or years, there have been rumblings and rumors that have cast doubt on the true paternity of Prince Harry. Whispers that his biological father may not be King Charles, but rather Princess Diana’s former lover, Major James Hewitt. These rumors have long strained the relationship between Harry and his father Charles. Now, in light of Queen Elizabeth’s passing and Charles’ ascension to the throne, it seems these rumors have come to a head. Sources report that King Charles has demanded Prince Harry submit to a paternity test, seeking to uncover the truth once and for all about Harry’s lineage.

The estrangement between Harry and Charles is well documented. Their already fragile relationship was further damaged by Harry’s criticisms of the royal family in his and Meghan Markle’s explosive Netflix docuseries and the allegations of racism made against the royals. Harry had hoped to reconcile with his father during a meeting in London following the Queen’s death, but their interaction was reportedly awkward and tense. This left Harry feeling hurt and dismissed by his father.

Queen Consort Camilla and Prince William, now heir to the throne, have reportedly been advising King Charles to distance himself from Harry. They view Harry and Meghan as fame-seekers who can no longer be trusted after their departure from royal duties in 2020. As such, Camilla and William are urging Charles not to leave Harry any part of the royal inheritance. As head of the family and monarch, Charles is under no obligation to provide an inheritance for Harry or Meghan. This has potentially put Harry’s future assets and status within the royal family in jeopardy.

Adding further turmoil is the long-speculated rumor that Harry’s biological father may actually be Princess Diana’s former love, Major James Hewitt. Diana herself reportedly harbored doubts that Charles was Harry’s true father, thinking Hewitt more likely due to Harry’s reddish hair and rebellious personality traits—qualities that contrast starkly with Charles’ stoic demeanor. Hewitt and Diana began their affair around 1986, but some accounts suggest Hewitt may have been present at Diana and Charles’ home, Kensington Palace, as early as 1983, just two years after Harry’s birth.

The rumors have clearly taken their toll on Harry over the years. In his upcoming memoir, “Spare”, Harry recounts how Charles would make “sadistic jokes” during his childhood casting doubt on his paternity. He describes feeling frustrated, questioning his own identity and wondering if Charles was truly his father. Though Harry vehemently denies the rumors of Hewitt being his biological father in the book, claiming Diana did not meet Hewitt until after Harry’s birth, the conflicting timelines and accounts have continued to add fuel to the fires of speculation and uncertainty.

Now, in what can only be described as a pivotal moment for the Windsors, King Charles is said to have approached Harry directly about this sensitive issue relating to his lineage. According to sources, Charles has taken the dramatic step of demanding Harry submit to a paternity test to uncover the truth and bring resolution once and for all to the decades-long rumors that have plagued the royal family. As monarch, Charles oversees the Crown’s wealth and property. If there remains any doubt about Harry’s lineage, Charles could potentially bar Harry from any royal inheritance, as the monarchy cannot bestow treasures meant for those of royal blood upon anyone whose lineage is uncertain.

The pressure and stakes are high for both father and son. For Charles, the pursuit of truth and certainty around royal succession is paramount as king. But for Harry, being forced to undergo controversial DNA testing would only serve to further rupture an already fractured relationship with his father. Harry’s upcoming book threatens to reveal even more strain in their bond.

Whatever the outcome, one thing is clear—the rumors that have swirled around Harry’s paternity for years have reached a climax, demanding resolution. With a kingdom to protect and a fractured familial bond at stake, King Charles has reportedly taken the dramatic step of confronting this family controversy head on by demanding the contested prince undergo the DNA test that may, once and for all, help to unravel these decades-old mysteries that have tormented two generations of Windsors. How the archaic father and estranged son choose to proceed from here could very well impact the future of the British throne