Prince Harry was once at the center of a bizarre conspiracy involving a secret DNA test—an alleged plot meant to prove that King Charles was not his biological father. The extraordinary story unfolded in late 2002 and was serious enough to draw police attention.

Persistent Rumors About Harry’s Real Father

Ever since Prince Harry’s early years, speculation about his true parentage has followed him. The Duke of Sussex is officially the second son of King Charles and the late Princess Diana, yet for decades, rumors have suggested otherwise.

The theory claimed that Harry’s real father was James Hewitt, a former British army cavalry officer who had a well-known affair with Princess Diana between 1986 and 1991—years after Harry’s birth in 1984.

Despite the clear timeline, the rumors persisted largely due to one superficial similarity: both Harry and Hewitt share red hair. Hewitt has consistently denied the claim, telling reporters as recently as 2017, “No, I’m not,” when asked if he was Harry’s father.

Harry himself addressed the long-standing gossip in his memoir Spare, writing, “Never mind that my mother didn’t meet Major Hewitt until long after I was born, the story was simply too good to drop.”

A Secret DNA Plot Emerges

In 2002, newspapers reported that Prince Harry had nearly become the target of a secret DNA test scheme. The plan allegedly involved obtaining a strand of his hair to compare it to James Hewitt’s DNA in order to prove their supposed biological connection.

According to The Mail on Sunday and The Sunday Times, Charles’s private secretary, Sir Michael Peat, was tipped off about the elaborate “honey trap.” Upon learning of the scheme, Peat immediately alerted the police.