time in her life. And rightly or wrongly I was there to provide that as well.
KING: Did you love her?
HEWITT: Yes, very much.
KING: Would you if she had left Charles, would you have married her? Was it that kind of love? Was it deep?
HEWITT: Yes, it was deep and meaningful. And -- but so much happened after. It is difficult to say. At some stages, I suppose there was always that possibility.
KING: How long had the relationship last?
HEWITT: Five years.
KING: What ended it?
HEWITT: I think the media interest and the difficulties that go along with that.
KING: They found out?
HEWITT: They found out in the end.
KING: She was still married when they found out or had divorce taken place?
HEWITT: No, she was still married when they found out.
KING: What happened to you when that news broke?
HEWITT: When -- the first inclination when it first became public, I was still in the Gulf, and the war had just finished. And we were sitting in a -- under a sand dune waiting to be taken out of the desert, and someone showed me a newspaper with the details in it. So that's the first time.
KING: You're out in the desert, the end of a war, reading the details of a private relationship that you've had with one of the most famous women in the world?
HEWITT: Yes.
KING: First reaction?
HEWITT: Well, shock. And worry. That was my first reaction.
KING: What were the reaction of your compatriots in the service?
HEWITT: Probably shock as well.
KING: Were they -- there must have been shock.
HEWITT: There was shock. There was a huge amount of support. We had just gone through what was meant to be the mother of all battles, and had success. And it was rather nice to be amongst people of your own sort of attitude.
KING: They commiserated. HEWITT: There wasn't anything to commiserate at that stage. But they were very supportive and wonderful sort of camaraderie.
KING: The affair was over already, though, right?
HEWITT: The war just finished, yes.
KING: And the affair had finished?
HEWITT: No, no, no.
KING: The story finished at affair.
HEWITT: I think that was the beginning of the end if you like.
KING: Did you see her after the story broke?
HEWITT: Yes.
KING: Paul Burrell, when he was here, said he had a cover for you many times. Is that true? That he was sort of like -- he knew what was going on?
HEWITT: He did know what was going on. And I think, you know, he was very helpful and very discreet at the time and very professional to his job. I'm grateful for that.
KING: What did you love about her the most?
HEWITT: I'm sorry?
KING: What did you love about her the most?
HEWITT: She was beautiful, charming, sense of humor, kind, very kind, sincere.
KING: Very sensual, sexual?
HEWITT: I'm not really going to go into that in great detail. But she was a very loving person.
KING: All right. How did the letter writing, which is the purpose of you being here, we'll discuss that, how did that start in a day and age of electronic mail?
HEWITT: Well, the letters -- the famous letters that have become famous really comprise of a number of air mail letters that people can send to soldiers in the front line.
KING: Most of them was when you were in service?
HEWITT: Yes, I mean, the ones that we're talking about.
KING: Right you couldn't see her.
HEWITT: I couldn't see her. And the wonderful thing is that there was a great effort made to get mail and that sort of thing to people on the front line. And it made an awful lot of difference. It is extremely good for morale.
KING: Did you write letters to her?
HEWITT: Yes, I did.
KING: The princess writes a letter, posts it and finds its way to you and you write a letter to -- how did you address it? Princess Di, I love you?
HEWITT: She addressed her letters to me. Care of British forces post office box number. I can't quite remember the number. I should. And she -- you have to put the sender's name on the back and she used a nondeplume. And my letters were addressed to her with my initials in the bottom left-hand corner of the envelope.
KING: Didn't she get tons of mail?
HEWITT: Probably, yes.
KING: She had to go through it and find yours?
HEWITT: Yes, but I mean, but if you send mail, it goes to her office. And if the initials are recognized, they get sent to her and not opened by anyone else.
KING: Well Right back with James Hewitt, the former lover of princess Diana. We'll talk about the letters, what he intends to do with them. How the news of the world, a tabloid in London sort of snookered him in a sense and we'll take your calls as well. Don't go away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HEWITT: How much I loved and admired Diana. And it is a time when she seemed to have found a certain and deserved happiness in her life which has been so tragically and undeservedly taken away from her. I loved her and will miss her terribly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "PANORAMA")
DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES: And he had rung me up 10 days where before it was to arrive. And the bookstores told me there was nothing to worry about. And I believed him, stupidly.
And then when it did arrive, the first thing I did was rush down to talk to my children and William produced a box of chocolates and said, Mommy, I think you've been hurt. These are to make you smile again. So...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did your relationship go beyond a close friendship?
DIANA: Yes, it did. Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Were you unfaithful?
DIANA: Yes, I had adored him. Yes, I was in love with him. But I was very let down.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: That was Princess Di in a BBC interview on a program called "Panorama." Did you watch that show?
HEWITT: I did watch it, yes.
KING: How did you feel?
HEWITT: I didn't know it was coming out until the last moment. I remember being in Devon, in my house in Devon and I watched it and -- I don't know. I can't remember exactly how I felt. I know there were a lot of people outside my house at the time ready to sort of try and...
KING: How did you let her down?
HEWITT: I let her down, I think, when I moved to Germany. I wasn't there...
KING: Available.
HEWITT: I wasn't there for her anymore.
KING: You ended the relationship?
HEWITT: I didn't really, I don't think. But I made a decision to move to Germany with my regiment and the army and...
KING: She certainly perceived it that way.
HEWITT: Well, yes, I think, you know, I mean -- in any relationship, when there is a falling out or disagreement, it can be perceived to be hurtful and one is not there for the other person.
KING: Now we have entrance of the tabloid "News of the World" with its December 15 headline -- screaming front page headline "Exclusive: We Catch Rat Flogging Secret Notes: Hewitt Sells Sex Letters."
Quoting from the story "He," meaning you, James Hewitt, "had already rejected a 4 million pound offer from an American collector for just 10 of the most salacious of his 64 letters when our undercover investigator stepped in. Our team posed as middle men for a Swiss tycoon with a better offer, collected evidence that finally exposes what a degenerate Hewitt has become.
Just yesterday morning, December 14, he told one of our men at a meeting in London's Claridges Hotel, 'I want 10 million pounds for the lot of them.' For that he was prepared to reveal Diana's nicknames for their private parts and the sex toys she sent to him in Kuwait and fantasies they shared."
Your chance now to respond to that.
HEWITT: I think it's almost laughable, to be honest. Had it not been for the fact that the letters were stolen from my safe at my home in Devon.
KING: Stolen by this newspaper?
HEWITT: They weren't, actually. They were stolen by "The Mirror."
KING: Another paper?
HEWITT: Another paper a few years ago. They would have remained absolutely private.
KING: You had no intention of...
HEWITT: I had no intention at all.
KING: How did "The News of the World" get this story? Where did they -- where did this come from that you had rejected an offer of four million pounds?
HEWITT: Well, I had no intention to sell these letters. But I was approached by someone who offered 5 million pounds for 10 letters. And I was interested to see if that would be a genuine offer. I mean, it's a lot of money. And sadly the letters have become famous. And that's how it has all -- that's how it's been.
KING: And what about their story that you said you could get 10 million for them?
HEWITT: Well, that is not absolutely accurate. So -- and basically, yes, it was a sting.
KING: They set you up.
HEWITT: Someone posed as a private collector. And had they been going to someone who would keep them private, I might well have been tempted to take that sort of money for them.
KING: So their story is...
HEWITT: It was difficult to keep them safe. And quite honestly, I couldn't afford to keep them anymore.
KING: Where are they now?
HEWITT: Well, they're in a safe place abroad.
KING: And are they for sale? Will you sell them? If someone is looking at tonight, with that kind of money who wants to by them, are you available to sell them? Do you want to sell them?
HEWITT: Yes, I would be available to sell them.
KING: And the purchaser can do whatever he wishes or he or she wishes? They could print them...
HEWITT: No, I wouldn't suggest that.
KING: Would you stipulate that they could not be shown?
HEWITT: Yes. There would be certain stipulations. I mean, ideally I think it would be to a private collector or a museum. I mean, I think that it's important to understand that they are or will become important historical documents.
