# Princes William and Harry-Are They Really "Half" Brothers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 20, 2002, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/princes-william-and-harry-are-they-really-half-brothers/124751 "2002-08-20T15:50:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2002, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/princes-william-and-harry-are-they-really-half-brothers/124751/21 "2002-08-21T16:08:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > \*\*[http://books.guardian.co.uk/critics/reviews/0,5917,102177,00.html](http://books.guardian.co.uk/critics/reviews/0,5917,102177,00.html) > “In 1986 I was a dashing, single, young Guards captain. I met Diana and offered to give her riding lessons. **When we had first met five years before, she had been fun, charming, flirtatious.** She could make the sullen waters of the Serpentine sparkle just by riding past them. But now she was sad - except when she was riding Gary, the horse I gave her. She was a hurt, lonely married woman and I became obsessed with her.” > > - Perhaps the confusion lies in the fact that they did meet earlier but, _seemingly_ (according to Hewitt), didn’t begin an affair until later. \*\* He gave her a horse named Gary? Did he get it from Rev. Jim Ignatowski? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2002, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/princes-william-and-harry-are-they-really-half-brothers/124751/22 "2002-08-21T16:31:25Z")
> [@](#): > > I’d like to see full DNA tests on all of 'em. After all, they claim taxes off the British people based on heredity; their heredity should at least be proven. Now, if you’re going to be _that_ picky about it – in the earliest tradition, any child borne by a king’s wife was considered his legitimate heir. It was for the very reason that one might not be able to know for sure who a man’s father is that a king often traced his right to the throne through his mother rather than through his father. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2002, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/princes-william-and-harry-are-they-really-half-brothers/124751/23 "2002-08-21T16:39:40Z")
Fair point, but then again, modern British royal heredity is handed down paternally, so that’s not necessarily correct. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2002, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/princes-william-and-harry-are-they-really-half-brothers/124751/24 "2002-08-21T16:42:57Z")
My brother and I don’t look like each other at all. I take after dad, and he takes after mom’s side of the family. My sister also takes after mom. ---
**Author:** ![APB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@APB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2002, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/princes-william-and-harry-are-they-really-half-brothers/124751/25 "2002-08-21T17:09:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > **I hope you’ll forgive me if I’m slightly amused by your denigration of the Guardian and subsequent reliance on Hewitt.** If I could be really pedantic, I’m not relying on Hewitt; I only cited him to show that what he actually says does not support the claim that he says that he had met her in 1981. We don’t need Hewitt’s account to establish that they probably met for the first time in 1986, although Hewitt’s version is naturally more detailed and the other evidence suggests that, on this point at least, he is telling the truth. The date of the meeting has been the subject of considerable scrutiny, not so much because Hewitt might have fathered Prince Harry but because an earlier date would strengthen Charles’s claim that he only resumed his relationship with Camilia after Diana had strayed. Evidence that Diana knew Hewitt at any point between Harry’s conception and mid-1986 would be very convenient for Charles. If such evidence existed, we would have heard about it. ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2002, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/princes-william-and-harry-are-they-really-half-brothers/124751/26 "2002-08-21T18:55:57Z")
It doesn’t really matter, because William is a dead-spit for Charles and he’s the bloodline heir. Of course if we weren’t still “ruled” by a fucking undemocratic anachronism, it wouldn’t be any issue whether either boy was black, white, speckled or martian. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2002, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/princes-william-and-harry-are-they-really-half-brothers/124751/27 "2002-08-21T19:10:31Z")
Lets leave the EU out of this one… ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2002, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/princes-william-and-harry-are-they-really-half-brothers/124751/28 "2002-08-21T19:56:39Z")
They wouldn’t be the first royal “bastards” and they certainly won’t be the last. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2002, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/princes-william-and-harry-are-they-really-half-brothers/124751/29 "2002-08-21T21:07:19Z")
