former lover James Hewitt has claimed the late royal "would be concerned" about the ongoing rift between her waring sons Prince William and Harry.

During Tuesday's instalment (February 25) of , Susanna Reid and her co-star Richard Madeley woke up the nation with the biggest stories hitting the headlines.

This included the news that energy bills will rise by just over six percent in April and police set to be given new powers targeting anti-social behaviour for stolen mobile phones.

Later on in the show, the presenting duo welcomed the former army officer down to the studios to discuss how the aid needed in Ukraine after he teamed up with John Lawler, founder of Operation SafeDrop.

In the rare interview, the 66-year-old admitted that the late Princess of Wales, who died in Paris in 1997, would have done "her best to try and get them together".

Richard began: "What about the gilf between her two boys, any mother would be grief-stricken at the separation you've seen between Harry and Will. Do you think she would have been able to make an [amends] possible?"

He replied: "I think any mother would be worried and concerned about such a rift, as you put it, and she'd do her best to try and get them together."

Diana confessed in a BBC Panorama programme back in 1995 that she and Mr Hewitt had had an affair. Dian and then-Prince Charles separated in 1992, completing their divorce four years later in 1996.

When asked whether the approach to menta health had changed since Diana's death, he added: "I think we've progressed and it's seemingly more possible to talk about those kind of problems now, in a way I think that's a good thing."

He also spoke about the BBC's treatment of Diana after the infamous Panorama interview, for which the corporation has since apologised.

Mr Hewitt said: "It was a stitch up job. It was appalling of (Martin) Bashir to inveigled, lied to her criminal activity, absolutely appalling. As I've said, I hate bullies and bullying and arrogant people and I think it's appalling."

When Richard asked when James last spoke to Diana, he admitted: "After that, just after" to which Richard probed: "How was that" as the officer replied "Distant, probably."

The TV presrnter said it "created real problems, didn't it", to which James responded: "Yes, it did create problems, but I'm trying to move on from that, and this is admittedly personal for me to try and move on and to help as best I can."

In a previous interview in March 2017, Mr Hewitt spoke out about his affair with Diana, denying long-standing rumours he could have been Harry's father.

In an interview with Channel Seven's Sunday Night in Australia, Mr Hewitt was asked: "Are you Harry's father?" to which he bluntly replied: "No, I'm not." The host asked him: "Why does that keep being repeated?" to which he confessed: "It sells papers".

Hewitt has previously described the couple's five-year relationship as "exciting and sexy". In a magazine with Zoo in January 2013, he said: "The situation that Princess Diana and I were in made it exciting and sexy because it was risky. The danger spiced it up a bit, if you know what I mean."

Diana's now infamous Panorama interview saw her open up about her struggles with royal life, how she isolated and supported and how her husband Charles's staff wanted to undermine her.

She confessed to adultery with Mr Hewitt, and said of Charles' affair with Camilla Parker Boweles: "There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded."

Good Morning Britain airs on weekdays from 6am on ITV1 or catch up on ITVX.