KING: Oh, they will. But a museum would want to display them, wouldn't they?
HEWITT: Well, eventually, yes. Eventually. And I think that's quite important. I think it would be irresponsible to destroy them. But I'm open to suggestions, you know.
KING: Have people contacted you?
HEWITT: I was contacted before, awhile back and...
KING: But not recently?
HEWITT: Not recently, no.
KING: How does someone contact you?
HEWITT: Well, I'm -- you know, I'm fairly easy to contact.
KING: You are? You're not hard to reach.
HEWITT: I'm not hard to reach.
KING: We'll take a break and be back with more of James Hewitt. We'll be taking your phone calls. We'll get into other aspects and more on this really fascinating story, a story of a Princess Di, the story that never goes away, does it?
We'll be right back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "PANORAMA")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Another book that was published recently concerned a Mr. James Hewitt, in which he claimed to have had a very close relationship with you from about 1989, I think. What was the nature of your relationship?
DIANA: He was a great friend of mine at a very difficult time -- yet another difficult time. And he was always there to support me. And I was just absolutely devastated when this book appeared because I had trusted him. And because, again, I worried about the reaction on my children. I knew there was factual evidence in the book but a lot of it was -- comes from another world. Didn't equate to what happened.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you mean?
DIANA: Well, there was a lot of fantasy in that book. And it was very distressing for me that a friend of mine who I had trusted made money out of me. I really minded about that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: We're back with James Hewitt. We'll go to your calls at the bottom of the hour. Paul Burrell, the former butler to Princess Di, and Sarah, last night, the Duchess of York, were guests and had comments about Mr. Hewitt. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL BURRELL, PRINCESS DIANA: I always liked James Hewitt. I thought he was a very nice man. Never expected him do that. But how disgusting for another human being to actually do that to another. What is between two people and is very personal and private and love is the most precious thing.
SARAH FERGUSON, DUCHESS OF YORK: I think it is very interesting that he just before I came on this show called up and said would I like to have a drink with him. Don't you think that's funny? I mean, the answer is no, James, I don't want to have a drink with you. If I did, it would probably end up in the newspaper the next day.
KING: What do you think of that whole thing of the letters and...
FERGUSON: I think he should just be quiet and go away and, you know, betrayal, is I think, is the most horrible, horrible thing you can do to anyone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Your response?
HEWITT: To what?
KING: To both those statements? Do you feel it is betrayal and Mr. Burrell is shocked.
HEWITT: I don't know what he's shocked about. I have never betrayed...
KING: I guess he feels the selling of the letters is a betrayal of the utmost of confidence, the writing of a letter.
HEWITT: Well, I don't think it is. There is nothing to be ashamed about in those letters at all. As I suggested earlier that important historical documents and they should be preserved for the future. And I don't think that I've betrayed -- I was utterly faithful to her when she was alive. I've been utterly faithful since she sadly is no long we are us.
KING: Are you hurt that people like this feel that way about you?
HEWITT: In a way, yes. It is not some of the epithets are not nice. But, you know, mostly it is ill informed, I think. You know if you haven't got something nice to say about someone, then don't bother saying it. The sad thing is that, you know, last time I saw Sarah Ferguson she came bounding up to me in a hotel in London and was very friendly.
I thought it was just only good manners since we're in the same city abroad that I should ask her for a drink. It's sad that she should feel fit to reply to that private invitation on publicly on air. That's all. I'm not here to try and carry favor or -- I've got nothing to promote. I don't need to be a popular figure.
KING: You realize that you're in a position where you're not going to be a popular figure.
HEWITT: I think no matter what I say, you know, I realize that for a long time.
KING: You also wrote a book, too, right?
HEWITT: I wrote a book called "Love and War," yes. That was about me.
KING: Did you ever think in some ways...
HEWITT: But can I just sort of go back there? So have many other people written books? Am I the only person in the world not allowed to write a book about myself? I mean, I think that most of this hate and vilification is generated by the tabloid papers. Who need someone to paint as a baddy because every good story needs a baddy. Unfortunately I'm that person.
KING: Well, I guess if you announced tonight that you were donating these letters to the British museum and that 100 years from today they could put them on display when all of us are not here, they would have to praise you so they're taking advantage of the...
HEWITT: I don't want to be praised either, particularly, Larry. I just want to be accepted for what I am in a sensible way rather than for people to have to rely on the tabloid nonsense to learn either the wrong or the right things about me. That's all. And that may well happen. You know.
KING: Why don't you contact the person who offered the 4 million pounds, take that deal and let it all go away?
HEWITT: So, you're suggesting that's a good idea? KING: I mean if you want to get it offer with, you want to get probably the letters are almost a curse having them, obviously it is public, everyone knows about the letters you do want to sell them, you need the money you want -- it is a lot of money.
HEWITT: Yes, I mean, that is another option. I mean, you know, you put two options in front of me. And both of them seem to be utterly sensible.
KING: The British museum makes sense.
HEWITT: The British museum or 4 million pounds. A lot of good can be done with that rather for them to sit and rot in a safe somewhere. I think it would be irresponsible to sell them and generate something that one can do some good with. I don't know. But the other interesting thing is I think most people who would -- who find themselves in the same situation would do what I suggested.
I'm not being hypocritical about this. I'm being honest. I think that's the best policy. I mean, you know, if they were sold for 10 million pounds, I think, you know, ask your peers who wouldn't be inclined to sell them for that?
KING: Everyone would read them. I mean, if whoever bought them published them, this would be one of the best-selling books of all time.
HEWITT: Well, I could have done that and I don't want to.
KING: You could have done it.
HEWITT: Everything, you know, that I've written and have spoken about has been, I think, been decent and fair in her memory.
KING: Let me get a break and we'll come back and include viewer calls.
Our guest is James Hewitt, former British Army officer, the former lover of Princess Diana. He's here with us. Having flown in from London for his appearance.
Tomorrow night, Jermaine Jackson one of the original Jacksons will be aboard.
And on Saturday Night, a special edition of LARRY KING WEEKEND, Sean Penn, in his only interview to discuss his trip to Iraq. Sean Penn on Saturday.
Right back with Mr. Hewitt and your calls. Don't go away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: We're back with James Hewitt, who owns the -- who has in his possession these incredible letters. I am told by the staff, I had no knowledge of this, that they're looking -- the tabloids are suddenly looking to get a lock of Harry's hair and they're going try to take that hair to check with DNA to see if you're the father.
Have you ever thought you were the father of Harry?
HEWITT: I mean, this is unbelievably...
KING: Tell me about this.
HEWITT: Well, I think it is just ghastly and selfish of the tabloids who, again, are running this story to make money.
KING: You know you're not Harry's father?
HEWITT: Well, I think the poor chap has gone through enough. It's been suggested before and I said many times I'm not. And I think it's just laughable. I think we put too much on listening to these stupid stories and reading these stupid stories.
KING: Princess Diana had an affair before you, did she not?
HEWITT: I can't comment.
KING: Did she ever tell you that she had one?
HEWITT: I'm not going to comment about that.
KING: Let's go to calls.
Burlington, Ontario, for James Hewitt, hello.
CALLER: Hello. Good evening, gentleman.
KING: Hi,.
CALLER: I just had a question for Mr. Hewitt. I'm a little bit confused with some of his statements. He states that he loved the princess and in life and respected her in life, but yet he published a book with intimate details of their relationship before she died, while she was living and knowing that she would be publicly humiliated and embarrassed by this publication.
He states that after her death he continued to respect that and has continued to be faithful. Yet he's considering selling these letters, not donating them as you said, Larry, and not donating the income perhaps to a charity who can do considerable amount of good, but rather pocketing the money.
I'm also confused by his definition of the horrible values of the tabloids. It seems that he's making the tabloids accountable for their behavior, but I wonder what he would define as accountability on his part?
KING: OK. Fairly stated. Want to respond?
HEWITT: That was quite long. Thank you for your question. Where do I start?
