Princess Diana's former lover James Hewitt speaks out

The former secret lover of Princess Diana has opened up about their controversial affair that was kept under wraps for five years.

Appearing on Australian Channel Seven's Sunday Night, James Hewitt spoke candidly from his home in southwest England about the moment he fell in love with the late royal.

In an interview ahead of the 20th anniversary of her death, the former polo player denied claims he was Prince Harry's father when pressed about the paternity.

'Are you Harry's father?' Australian host Melissa Doyle asked.

'No, I'm not,' Diana's former lover replied.

Asked about the rumours that have persisted for decades, he said: 'It sells papers. It's worse for him, probably, poor chap.'

Her former butler Paul Burrell said it was 'not possible' that Hewitt was the father because he met the Princess when her youngest son was a toddler.

Princess Diana started her affair with Mr Hewitt - who now leads a lonely life as a recluse in Devon - after she asked him to be her horse riding instructor in 1986.

Her secret relationship blossomed as rumours swirled around her husband Prince Charles who was his seeing his former flame Camilla Parker-Bowles at the time.

'She had an aurora of something special around her,' Mr Hewitt said.

Recalling the moment he fell in love with the Princess, Mr Hewitt laughed as he admitted he wanted to 'whisk her away' from the spotlight.

'It's a gradual period and then, you know, suddenly you can't get enough of each other or see each other as much as you want,' he said.

The now 58-year-old said the pair used to spend quality time together, enjoying walks along the beach or a mall and cooking dinners.

'Well, I'd cook and she'd wash up. Just dinner and relaxing and laughing,' he said. 

The pair's relationship lasted until after he had served as a tank commander in the 1991 Gulf War as their affair was exposed in the media.

Mr Hewitt, a former army officer, said he was struggling to open up about his former lover but insisted he did not express any regret of ever meeting her.

'No, I don't regret that. I regret some of the things that have been caused by that but not that at all. No way,' he said.

'I think she was quite easy to fall in love with really so I think I can be forgiven for that.'

- Daily Mail