James Hewitt met Princess Diana at a party in 1986. Diana's bodyguard at the time, Ken Wharfe, subsequently wrote several books about his experience with the then-Princess of Wales, which included his recollections of Hewitt. In an excerpt from his book, "Diana: A Closely Guarded Secret," published in The New Zealand Herald, Wharfe recalled that fateful first meeting. "Their first conversation felt natural, she said, and it was this that sparked her attraction. As she put it, they got along famously," wrote Wharfe.
During that initial conversation, the subject of horses came up, as it often does within Britain's upper crust. Diana told him that she was terrified of horses — a fear that became an issue given that horseback riding was a beloved hobby of her mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, and many other royals. Hewitt, still serving in the cavalry, had a significant degree of equine experience, and offered to lend his services to Diana as a riding instructor.
As Hewitt and the princess spent time together, sparks flew. Their first meeting, Wharfe noted, came at a time when Diana was at her most vulnerable, having discovered that King Charles was cheating on her with Camilla, Queen Consort. "Shattered by her husband's betrayal, the princess was ready for an affair," wrote Wharfe. "Hewitt, a natural womaniser, gave her the attention and affection she relished, and then the passion she yearned for."
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