KING: Well, she said you wrote a book.
HEWITT: Right. No...
KING: While Diana was alive.
HEWITT: No, I didn't publish a book. That was unfair and inaccurate to suggest that. I didn't.
KING: There was a book then written by someone else?
HEWITT: Yes, written by Anna Pasternak. And I did have a certain amount to do with it. I do regret that. I was asked by Diana to speak to journalists around the time of her divorce with Charles to try and paint a rather anodyne picture of our relationship and it didn't work. It backfired. It was a silly thing to do and I do regret that. And I have stated that.
And in my book, "Love and War" and have covered that.
KING: And you in no way -- you don't look at the selling of the letters as a -- in a sense, put-down of her or a treatment of her...
HEWITT: Well, the question of -- it presupposes I would pocket all the money. And I think that's an unfair accusation...
KING: All right. What would you do?
HEWITT: I don't know at the moment. All I'm really saying to you, Larry, and to everyone out there is that I'm not going to be hypocritical. Yes, I was interested when someone offered me a large sum of money.
KING: And you would be interested if you got an offer tomorrow?
HEWITT: Yes, I would be.
KING: But what you will do with the money you will not say?
HEWITT: An awful lot of good can be done with that money.
KING: And you will do a lot of good with the money?
HEWITT: Yes.
KING: Chicago, hello. Chicago, hello.
CALLER: Yes.
KING: Go ahead.
CALLER: Hello, Larry.
KING: HI,
Hello, Mr. Hewitt.
HEWITT: Hello.
CALLER: The shock of Diana's death was one of those rare tragedies that makes us remember where we were when we heard this news. May I ask you, Mr. Hewitt, where you were and how you received this news?
HEWITT: Yes, I was in Spain on a holiday at the time in the south of Spain. And...
KING: How did you hear?
HEWITT: Well, it -- was about 10:00 in the morning, Sunday morning that I heard. I was about to go down to the beach with a group of friends of mine and have lunch and then swim. And went back, strange enough to get my mobile phone or to see if I had any messages. And I turned it on and I heard a huge amount of messages. And the first one was from a great friend of mine, calling (ph) from McKenzie Hill and he gave me the news.
KING: I guess it is impossible to describe -- you know, your first reaction was shock.
HEWITT: Just shocked -- shocked and saddened, yes.
KING: Did you attend the funeral?
HEWITT: No, I did not.
KING: Transfer, Pennsylvania, hello.
CALLER: Yes, hi, Mr. Hewitt.
HEWITT: Hello.
CALLER: Most of us never had the opportunity to know the true Princess Diana. Even though we read the books and they're all out there. We never have known her the way you did.
In your opinion, had Princess Diana never married Prince Charles, what would her life had been like and would she still -- do you think she would have donated her time to the charities and would you still have been attracted to her?
KING: All these are hypothetics, but they're fair.
HEWITT: Yes, I think -- I mean, she was generally -- genuinely, excuse me, genuinely kind and a caring person. And I think she would have been drawn to serving charities and helping in any way she could, in that respect.
KING: Would she have been a successful person, do you think?
HEWITT: Yes, I think she would have.
KING: Did you or her during this relationship ever feel guilt? Or was she so unhappy that you weren't guilty. HEWITT: Well, yes. And that's a good point. I think that it was assuaged, if you like, the feeling of guilty because had I not been there to support and love and give her the support that she was craving at the time, it would have been a very sad situation for her.
KING: So you didn't sit around each other and have remorse?
HEWITT: No.
KING: By the way, just thought of something, you're in the reserves, aren't you?
HEWITT: I am in the reserve.
KING: You could get called fun action is in Iraq, couldn't you?
HEWITT: I could. It depends how involved it becomes and how...
KING: Would you want to go?
HEWITT: ...prolonged it is. Well, I'd have to go if I was told to. But, I mean, yes, I probably would want to go.
KING: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for James Hewitt, hello.
CALLER: Good evening, Larry, James.
HEWITT: Good evening.
CALLER: I have a two-part question. In the weeks preceding Diana's death, knowing what had transpired between the two of you, how did that make you feel knowing everything was going to come out and, secondly what plans do you have for your future?
HEWITT: I don't quite understand the first part of the question. What plans...
KING: When you knew it was going to -- did you know this story was going to come out? And what was it like...
HEWITT: Which story is that?
KING: The story that you and Diana had an affair. Or you were totally shocked that it came out?
HEWITT: No. Not totally shocked. I mean, it...
KING: I mean, you figured you got away with five years of this, right?
HEWITT: Yes.
KING: You were treading on...
HEWITT: Yes.
KING: ...on ice a little. So you weren't totally shocked.
HEWITT: I wasn't totally shocked. Sorry, I thought the caller was talking about the few moments before her death. I misheard that.
KING: Did you expect her to marry Fayed?
HEWITT: No, I don't think so.
KING: Don't think she would have?
HEWITT: No.
KING: And your own future?
HEWITT: My own future...
KING: Does it depend on the sale of these letters...
HEWITT: Well, no, I don't think it does. I mean, you know, I don't think it does. My future, I'm not quite sure about. I think it is out of -- no, I'm not employed. I'll probably leave England this year and try and start another life elsewhere.
KING: Did you move to Germany previously?
HEWITT: I was a serving officer at that stage. I was placed with my regimen.
KING: Where are you thinking about living?
HEWITT: Somewhere around the Mediterranean, Eastern Europe that sort of --
KING: Des Moines, Iowa, hello.
CALLER: Hello, Larry. Hello, Major Hewitt.
HEWITT: Hello.
CALLER: I love your book "Love And War," and I thought it was very good. It had a lot of very personal information about your military career.
But even with the stipulation you stated earlier in the show about the contents of the letters not being shown, and really no guarantee on that, how do you feel about Diana's sons possibly knowing the contents of these letters, you know, their feelings on this.
KING: Yes.
HEWITT: That's a good question. I mean, the letters are extremely well written. They're very loving and there is no -- and nothing to be ashamed of.
KING: But there are some that are obviously sexual in content.
HEWITT: No I don't think so.
KING: They're not?
HEWITT: I think if they're read, you know, in content...
KING: You not say any of it is salacious?
HEWITT: Absolutely not.
KING: We'll take a break and come back with more calls for James Hewitt. Don't go away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUEEN ELIZABETH II: First, I want to pay tribute to Diana myself. She was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness. I admired and respected her for her energy and commitment to others, and especially for her devotion to her two boys.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: We're back with James Hewitt.
Trenton, Ontario, hello.
CALLER: Hello, Larry.
KING: Hi.
CALLER: It is a question for Mr. Hewitt.
KING: Sure, go ahead.
CALLER: When you think about it now, would you have got involved or would you have walked away?
HEWITT: Well, that's a good -- a very good question. Thank you for that. I try not to regret and I think -- I think it is -- it has been worth all the problems and troubles since then.
KING: Worth it because the relationship was that...
HEWITT: Yes, it was very important and it was very loving. And that's not really the issue. The issue -- I mean, OK, there would have been a certain amount of interest and intrigue, but not the vilification. That was never expected. So I would have made the same decisions for all the same right reasons that I did then.
KING: Now, there has to be, though, logically, James, sensual aspects to the letters or they would not be of great interest in them. This isn't James, I love you, I miss you, good luck on the front. There has to be something that creates this interest. We realize (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the interest, right? You don't have to tell me what it is, but there has to be something beyond hello, James.
HEWITT: Yes.
KING: OK. That's all I wanted to know. Because it is easy to -- people can sit back, but I don't know how everyone would react if they were offered 4 million pounds for something. What they would do.
Tucson, Arizona. Hello.
CALLER: Yes, James Hewitt, since you're willing to let go of the letters, how about using integrity and conscience and give the letters to Diana's dignified sons. And allow them to make the decision or decisions of what to do with the letters, which will be of comfort to them.
HEWITT: Well, that's a very good point and thank you for that. And that's another possibility. As I mentioned before, you know, these were private -- they were kept private. And unknown about until they were stolen from me. They are my property.