But… but… Harry is the _spit_ of Hewitt. Have a look at a picture of Hewitt in his twenties. And he’s got red hair. That would have to be a serious throwback in both Diana’s and Charles’s families. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2002, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/princes-william-and-harry-are-they-really-half-brothers/124751/30 "2002-08-21T21:24:17Z")
OH well, one thing is good - at least the dear lad’s fondness for marijuana might prevent him from getting anorexia like the sainted Diana. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/princes-william-and-harry-are-they-really-half-brothers/124751/31 "2002-08-22T00:17:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > \*\*But… but… Harry is the _spit_ of Hewitt. Have a look at a picture of Hewitt in his twenties. And he’s got red hair. That would have to be a serious throwback in both Diana’s and Charles’s families. \*\* I think Harry looks a good bit like her brother (also named Charles). **He** has red hair. And didn’t her father also have red hair when he was younger? I remember reading something that Charles (the Prince) said when Harry was born to the effect of him being disappointed that he had that “ugly” Spencer red hair. ---
**Author:** ![G.Nome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c89c15/32.png) [@G.Nome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.Nome)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/princes-william-and-harry-are-they-really-half-brothers/124751/32 "2002-08-22T07:47:22Z")
There something curious about Princess Diana’s children but it has nothing to do with James Hewitt. It’s the fact that Prince William almost looks like a clone of his _Uncle_ Charles Spencer, Diana’s brother. When I think of that I remember how Kevin Spacey began his acting career: as one of the Profitts in Wiseguy. Remember the rich, incestuous brother and sister crime bosses? Why do the rich and incestuous always seem so sexy? I mean, the poor and incestuous end up (in popular imagination anyway) with totally unglamorous web-toed children. ---
**Author:** ![Catmarie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8491ac/32.png) [@Catmarie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catmarie)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/princes-william-and-harry-are-they-really-half-brothers/124751/33 "2002-08-22T11:30:38Z")
Also, at Diana’s funeral there was a cousin of Harry’s (presumably on his Mum’s side) that looked the spit and image of Harry. I remebered thinking at the time that if Harry ever needed a body double for some reason then his cousin would be perfect. Of course now they are older the similarities may have changed. My two aunt (married to two different men) each has a son that looks identical to the other’s son. In both cases they are blond boys and in both cases neither parent is blond… things like that can happen. It’s the wonder of genetics. Anyway as **istara** said William is in line for the throne so what does it matter? (however I am not anti-monarchy:) ) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/princes-william-and-harry-are-they-really-half-brothers/124751/34 "2002-08-22T12:26:12Z")
Neither of them resembles Diana. I suspect _Charles_ was the one having an affair. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/princes-william-and-harry-are-they-really-half-brothers/124751/35 "2002-08-22T12:50:40Z")
How long must that woman be dead before the world ceases to be obsessed! She was a pretty, dumb, blonde who married a high profile type…then she DIED…get over her already!!! Charlie will make a good King, he is his Mothers’ son. Camilla is much more Queen material then Barbie…ooops Dianna ever was. Dianna would have made a damn fine “Miss Universe” though. All that “I’m shy but I want to save the world” stuff. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/princes-william-and-harry-are-they-really-half-brothers/124751/36 "2002-08-22T14:59:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bryan Ekers \* > \*\*Neither of them resembles Diana. I suspect _Charles_ was the one having an affair. \*\* Are you kidding? William looks just like his mother, IMO. As for Charles having an affair, well, of course. Maybe the ones to DNA-type are Camilla’s kids. Who do they resemble? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![tramp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@tramp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tramp)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/princes-william-and-harry-are-they-really-half-brothers/124751/37 "2002-08-22T15:07:52Z")
I always thought that Prince Andrew was certainly not Prince Phillip’s son. I think the Queen herself was guilty of a little horizontal hokey pokey outside the bonds of holy, royal matrimony. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/princes-william-and-harry-are-they-really-half-brothers/124751.md?page=1)