Diana’s Secret DNA Test: The Palace’s Hidden Truth About Prince Harry Finally Revealed

By Royal Features Editor, Sarah Langford

In the autumn of 1995, as the storm clouds of royal scandal gathered over Kensington Palace, Princess Diana made a decision that would alter the course of her family’s history—and expose the lengths to which the monarchy would go to protect its secrets. For years, rumors swirled about Prince Harry’s parentage, fueled by tabloid headlines and palace whispers. But behind the scenes, Diana’s quest for truth would uncover not only irrefutable proof of Harry’s royal blood, but a hidden genetic legacy the palace desperately wanted buried.

The Rumor Mill Turns Cruel

It was a story that would not die. “Red-haired Harry: Is James Hewitt the real father?” screamed the tabloids, week after week. Diana, sitting in her study, stared at the latest headline, her heart heavy with dread. The accusations were absurd—James Hewitt hadn’t entered her life until two years after Harry’s birth. But the facts didn’t matter. The palace’s preferred narrative was clear: Diana, the unfaithful wife, her children’s legitimacy in question.

For Diana, the attacks weren’t just personal. They threatened her son’s future. Anonymous letters arrived, typed on plain paper, warning her: “The palace knows the truth about Harry. Get the test before they use it against you. Protect your son.” Was someone inside the palace trying to help her, or was she being manipulated into an act that could be weaponized against her?

Her private secretary, Patrick Morrison, cautioned against a DNA test. “Ordering a test is exactly the kind of desperate action they’ll use to paint you as unstable,” he warned. But Diana’s maternal instinct was stronger than her fear. She watched Harry playing football in the garden, his red hair blazing in the autumn sun. The differences between him and William had always been noted with affection. Now, they were being weaponized.

A Mother’s Dilemma

Diana’s decision was agonizing. If she ordered the test, she risked being branded paranoid. If she didn’t, Harry would remain vulnerable to cruel whispers. “He’s 11 years old, Patrick. He can read. He hears the whispers. How long before this damages him permanently?” Diana asked.

That evening, she called Dr. Sarah Mitchell, her trusted private physician. “Once this test exists, there’s a paper trail,” Sarah cautioned. “Even if you keep the results private, someone could find out you ordered it.” But Diana was resolute. “I need to protect my son. I need documented proof before the palace tries to claim otherwise.”

The test would be conducted off the books, in a private Swiss facility, far from the prying eyes of palace doctors and official labs.

The Results: More Than Paternity

Two weeks later, Diana sat in her study, hands trembling as she opened the sealed envelope. The paternity analysis was clear: Prince Charles was confirmed as Harry’s biological father, with a 99.9% probability. Relief washed over her. She finally had irrefutable evidence to silence the rumors.

But as she read further, Diana discovered something unexpected. Attached to the report was a note from Dr. Klaus Werner, the geneticist: “Secondary findings indicate a hereditary condition that may be relevant for the subject’s medical care. Recommend consultation with specialist.”

The test had identified genetic markers for a rare metabolic disorder known as porphyria—a condition that affects the production of hemoglobin and can cause symptoms such as sensitivity to sunlight, reddish urine, and, in some cases, changes in skin pigmentation and hair color. Crucially, porphyria was a hereditary condition with deep roots in Europe’s royal families. King George III, whose mental health struggles led to the regency crisis, had suffered from it. The disorder could explain Harry’s different appearance—his red hair, pale skin, and distinctive facial features—without casting doubt on his parentage.

The Palace’s Calculated Silence

For Diana, the revelation was both a relief and a new source of outrage. If the palace medical staff had known about Harry’s genetic condition, they had chosen to let paternity rumors fester rather than admit the truth. Better, it seemed, to allow whispers about James Hewitt than to reveal a hereditary disorder associated with royal “madness.”

Diana immediately called Dr. Mitchell. “Did you know about this before you ordered the test?” she asked. “No. I requested a basic paternity analysis. The additional screening was standard protocol.” Diana realized the palace had let her and Harry suffer under false accusations to avoid exposing a genetic vulnerability in the royal bloodline.

A Tense Confrontation

The next day, Diana received a call from Sir Robert Fellows, the Queen’s private secretary. “We need to meet. There’s a matter of some delicacy regarding recent medical tests.” Diana’s blood ran cold. They knew.

At the meeting, Robert wasn’t alone. He brought Dr. Anthony Whitmore, head of the royal medical household. “The genetic markers identified in Prince Harry’s test are indicators for porphyria,” Dr. Whitmore confirmed. “This is information the royal medical staff has been aware of for some time.”

Diana’s anger boiled over. “You knew why Harry looks different and let people question his paternity rather than explain the truth?” The officials insisted that publicizing the diagnosis would expose Harry to a different kind of scrutiny—questions about his mental health, suitability for royal duties, and the specter of King George III’s “madness.”

Diana’s Impossible Choice

The palace demanded confidentiality. In exchange, they promised the paternity rumors would cease. Diana felt trapped. Revealing the truth would protect her reputation but expose Harry to stigma; keeping silent would allow the whispers to fade but leave the real story untold.

That evening, Diana sat with Harry. “You are absolutely your father’s son,” she assured him. “You have your father’s DNA. You are William’s full brother. Anyone who suggests otherwise is lying.” Harry asked, “Then why do I look so different?” Diana explained, “You inherited different genes from your father’s side. It runs in the royal bloodline. You’re different because genetics work in mysterious ways.”

The Power of Proof

Diana decided to keep the medical findings confidential, protecting Harry from the stigma of porphyria but keeping the DNA results ready in case anyone tried to use paternity as a weapon during her divorce. When Charles’s lawyers raised the issue, Diana’s solicitor shut them down with the threat of exposing the DNA evidence. The paternity question was never raised again.

After Diana’s death, the sealed DNA results became part of the evidence reviewed during inquiries into her life. The genetic findings about porphyria were noted but not made public, preserving Harry’s medical privacy.

The Legacy of Truth

Diana’s secret DNA test proved what she always knew: Harry was Charles’s son. But it also revealed the palace’s willingness to let a child suffer under false accusations rather than admit uncomfortable truths about royal genetics. In the end, Diana’s determination protected her son from both cruel gossip and damaging scrutiny.

Sometimes, the most powerful thing a mother can do is demand proof of the truth—even when everyone else benefits from keeping things unclear. Diana’s legacy is not just one of compassion, but of courage in the face of institutional secrecy.