KING: Who stole them?
HEWITT: They were stolen from my safe by the mirror.
KING: That's right, the mirror. What did they do with them? They didn't print them?
HEWITT: They printed aspects of them. They are the people who...
KING: Started all this.
HEWITT: These are the people who started all this.
KING: How did you get them back?
HEWITT: I'm not a complete saint, and I accept responsibility for not keeping them more secure.
KING: How did you get them back?
HEWITT: I had to fight for them in the court. My solicitor -- my lawyer issued a high court order to get them back. It took a long time and not a little money either.
KING: Bainbridge, Georgia, hello.
CALLER: Hello, Larry.
Mr. Hewitt, I don't agree with how you've chosen to profit on your relationship with the princess and instead of selling her secrets, why not write a book about her favorite moments and movies or the perfume she wore, things that don't get written about. I'd much rather read about that than what went on between the two of you between the sheets and I know her children would as well.
HEWITT: Well, I agree with you. I haven't written anything of the sort.
KING: You know a lot about her, at the lady said, forget the bed, you know a lot about her. You were her lover for five years. She loved you, you loved her. You know a lot about her.
HEWITT: Yes. I'm not sure that is going to remain with me and I'll take it with me to my grave. When that comes sooner or later. I haven't divulged any secrets. It has been reported that I have but, you know many of these reports are inaccurate, and laughable.
KING: Do people come up to you on the street in London when you walk -- how are you -- how does the public generally react to you?
HEWITT: Very well.
KING: They do?
HEWITT: Yes. I mean, yes. I mean, all this is complete and utter fabrication, really on the part of the tabloid press in England.
(CROSSTALK)
KING: This is not invented by them. "The Mirror" there were the letters, they did a terrible thing in the way they took them, and the news of the world sand bagged you but you did say those things.
HEWITT: I didn't say all those things.
KING: You didn't say the 10 million pound thing.
HEWITT: I didn't say all those things. Bits of it are accurate. Much of it is inaccurate.
KING: Parts are inaccurate.
HEWITT: So, I wouldn't, you know, I wouldn't want the tabloids to write history.
KING: No. Garden City, Michigan, hello.
CALLER: I just have a question for Mr. Hewitt. I love the royal family so much. Has he ever received Diana's grave?
KING: Have you ever been to Diana's grave?
HEWITT: No I haven't.
KING: Reason?
HEWITT: I don't think I would be welcome.
KING: Can't you go as a citizen?
HEWITT: I don't think it would be that easy to do.
KING: And it would make the tabloids? HEWITT: Well, I try not to be governed by the tabloids. I'm not really bothered about that, but I think it wouldn't be that appropriate.
KING: By the way, would you come back from Spain after learning of her death?
HEWITT: Yes, I flew back right away.
KING: We'll be back with our remaining moments with James Hewitt after these words.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: We're back with James Hewitt. Yonkers, New York. Hello.
CALLER: Hi. This question is for Hewitt. James Hewitt, sorry. Did you ever get a chance to explain to Diana why you wrote the book she was so devastated over and, also what is it like having such secretive relationship for five years?
KING: Two good questions.
HEWITT: I did speak to her before that book went out. I tried to stop the publication of it. I begged with the author that it shouldn't be put out. But it was. And...
KING: Is that your book?
HEWITT: No.
KING: The book about...
HEWITT: No I wrote a book about myself after she had died.
KING: What was it like to have a five-year secret?
HEWITT: Pretty difficult.
KING: Was Paul Burrell one of the few people who knew about it?
HEWITT: Yes. I still don't know the extent of who knew about it.
KING: Did you confide in anyone?
HEWITT: Yes, I did. My family because we used to go down down to my family home in Devon.
KING: Your parents?
HEWITT: My parents knew about it. And my sisters. And they became very good friends. But it wasn't -- it wasn't easy t wasn't easy on a personal level. Having a relationship at a distance.
KING: No. Manassas, Virginia, hello. CALLER: Good evening, Larry. Good evening, Mr. Hewitt. I would like to ask you since you seem determined to sell the late princess of Wales' very personal, private letters to you, would you consider giving the money to the clearing of the land mines that were so dear to her heart?
HEWITT: Yes, I would consider helping with that organization.
KING: Phoenix, Arizona. Hello?
CALLER: Hi, Mr. Hewitt. I was wondering what was your favorite memory of you and the princess together?
KING: Couldn't be public.
HEWITT: No. No. It wasn't public. I just remember her as being very caring, loving and a special person. And very honored to share that with her.
KING: Sarah said last night that one of the things that probably least known about her is how funny she was. True?
HEWITT: Yes. This he did have a very good sense of humor.
KING: To Vancouver, British Columbia, hello.
CALLER: Hello, Mr. Hewitt.
HEWITT: Hello.
CALLER: I think that considering all the other players, you had a little bit of a bad rap. And I was wondering if you had any support from your family and friends?
HEWITT: I'm very lucky. Thank you for that question. I've been -- I'm very lucky. I have a very loving and close family. And I have superb friends, too.
KING: In society, are you a pariah?
HEWITT: Not really a society person.
KING: You don't get invited to the parties that the in-Londoner gets invited to?
HEWITT: I do get invited to parties, yes.
KING: You do?
HEWITT: How in they are I don't know. But I do. I do. I mean -- I live fairly normally surprisingly.
KING: How do you support yourself?
HEWITT: Financially, you mean?
KING: Yes?
HEWITT: I have investments. And...
KING: Army pension?
HEWITT: I do have an army pension. I do, yes.
KING: All of this -- are you -- are you unhappy?
HEWITT: No. I have my downs as well as anybody else. But I'm generally an optimistic and happy person.
KING: Glass is half full?
HEWITT: I tend to look at it like that, yes.
KING: Thanks, James.
HEWITT: Thank you very much, indeed.
KING: Thank you for coming. James Hewitt.
We'll be back in a minute to talk with Aaron Brown about a great lady who passed away today and about what is coming up on LARRY KING LIVE. Don't go away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: Tomorrow night on LARRY KING LIVE, Sarah McClendon joins us. And don't forget -- sorry. Jermaine Jackson will join us. I'm going to talk about Sarah in minute. Jermaine Jackson tomorrow night. And on Saturday night, Sean Penn for first interview ever that he's had discussing Iraq.
I said Sarah McClendon. God, I wish she would be joining us tomorrow night. She left us today, Sarah McClendon passed away at age 91. One of great journalists, terrific lady, had an opportunity to interview her a number of times and always great just being in her presence.
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Aired January 8, 2003 - 21:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LARRY KING, HOST: Tonight exclusive, James Hewitt, Princes Diana's former lover. She said she adored him. Now there is word he may sell the love letters that she hand wrote to him. We'll get into that and whole lot more with your phone calls. Princess Diana's former lover James Hewitt, here and only here for the hour. Next on LARRY KING LIVE.
KING: A pleasure to welcome James Hewitt to LARRY KING LIVE tonight. He is the former lover of Princess Diana, former British army officer, cooperated in the writing of the book, 1994 "Princess in Love." He wrote a 1999 biography "Love and War" about his affair with Diana and service during the Gulf War.
What did you do during the war?
JAMES HEWITT, PRINCESS DIANA'S FORMER LOVER: I was a tank squadron leader with the British army. And we led the British advance into Iraq and then back into Kuwait.
KING: Many Brits.
HEWITT: There were. I can't remember exactly. Basically two brigades, a division there, but two battle brigades. Armor heavy.
KING: Were you part of the thinking that said you wanted to go further into Iraq?
HEWITT: Further into Kuwait?
KING: Yes. Well and then further into Iraq when the war was won and we stopped?
HEWITT: Well, I mean, I've been asked that question many times before, actually, Larry, and what we did was achieve the mandate which was to liberate Kuwait. Had we done anything more than that, we would have had to get back to the United Nations to get another mandate.
KING: How long did you serve on the tank force?
HEWITT: I was in the army for 17 years.
