Princess Di’s former squeeze, James Hewitt is thoroughly settled on the Costa del Sol

James Hewitt has been a fan of Marbella for years

Celebrities, huh? Many of them are famous for simply being famous. But one in particular is famous for doing something so outrageously fame-making that you can all but forgive his transgression.

That someone is James Hewitt.

Yes, yes – he’s a former British Household Cavalry officer in the British Army, which is kind of noteworthy if we’re being honest. But the fact that he had a five-year affair with Princess Diana in the ‘80s marks Hewitt out as somebody particularly deserving of fame through proxy.

This happened around the time that Prince Harry was born, and the rumours were… well, you can piece the rest together. Suffice to say, the dates don’t match up fully, so we’re spared the scandal.

Since hitting the headlines following this revelation in the ‘90s, Hewitt struggled to keep a low profile in the UK, and so moved to Marbella shortly after the turn of the Millennium. Today, he’s a bona fide character around town, and opened The Polo House on the Golden Mile in 2009, which has proved an enduring success.

Hewitt eschews much of Marbella’s more salubrious attractions and instead immerses himself in the more traditional pursuits. He likes hill walking. He will regularly visit Marbella’s bullring to catch a bullfight. He socialises with Spaniards and feels uneasy when recognised by holidaying Brits, but accepts that that’s going to happen from time to time. The various brilliant beaches of the region are regular haunts, too, even though this is where he’s spotted most often.

As is Sotogrande’s polo scene. Hewitt is a famously keen (and rather talented, by all accounts) polo player, and his presence in the resort over the past few years has helped Sotogrande’s gravitas more than any yacht club or swanky restaurant ever could.

Because that’s what Marbella is like. It no longer relies on second best or imitation. The world’s leading players – in music, film, TV, sport and all across celebland – live and work here all year round. 

Which is a telling testament to Marbella’s enduring wealth of attractions.