Princess Diana’s life was filled with public adoration, royal responsibilities, and heartbreak, but one chapter in her personal life remains particularly captivating: her secret romance with Dr. Hasnat Khan, a Pakistani heart surgeon. Their love affair, which began in 1995, was shrouded in secrecy, far removed from the world’s prying eyes, and it remains one of the most intriguing and emotional aspects of Diana’s life.
A Chance Meeting That Sparked a Deep Connection
The love story of Princess Diana and Hasnat Khan began under unlikely circumstances. In 1995, Diana was visiting the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, where Khan worked as a heart surgeon. Diana’s initial visit was meant to support Joe Toffolo, a patient undergoing surgery, but it was Khan who caught her attention. The handsome, reserved doctor became the object of her affection, and their connection was immediate.
Diana, already familiar with the pressures of public life and the toll it had taken on her marriage to Prince Charles, found herself drawn to Khan’s calm and humble demeanor. She was 35 at the time, separated from Charles for three years, and seeking solace in her personal life. What began as a simple hospital visit soon turned into a passionate romance, one that would remain mostly hidden from the public for years.
Diana at Royal Brompton Hospital / Getty Images
A Secret Love Affair
Diana was no stranger to the spotlight, but this relationship was different. She and Khan carefully kept their romance out of the public eye, using aliases and secret meeting spots to avoid detection. Diana, known for her beauty and high-profile persona, was willing to go to great lengths to keep her relationship private. She even used the alias “Dr. Armani” to communicate with Khan.
Their meetings were often in secluded places, away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi. On one occasion, Diana wore a black wig to disguise her appearance while attending a jazz club in Soho. In another instance, Khan hid in the trunk of a car to enter Kensington Palace, aided by Diana’s loyal butler, Paul Burrell.
Despite their efforts to stay out of the public eye, their relationship was far from ordinary. Diana was so enchanted by Khan that she even asked her butler to find a priest who could marry them, despite Khan’s Muslim faith. She was deeply invested in their future together, even visiting Khan’s family in Lahore, Pakistan, where she embraced their culture and enjoyed an afternoon tea with his relatives.
Pakistani surgeon Hasnat Khan, identified as an “ex-lover” of Lady Diana, Princess of Wales.
(Photo by Stan Karczmarz/Sygma via Getty Images)
A Relationship Filled with Emotion and Challenges
As their relationship blossomed, Diana’s feelings for Khan deepened. She referred to him as “Mr. Wonderful” and confided in her friends that he was “the love of her life.” The pair enjoyed a playful and intimate bond, sharing moments of joy, laughter, and mutual admiration. Diana reportedly cherished a photograph of Khan, calling him “my dishy doctor.”
However, as their romance grew more serious, so did the obstacles. The mounting pressure from the media and the public’s insatiable curiosity about Diana’s personal life took a toll on their relationship. Diana, who had lived much of her life in the public eye, was accustomed to scrutiny, but for Khan, the attention was overwhelming. He was deeply concerned that their relationship could jeopardize his career and personal life.
In an effort to find a way forward, Diana and Khan discussed moving abroad. Plans to relocate to Pakistan, Australia, or South Africa were considered, but the pressures of living in the spotlight were too much to bear. Diana’s desire for public acknowledgment of their relationship clashed with Khan’s need for privacy, leading to their heartbreaking breakup in July 1997.
Diana, Princess Of Wales, arriving at The Royal Brompton Hospital, Fulham Road, London. The Princess is wearing a high-buttoning pale blue jacket designed by Versace / Tim Graham / Getty Images
The Heartbreaking End
Just a month after their breakup, tragedy struck. On August 31, 1997, Diana died in a car crash in Paris, alongside her partner Dodi Fayed and their driver, Henri Paul. Khan, still reeling from their breakup, was blindsided by the news of Diana’s relationship with Dodi Fayed, discovering it only after it became public. In a 2012 interview, Khan confessed, “When I found out, I was really mad; mad as hell.”
Khan attended Diana’s funeral at Westminster Abbey, and the shadow of her tragic death still looms over him. “Sometimes I feel like screaming,” he admitted, reflecting on the emotional turmoil of losing her. Despite the pain, Khan fondly remembers Diana as a “very normal person with great qualities” who was not defined by her public image.
Hasnat Khan After Diana
Following his relationship with Diana, Khan’s life took its own path. In 2006, he married Hadia Sher Ali, a woman descended from Afghan royalty, but their marriage ended in divorce two years later. Khan has continued his work as a heart surgeon, engaging in humanitarian efforts in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Khan’s life now is focused on finding peace and solitude. “It is very good to be home. I am quite relieved to be home. My blood pressure is stable—I go fishing, I go for walks. It feels like a sanctuary. It’s very peaceful,” he shared in an interview. While the romance with Diana may be a distant memory, the impact it had on both their lives is undeniable.
The Legacy of a Hidden Love
The love story between Princess Diana and Dr. Hasnat Khan may have been short-lived, but it remains one of the most poignant chapters in her life. Their romance was filled with genuine emotion and connection, but it was also complicated by the pressures of their respective worlds. Diana, who had long been the subject of public fascination, found solace in the quiet, private love that Khan offered her. Unfortunately, the constraints of royal duty and media attention made it impossible for their relationship to thrive.
Despite their tragic separation and her untimely death, Khan continues to remember Diana with affection. Their love story serves as a reminder that even those in the public eye are capable of experiencing real, deep, and personal connections, despite the overwhelming challenges they may face.
As we reflect on Princess Diana’s legacy, we celebrate not just her public contributions, but also the private love she shared with a man who saw her for who she truly was—a woman with extraordinary qualities, navigating the complexities of life in the spotlight.