KING: When and where did you meet Princess Di?
HEWITT: The first time I met Diana was at a polo match at Tidworth, just before she got married. A long, long time ago. KING: Did you exchange pleasantries and what happened at that meeting?
HEWITT: Yes. Just said hello and that's about it.
KING: And then the next time when?
HEWITT: The next time was at Buckingham Palace. I was...
KING: She was now married.
HEWITT: She was now married and I was working in London as a staff captain, organizing ceremonial...
KING: Still in service then?
HEWITT: Still in service, yes. This was about '85, I think.
KING: When did the -- for want of a better term, when did the romance begin?
HEWITT: I should think about six or seven months after that. I can't remember exactly. The dates. But about that.
KING: How did it begin?
HEWITT: Well, I was her riding instructor. She -- we met again at her drinks party. And she showed an interest to want to learn it ride again. She lost her -- she lost her love as a child, and discovered that I was a riding instructor. And asked me if I would take her in hand and get her confidence back again.
KING: Were you married, James?
No, I haven't been married.
KING: Never married?
HEWITT: No.
KING: At the time that this spark took place, what was that -- was it her first, you first, together? How does something like that...
HEWITT: Think it is a mutual thing really. Yes. It is a...
KING: Did you ever say to yourself, this is a princess? She's married to what could be the next king? I'm stepping into trouble?
HEWITT: Yes, I did. But what was foremost in my mind was the fact that she was a lonely, unloved woman who needed company and friendship and love at a very important time in her life. And rightly or wrongly I was there to provide that as well.
KING: Did you love her?
HEWITT: Yes, very much.
KING: Would you if she had left Charles, would you have married her? Was it that kind of love? Was it deep?
HEWITT: Yes, it was deep and meaningful. And -- but so much happened after. It is difficult to say. At some stages, I suppose there was always that possibility.
KING: How long had the relationship last?
HEWITT: Five years.
KING: What ended it?
HEWITT: I think the media interest and the difficulties that go along with that.
KING: They found out?
HEWITT: They found out in the end.
KING: She was still married when they found out or had divorce taken place?
HEWITT: No, she was still married when they found out.
KING: What happened to you when that news broke?
HEWITT: When -- the first inclination when it first became public, I was still in the Gulf, and the war had just finished. And we were sitting in a -- under a sand dune waiting to be taken out of the desert, and someone showed me a newspaper with the details in it. So that's the first time.
KING: You're out in the desert, the end of a war, reading the details of a private relationship that you've had with one of the most famous women in the world?
HEWITT: Yes.
KING: First reaction?
HEWITT: Well, shock. And worry. That was my first reaction.
KING: What were the reaction of your compatriots in the service?
HEWITT: Probably shock as well.
KING: Were they -- there must have been shock.
HEWITT: There was shock. There was a huge amount of support. We had just gone through what was meant to be the mother of all battles, and had success. And it was rather nice to be amongst people of your own sort of attitude.
KING: They commiserated. HEWITT: There wasn't anything to commiserate at that stage. But they were very supportive and wonderful sort of camaraderie.
KING: The affair was over already, though, right?
HEWITT: The war just finished, yes.
KING: And the affair had finished?
HEWITT: No, no, no.
KING: The story finished at affair.
HEWITT: I think that was the beginning of the end if you like.
KING: Did you see her after the story broke?
HEWITT: Yes.
KING: Paul Burrell, when he was here, said he had a cover for you many times. Is that true? That he was sort of like -- he knew what was going on?
HEWITT: He did know what was going on. And I think, you know, he was very helpful and very discreet at the time and very professional to his job. I'm grateful for that.
KING: What did you love about her the most?
HEWITT: I'm sorry?
KING: What did you love about her the most?
HEWITT: She was beautiful, charming, sense of humor, kind, very kind, sincere.
KING: Very sensual, sexual?
HEWITT: I'm not really going to go into that in great detail. But she was a very loving person.
KING: All right. How did the letter writing, which is the purpose of you being here, we'll discuss that, how did that start in a day and age of electronic mail?
HEWITT: Well, the letters -- the famous letters that have become famous really comprise of a number of air mail letters that people can send to soldiers in the front line.
KING: Most of them was when you were in service?
HEWITT: Yes, I mean, the ones that we're talking about.
KING: Right you couldn't see her.
HEWITT: I couldn't see her. And the wonderful thing is that there was a great effort made to get mail and that sort of thing to people on the front line. And it made an awful lot of difference. It is extremely good for morale.
KING: Did you write letters to her?
HEWITT: Yes, I did.
KING: The princess writes a letter, posts it and finds its way to you and you write a letter to -- how did you address it? Princess Di, I love you?
HEWITT: She addressed her letters to me. Care of British forces post office box number. I can't quite remember the number. I should. And she -- you have to put the sender's name on the back and she used a nondeplume. And my letters were addressed to her with my initials in the bottom left-hand corner of the envelope.
KING: Didn't she get tons of mail?
HEWITT: Probably, yes.
KING: She had to go through it and find yours?
HEWITT: Yes, but I mean, but if you send mail, it goes to her office. And if the initials are recognized, they get sent to her and not opened by anyone else.
KING: Well Right back with James Hewitt, the former lover of princess Diana. We'll talk about the letters, what he intends to do with them. How the news of the world, a tabloid in London sort of snookered him in a sense and we'll take your calls as well. Don't go away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HEWITT: How much I loved and admired Diana. And it is a time when she seemed to have found a certain and deserved happiness in her life which has been so tragically and undeservedly taken away from her. I loved her and will miss her terribly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "PANORAMA")
DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES: And he had rung me up 10 days where before it was to arrive. And the bookstores told me there was nothing to worry about. And I believed him, stupidly.
And then when it did arrive, the first thing I did was rush down to talk to my children and William produced a box of chocolates and said, Mommy, I think you've been hurt. These are to make you smile again. So...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did your relationship go beyond a close friendship?
DIANA: Yes, it did. Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Were you unfaithful?
DIANA: Yes, I had adored him. Yes, I was in love with him. But I was very let down.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: That was Princess Di in a BBC interview on a program called "Panorama." Did you watch that show?
HEWITT: I did watch it, yes.
KING: How did you feel?
HEWITT: I didn't know it was coming out until the last moment. I remember being in Devon, in my house in Devon and I watched it and -- I don't know. I can't remember exactly how I felt. I know there were a lot of people outside my house at the time ready to sort of try and...
KING: How did you let her down?
HEWITT: I let her down, I think, when I moved to Germany. I wasn't there...
KING: Available.
HEWITT: I wasn't there for her anymore.
KING: You ended the relationship?
HEWITT: I didn't really, I don't think. But I made a decision to move to Germany with my regiment and the army and...
KING: She certainly perceived it that way.
HEWITT: Well, yes, I think, you know, I mean -- in any relationship, when there is a falling out or disagreement, it can be perceived to be hurtful and one is not there for the other person.
KING: Now we have entrance of the tabloid "News of the World" with its December 15 headline -- screaming front page headline "Exclusive: We Catch Rat Flogging Secret Notes: Hewitt Sells Sex Letters."
Quoting from the story "He," meaning you, James Hewitt, "had already rejected a 4 million pound offer from an American collector for just 10 of the most salacious of his 64 letters when our undercover investigator stepped in. Our team posed as middle men for a Swiss tycoon with a better offer, collected evidence that finally exposes what a degenerate Hewitt has become.
Just yesterday morning, December 14, he told one of our men at a meeting in London's Claridges Hotel, 'I want 10 million pounds for the lot of them.' For that he was prepared to reveal Diana's nicknames for their private parts and the sex toys she sent to him in Kuwait and fantasies they shared."
Your chance now to respond to that.
HEWITT: I think it's almost laughable, to be honest. Had it not been for the fact that the letters were stolen from my safe at my home in Devon.
KING: Stolen by this newspaper?
HEWITT: They weren't, actually. They were stolen by "The Mirror."
KING: Another paper?
HEWITT: Another paper a few years ago. They would have remained absolutely private.
KING: You had no intention of...
HEWITT: I had no intention at all.
KING: How did "The News of the World" get this story? Where did they -- where did this come from that you had rejected an offer of four million pounds?
HEWITT: Well, I had no intention to sell these letters. But I was approached by someone who offered 5 million pounds for 10 letters. And I was interested to see if that would be a genuine offer. I mean, it's a lot of money. And sadly the letters have become famous. And that's how it has all -- that's how it's been.
KING: And what about their story that you said you could get 10 million for them?
HEWITT: Well, that is not absolutely accurate. So -- and basically, yes, it was a sting.
KING: They set you up.
HEWITT: Someone posed as a private collector. And had they been going to someone who would keep them private, I might well have been tempted to take that sort of money for them.
KING: So their story is...
HEWITT: It was difficult to keep them safe. And quite honestly, I couldn't afford to keep them anymore.
KING: Where are they now?
HEWITT: Well, they're in a safe place abroad.
KING: And are they for sale? Will you sell them? If someone is looking at tonight, with that kind of money who wants to by them, are you available to sell them? Do you want to sell them?
HEWITT: Yes, I would be available to sell them.
KING: And the purchaser can do whatever he wishes or he or she wishes? They could print them...
HEWITT: No, I wouldn't suggest that.
KING: Would you stipulate that they could not be shown?
HEWITT: Yes. There would be certain stipulations. I mean, ideally I think it would be to a private collector or a museum. I mean, I think that it's important to understand that they are or will become important historical documents.
KING: Oh, they will. But a museum would want to display them, wouldn't they?
HEWITT: Well, eventually, yes. Eventually. And I think that's quite important. I think it would be irresponsible to destroy them. But I'm open to suggestions, you know.
KING: Have people contacted you?
HEWITT: I was contacted before, awhile back and...
KING: But not recently?
HEWITT: Not recently, no.
KING: How does someone contact you?
HEWITT: Well, I'm -- you know, I'm fairly easy to contact.
KING: You are? You're not hard to reach.
HEWITT: I'm not hard to reach.
KING: We'll take a break and be back with more of James Hewitt. We'll be taking your phone calls. We'll get into other aspects and more on this really fascinating story, a story of a Princess Di, the story that never goes away, does it?
We'll be right back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "PANORAMA")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Another book that was published recently concerned a Mr. James Hewitt, in which he claimed to have had a very close relationship with you from about 1989, I think. What was the nature of your relationship?
DIANA: He was a great friend of mine at a very difficult time -- yet another difficult time. And he was always there to support me. And I was just absolutely devastated when this book appeared because I had trusted him. And because, again, I worried about the reaction on my children. I knew there was factual evidence in the book but a lot of it was -- comes from another world. Didn't equate to what happened.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you mean?
DIANA: Well, there was a lot of fantasy in that book. And it was very distressing for me that a friend of mine who I had trusted made money out of me. I really minded about that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: We're back with James Hewitt. We'll go to your calls at the bottom of the hour. Paul Burrell, the former butler to Princess Di, and Sarah, last night, the Duchess of York, were guests and had comments about Mr. Hewitt. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL BURRELL, PRINCESS DIANA: I always liked James Hewitt. I thought he was a very nice man. Never expected him do that. But how disgusting for another human being to actually do that to another. What is between two people and is very personal and private and love is the most precious thing.
SARAH FERGUSON, DUCHESS OF YORK: I think it is very interesting that he just before I came on this show called up and said would I like to have a drink with him. Don't you think that's funny? I mean, the answer is no, James, I don't want to have a drink with you. If I did, it would probably end up in the newspaper the next day.
KING: What do you think of that whole thing of the letters and...
FERGUSON: I think he should just be quiet and go away and, you know, betrayal, is I think, is the most horrible, horrible thing you can do to anyone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Your response?
HEWITT: To what?
KING: To both those statements? Do you feel it is betrayal and Mr. Burrell is shocked.
HEWITT: I don't know what he's shocked about. I have never betrayed...
KING: I guess he feels the selling of the letters is a betrayal of the utmost of confidence, the writing of a letter.
HEWITT: Well, I don't think it is. There is nothing to be ashamed about in those letters at all. As I suggested earlier that important historical documents and they should be preserved for the future. And I don't think that I've betrayed -- I was utterly faithful to her when she was alive. I've been utterly faithful since she sadly is no long we are us.
KING: Are you hurt that people like this feel that way about you?
HEWITT: In a way, yes. It is not some of the epithets are not nice. But, you know, mostly it is ill informed, I think. You know if you haven't got something nice to say about someone, then don't bother saying it. The sad thing is that, you know, last time I saw Sarah Ferguson she came bounding up to me in a hotel in London and was very friendly.
I thought it was just only good manners since we're in the same city abroad that I should ask her for a drink. It's sad that she should feel fit to reply to that private invitation on publicly on air. That's all. I'm not here to try and carry favor or -- I've got nothing to promote. I don't need to be a popular figure.
KING: You realize that you're in a position where you're not going to be a popular figure.
HEWITT: I think no matter what I say, you know, I realize that for a long time.
KING: You also wrote a book, too, right?
HEWITT: I wrote a book called "Love and War," yes. That was about me.
KING: Did you ever think in some ways...
HEWITT: But can I just sort of go back there? So have many other people written books? Am I the only person in the world not allowed to write a book about myself? I mean, I think that most of this hate and vilification is generated by the tabloid papers. Who need someone to paint as a baddy because every good story needs a baddy. Unfortunately I'm that person.
KING: Well, I guess if you announced tonight that you were donating these letters to the British museum and that 100 years from today they could put them on display when all of us are not here, they would have to praise you so they're taking advantage of the...
HEWITT: I don't want to be praised either, particularly, Larry. I just want to be accepted for what I am in a sensible way rather than for people to have to rely on the tabloid nonsense to learn either the wrong or the right things about me. That's all. And that may well happen. You know.
KING: Why don't you contact the person who offered the 4 million pounds, take that deal and let it all go away?
HEWITT: So, you're suggesting that's a good idea? KING: I mean if you want to get it offer with, you want to get probably the letters are almost a curse having them, obviously it is public, everyone knows about the letters you do want to sell them, you need the money you want -- it is a lot of money.
HEWITT: Yes, I mean, that is another option. I mean, you know, you put two options in front of me. And both of them seem to be utterly sensible.
KING: The British museum makes sense.
HEWITT: The British museum or 4 million pounds. A lot of good can be done with that rather for them to sit and rot in a safe somewhere. I think it would be irresponsible to sell them and generate something that one can do some good with. I don't know. But the other interesting thing is I think most people who would -- who find themselves in the same situation would do what I suggested.
I'm not being hypocritical about this. I'm being honest. I think that's the best policy. I mean, you know, if they were sold for 10 million pounds, I think, you know, ask your peers who wouldn't be inclined to sell them for that?
KING: Everyone would read them. I mean, if whoever bought them published them, this would be one of the best-selling books of all time.
HEWITT: Well, I could have done that and I don't want to.
KING: You could have done it.
HEWITT: Everything, you know, that I've written and have spoken about has been, I think, been decent and fair in her memory.
KING: Let me get a break and we'll come back and include viewer calls.
Our guest is James Hewitt, former British Army officer, the former lover of Princess Diana. He's here with us. Having flown in from London for his appearance.
Tomorrow night, Jermaine Jackson one of the original Jacksons will be aboard.
And on Saturday Night, a special edition of LARRY KING WEEKEND, Sean Penn, in his only interview to discuss his trip to Iraq. Sean Penn on Saturday.
Right back with Mr. Hewitt and your calls. Don't go away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: We're back with James Hewitt, who owns the -- who has in his possession these incredible letters. I am told by the staff, I had no knowledge of this, that they're looking -- the tabloids are suddenly looking to get a lock of Harry's hair and they're going try to take that hair to check with DNA to see if you're the father.
Have you ever thought you were the father of Harry?
HEWITT: I mean, this is unbelievably...
KING: Tell me about this.
HEWITT: Well, I think it is just ghastly and selfish of the tabloids who, again, are running this story to make money.
KING: You know you're not Harry's father?
HEWITT: Well, I think the poor chap has gone through enough. It's been suggested before and I said many times I'm not. And I think it's just laughable. I think we put too much on listening to these stupid stories and reading these stupid stories.
KING: Princess Diana had an affair before you, did she not?
HEWITT: I can't comment.
KING: Did she ever tell you that she had one?
HEWITT: I'm not going to comment about that.
KING: Let's go to calls.
Burlington, Ontario, for James Hewitt, hello.
CALLER: Hello. Good evening, gentleman.
KING: Hi,.
CALLER: I just had a question for Mr. Hewitt. I'm a little bit confused with some of his statements. He states that he loved the princess and in life and respected her in life, but yet he published a book with intimate details of their relationship before she died, while she was living and knowing that she would be publicly humiliated and embarrassed by this publication.
He states that after her death he continued to respect that and has continued to be faithful. Yet he's considering selling these letters, not donating them as you said, Larry, and not donating the income perhaps to a charity who can do considerable amount of good, but rather pocketing the money.
I'm also confused by his definition of the horrible values of the tabloids. It seems that he's making the tabloids accountable for their behavior, but I wonder what he would define as accountability on his part?
KING: OK. Fairly stated. Want to respond?
HEWITT: That was quite long. Thank you for your question. Where do I start?
KING: Well, she said you wrote a book.
HEWITT: Right. No...
KING: While Diana was alive.
HEWITT: No, I didn't publish a book. That was unfair and inaccurate to suggest that. I didn't.
KING: There was a book then written by someone else?
HEWITT: Yes, written by Anna Pasternak. And I did have a certain amount to do with it. I do regret that. I was asked by Diana to speak to journalists around the time of her divorce with Charles to try and paint a rather anodyne picture of our relationship and it didn't work. It backfired. It was a silly thing to do and I do regret that. And I have stated that.
And in my book, "Love and War" and have covered that.
KING: And you in no way -- you don't look at the selling of the letters as a -- in a sense, put-down of her or a treatment of her...
HEWITT: Well, the question of -- it presupposes I would pocket all the money. And I think that's an unfair accusation...
KING: All right. What would you do?
HEWITT: I don't know at the moment. All I'm really saying to you, Larry, and to everyone out there is that I'm not going to be hypocritical. Yes, I was interested when someone offered me a large sum of money.
KING: And you would be interested if you got an offer tomorrow?
HEWITT: Yes, I would be.
KING: But what you will do with the money you will not say?
HEWITT: An awful lot of good can be done with that money.
KING: And you will do a lot of good with the money?
HEWITT: Yes.
KING: Chicago, hello. Chicago, hello.
CALLER: Yes.
KING: Go ahead.
CALLER: Hello, Larry.
KING: HI,
Hello, Mr. Hewitt.
HEWITT: Hello.
CALLER: The shock of Diana's death was one of those rare tragedies that makes us remember where we were when we heard this news. May I ask you, Mr. Hewitt, where you were and how you received this news?
HEWITT: Yes, I was in Spain on a holiday at the time in the south of Spain. And...
KING: How did you hear?
HEWITT: Well, it -- was about 10:00 in the morning, Sunday morning that I heard. I was about to go down to the beach with a group of friends of mine and have lunch and then swim. And went back, strange enough to get my mobile phone or to see if I had any messages. And I turned it on and I heard a huge amount of messages. And the first one was from a great friend of mine, calling (ph) from McKenzie Hill and he gave me the news.
KING: I guess it is impossible to describe -- you know, your first reaction was shock.
HEWITT: Just shocked -- shocked and saddened, yes.
KING: Did you attend the funeral?
HEWITT: No, I did not.
KING: Transfer, Pennsylvania, hello.
CALLER: Yes, hi, Mr. Hewitt.
HEWITT: Hello.
CALLER: Most of us never had the opportunity to know the true Princess Diana. Even though we read the books and they're all out there. We never have known her the way you did.
In your opinion, had Princess Diana never married Prince Charles, what would her life had been like and would she still -- do you think she would have donated her time to the charities and would you still have been attracted to her?
KING: All these are hypothetics, but they're fair.
HEWITT: Yes, I think -- I mean, she was generally -- genuinely, excuse me, genuinely kind and a caring person. And I think she would have been drawn to serving charities and helping in any way she could, in that respect.
KING: Would she have been a successful person, do you think?
HEWITT: Yes, I think she would have.
KING: Did you or her during this relationship ever feel guilt? Or was she so unhappy that you weren't guilty. HEWITT: Well, yes. And that's a good point. I think that it was assuaged, if you like, the feeling of guilty because had I not been there to support and love and give her the support that she was craving at the time, it would have been a very sad situation for her.
KING: So you didn't sit around each other and have remorse?
HEWITT: No.
KING: By the way, just thought of something, you're in the reserves, aren't you?
HEWITT: I am in the reserve.
KING: You could get called fun action is in Iraq, couldn't you?
HEWITT: I could. It depends how involved it becomes and how...
KING: Would you want to go?
HEWITT: ...prolonged it is. Well, I'd have to go if I was told to. But, I mean, yes, I probably would want to go.
KING: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for James Hewitt, hello.
CALLER: Good evening, Larry, James.
HEWITT: Good evening.
CALLER: I have a two-part question. In the weeks preceding Diana's death, knowing what had transpired between the two of you, how did that make you feel knowing everything was going to come out and, secondly what plans do you have for your future?
HEWITT: I don't quite understand the first part of the question. What plans...
KING: When you knew it was going to -- did you know this story was going to come out? And what was it like...
HEWITT: Which story is that?
KING: The story that you and Diana had an affair. Or you were totally shocked that it came out?
HEWITT: No. Not totally shocked. I mean, it...
KING: I mean, you figured you got away with five years of this, right?
HEWITT: Yes.
KING: You were treading on...
HEWITT: Yes.
KING: ...on ice a little. So you weren't totally shocked.
HEWITT: I wasn't totally shocked. Sorry, I thought the caller was talking about the few moments before her death. I misheard that.
KING: Did you expect her to marry Fayed?
HEWITT: No, I don't think so.
KING: Don't think she would have?
HEWITT: No.
KING: And your own future?
HEWITT: My own future...
KING: Does it depend on the sale of these letters...
HEWITT: Well, no, I don't think it does. I mean, you know, I don't think it does. My future, I'm not quite sure about. I think it is out of -- no, I'm not employed. I'll probably leave England this year and try and start another life elsewhere.
KING: Did you move to Germany previously?
HEWITT: I was a serving officer at that stage. I was placed with my regimen.
KING: Where are you thinking about living?
HEWITT: Somewhere around the Mediterranean, Eastern Europe that sort of --
KING: Des Moines, Iowa, hello.
CALLER: Hello, Larry. Hello, Major Hewitt.
HEWITT: Hello.
CALLER: I love your book "Love And War," and I thought it was very good. It had a lot of very personal information about your military career.
But even with the stipulation you stated earlier in the show about the contents of the letters not being shown, and really no guarantee on that, how do you feel about Diana's sons possibly knowing the contents of these letters, you know, their feelings on this.
KING: Yes.
HEWITT: That's a good question. I mean, the letters are extremely well written. They're very loving and there is no -- and nothing to be ashamed of.
KING: But there are some that are obviously sexual in content.
HEWITT: No I don't think so.
KING: They're not?
HEWITT: I think if they're read, you know, in content...
KING: You not say any of it is salacious?
HEWITT: Absolutely not.
KING: We'll take a break and come back with more calls for James Hewitt. Don't go away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUEEN ELIZABETH II: First, I want to pay tribute to Diana myself. She was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness. I admired and respected her for her energy and commitment to others, and especially for her devotion to her two boys.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: We're back with James Hewitt.
Trenton, Ontario, hello.
CALLER: Hello, Larry.
KING: Hi.
CALLER: It is a question for Mr. Hewitt.
KING: Sure, go ahead.
CALLER: When you think about it now, would you have got involved or would you have walked away?
HEWITT: Well, that's a good -- a very good question. Thank you for that. I try not to regret and I think -- I think it is -- it has been worth all the problems and troubles since then.
KING: Worth it because the relationship was that...
HEWITT: Yes, it was very important and it was very loving. And that's not really the issue. The issue -- I mean, OK, there would have been a certain amount of interest and intrigue, but not the vilification. That was never expected. So I would have made the same decisions for all the same right reasons that I did then.
KING: Now, there has to be, though, logically, James, sensual aspects to the letters or they would not be of great interest in them. This isn't James, I love you, I miss you, good luck on the front. There has to be something that creates this interest. We realize (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the interest, right? You don't have to tell me what it is, but there has to be something beyond hello, James.
HEWITT: Yes.
KING: OK. That's all I wanted to know. Because it is easy to -- people can sit back, but I don't know how everyone would react if they were offered 4 million pounds for something. What they would do.
Tucson, Arizona. Hello.
CALLER: Yes, James Hewitt, since you're willing to let go of the letters, how about using integrity and conscience and give the letters to Diana's dignified sons. And allow them to make the decision or decisions of what to do with the letters, which will be of comfort to them.
HEWITT: Well, that's a very good point and thank you for that. And that's another possibility. As I mentioned before, you know, these were private -- they were kept private. And unknown about until they were stolen from me. They are my property.
KING: Who stole them?
HEWITT: They were stolen from my safe by the mirror.
KING: That's right, the mirror. What did they do with them? They didn't print them?
HEWITT: They printed aspects of them. They are the people who...
KING: Started all this.
HEWITT: These are the people who started all this.
KING: How did you get them back?
HEWITT: I'm not a complete saint, and I accept responsibility for not keeping them more secure.
KING: How did you get them back?
HEWITT: I had to fight for them in the court. My solicitor -- my lawyer issued a high court order to get them back. It took a long time and not a little money either.
KING: Bainbridge, Georgia, hello.
CALLER: Hello, Larry.
Mr. Hewitt, I don't agree with how you've chosen to profit on your relationship with the princess and instead of selling her secrets, why not write a book about her favorite moments and movies or the perfume she wore, things that don't get written about. I'd much rather read about that than what went on between the two of you between the sheets and I know her children would as well.
HEWITT: Well, I agree with you. I haven't written anything of the sort.
KING: You know a lot about her, at the lady said, forget the bed, you know a lot about her. You were her lover for five years. She loved you, you loved her. You know a lot about her.
HEWITT: Yes. I'm not sure that is going to remain with me and I'll take it with me to my grave. When that comes sooner or later. I haven't divulged any secrets. It has been reported that I have but, you know many of these reports are inaccurate, and laughable.
KING: Do people come up to you on the street in London when you walk -- how are you -- how does the public generally react to you?
HEWITT: Very well.
KING: They do?
HEWITT: Yes. I mean, yes. I mean, all this is complete and utter fabrication, really on the part of the tabloid press in England.
(CROSSTALK)
KING: This is not invented by them. "The Mirror" there were the letters, they did a terrible thing in the way they took them, and the news of the world sand bagged you but you did say those things.
HEWITT: I didn't say all those things.
KING: You didn't say the 10 million pound thing.
HEWITT: I didn't say all those things. Bits of it are accurate. Much of it is inaccurate.
KING: Parts are inaccurate.
HEWITT: So, I wouldn't, you know, I wouldn't want the tabloids to write history.
KING: No. Garden City, Michigan, hello.
CALLER: I just have a question for Mr. Hewitt. I love the royal family so much. Has he ever received Diana's grave?
KING: Have you ever been to Diana's grave?
HEWITT: No I haven't.
KING: Reason?
HEWITT: I don't think I would be welcome.
KING: Can't you go as a citizen?
HEWITT: I don't think it would be that easy to do.
KING: And it would make the tabloids? HEWITT: Well, I try not to be governed by the tabloids. I'm not really bothered about that, but I think it wouldn't be that appropriate.
KING: By the way, would you come back from Spain after learning of her death?
HEWITT: Yes, I flew back right away.
KING: We'll be back with our remaining moments with James Hewitt after these words.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: We're back with James Hewitt. Yonkers, New York. Hello.
CALLER: Hi. This question is for Hewitt. James Hewitt, sorry. Did you ever get a chance to explain to Diana why you wrote the book she was so devastated over and, also what is it like having such secretive relationship for five years?
KING: Two good questions.
HEWITT: I did speak to her before that book went out. I tried to stop the publication of it. I begged with the author that it shouldn't be put out. But it was. And...
KING: Is that your book?
HEWITT: No.
KING: The book about...
HEWITT: No I wrote a book about myself after she had died.
KING: What was it like to have a five-year secret?
HEWITT: Pretty difficult.
KING: Was Paul Burrell one of the few people who knew about it?
HEWITT: Yes. I still don't know the extent of who knew about it.
KING: Did you confide in anyone?
HEWITT: Yes, I did. My family because we used to go down down to my family home in Devon.
KING: Your parents?
HEWITT: My parents knew about it. And my sisters. And they became very good friends. But it wasn't -- it wasn't easy t wasn't easy on a personal level. Having a relationship at a distance.
KING: No. Manassas, Virginia, hello. CALLER: Good evening, Larry. Good evening, Mr. Hewitt. I would like to ask you since you seem determined to sell the late princess of Wales' very personal, private letters to you, would you consider giving the money to the clearing of the land mines that were so dear to her heart?
HEWITT: Yes, I would consider helping with that organization.
KING: Phoenix, Arizona. Hello?
CALLER: Hi, Mr. Hewitt. I was wondering what was your favorite memory of you and the princess together?
KING: Couldn't be public.
HEWITT: No. No. It wasn't public. I just remember her as being very caring, loving and a special person. And very honored to share that with her.
KING: Sarah said last night that one of the things that probably least known about her is how funny she was. True?
HEWITT: Yes. This he did have a very good sense of humor.
KING: To Vancouver, British Columbia, hello.
CALLER: Hello, Mr. Hewitt.
HEWITT: Hello.
CALLER: I think that considering all the other players, you had a little bit of a bad rap. And I was wondering if you had any support from your family and friends?
HEWITT: I'm very lucky. Thank you for that question. I've been -- I'm very lucky. I have a very loving and close family. And I have superb friends, too.
KING: In society, are you a pariah?
HEWITT: Not really a society person.
KING: You don't get invited to the parties that the in-Londoner gets invited to?
HEWITT: I do get invited to parties, yes.
KING: You do?
HEWITT: How in they are I don't know. But I do. I do. I mean -- I live fairly normally surprisingly.
KING: How do you support yourself?
HEWITT: Financially, you mean?
KING: Yes?
HEWITT: I have investments. And...
KING: Army pension?
HEWITT: I do have an army pension. I do, yes.
KING: All of this -- are you -- are you unhappy?
HEWITT: No. I have my downs as well as anybody else. But I'm generally an optimistic and happy person.
KING: Glass is half full?
HEWITT: I tend to look at it like that, yes.
KING: Thanks, James.
HEWITT: Thank you very much, indeed.
KING: Thank you for coming. James Hewitt.
We'll be back in a minute to talk with Aaron Brown about a great lady who passed away today and about what is coming up on LARRY KING LIVE. Don't go away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: Tomorrow night on LARRY KING LIVE, Sarah McClendon joins us. And don't forget -- sorry. Jermaine Jackson will join us. I'm going to talk about Sarah in minute. Jermaine Jackson tomorrow night. And on Saturday night, Sean Penn for first interview ever that he's had discussing Iraq.
I said Sarah McClendon. God, I wish she would be joining us tomorrow night. She left us today, Sarah McClendon passed away at age 91. One of great journalists, terrific lady, had an opportunity to interview her a number of times and always great just being in her presence.
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