Princess Diana was known for her heartfelt visits to hospitals, where she brought joy and hope to those in need.
However, one visit turned into something far more — a passionate love affair that remained shrouded in secrecy for years.
It’s 1995 – just two months prior to the infamous Panorama interview that would forever alter Diana’s life. You might remember that interview, when Princess Diana came clean about her struggles with mental health and the trials of her marriage, capturing the world’s empathy.
Two months before that interview, Diana crossed paths with a handsome doctor, a Muslim whose dark good looks were compared to the charming actor Omar Sharif.
The dashing heart surgeon, Dr. Hasnat Khan, worked at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London. But how did this unlikely pair end up together?
Well, that’s because Joe Toffolo, the patient who underwent surgery, was married to Oonagh Shanley-Toffolo, an Irish nun and acupuncturist who was a close confidante of Princess Diana.
After the initial visit, Diana returned to the hospital almost daily for three weeks, eager to pursue the handsome surgeon. The connection was electric.
Smoked cigarettes and loved KFC
Today, when we look back at countless photos of Diana visiting the hospital, it’s officially stated that she went to cheer up sick children or raise awareness for cystic fibrosis.
That’s definitely true. However, she also had personal reasons. Beneath the surface, her motivations were deeply personal. Because at 35, Diana had discovered a reason to smile once more.
(Photo by Stan Karczmarz/Sygma via Getty Images)
When Diana and Khan started seeing each other, it marked Diana’s most serious involvement since her separation from Prince Charles three years earlier.
But it came shrouded in secrecy. Few knew about their budding romance, a bond that seemed improbable at first glance. Dr. Khan, then 37, was a heart surgeon
that was running fat and smoked a pack of cigarettes a day,
He had penchant for late-night jazz clubs and Kentucky Fried Chicken — an unconventional match for the Princess of Wales.
But this didn’t stop Diana.
”He’s drop-dead gorgeous,” Diana reportedly told Oonagh Toffolo.
Secret messages
To keep their love under wraps, Diana cleverly disguised her messages for Khan, using the alias ”Dr. Armani.” They met in secret, often in unconventional spots to avoid prying eyes.
On one occasion, Diana donned a black wig to sneak into Ronnie Scott’s, a famous jazz club in Soho. In another instance, Khan hid in the boot of a car to slip into Kensington Palace, aided by Diana’s loyal butler, Paul Burrell.
Their romance flourished even during casual outings.
One day, when Diana was feeling low, Khan whisked her away to a pub near Harefield Hospital where he had worked. The name? The Prince of Wales.
”She thought it was hilarious,” he recalled with a chuckle.
Diana was so enamored that she even asked her butler to find a priest who could marry them, despite Khan’s Muslim faith. Their love deepened as they spent time together, sharing laughter and discovering each other’s worlds.
Diana reportedly read books on Islam and cherished a photograph of “my dishy doctor.” She even visited Khan’s family in Lahore, Pakistan, where she embraced their culture and enjoyed a delightful afternoon tea.
Met William and Harry
This whirlwind romance took a more serious turn when Diana introduced Khan to her sons, William and Harry.
She described him as “Mr. Wonderful” and, according to her butler Burrell, she referred to Khan as her soulmate. Friends of Diana stated that he was ”the love of her life” and that she expressed distress when their relationship ended.
Yet, as love stories often go, their fairytale faced obstacles.
The mounting pressure from the media began to take a toll on their relationship. While Diana was accustomed to the limelight, for Khan, the intense scrutiny was daunting.
He feared that pursuing their relationship publicly could jeopardize his career.
They discussed possible solutions, including moving to Pakistan — a plan that nearly came to fruition. Talks of relocating to Australia or South Africa were also on the table, but nothing materialized. According to The Guardian, Diana’s desire for public acknowledgment clashed with Khan’s reluctance, leading to a heartbreaking conclusion: the romance ended in July 1997.
Khan finds out about Dodi
Just a month later, tragedy struck. In the early hours of August 31, 1997, Diana died in a car crash in Paris, alongside her partner Dodi Fayed and their driver, Henri Paul.
Khan was blindsided by the news of Diana’s relationship with Dodi, discovering it only after it became public. ”When I found out, I was really mad; mad as hell,” he confessed in a 2012 interview.
Khan attended her funeral at Westminster Abbey.
The shadow of her tragic death looms over him still. “Sometimes I feel like screaming,” Khan shared, reflecting on the emotional turmoil. “There have been very bad times. I have moved on, but it keeps coming back.”
Despite the heartbreak, Khan fondly remembers Diana: ”We all have our drawbacks, but I found her a very normal person with great qualities and some personal drawbacks, like bad habits.”
Hasnat Khan today
In 2006, Khan married Hadia Sher Ali, a 28-year-old woman descended from Afghan royalty, but the couple divorced two years later.
He now lives in the UK, continuing his work as a heart surgeon and engaging in humanitarian efforts in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Reflecting on his life, Khan shared: ”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.”
Though the romance between Princess Diana and Dr. Hasnat Khan was short-lived, it remains an interesting chapter in her life, a testament to the complexity of love in the face of royal duty and public scrutiny.
As we remember the Princess, we celebrate not just her legacy, but also the love she shared with a man who saw her for who she truly was—a normal person with extraordinary qualities.
Paris Hilton, sad news
Paris Hilton revealed her anguish and annoyance at hearing disparaging remarks about her 8-month-old baby, Phoenix Barron, in a recent emotional social media post.
Hilton didn’t take long to protect her child from these harmful remarks because she is a strong and compassionate mother.
An Amazing and Hardy Child
Hilton, who is renowned for her composure under duress, highlighted that Phoenix the infant is both “perfectly healthy” and has a “large brain.” She wished to convey that her son is a happy, independent young man who is deserving of love and respect.
Hilton vented her frustration on her Instagram Story about people who would harm her child. She anticipates remarks because she is a well-known person, but it is just “unacceptable” and extremely upsetting to target her child or anybody else’s.
Hilton is hoping for the same in return for all of the hard work she has put into creating a loving, respectful, and accepting workplace.
The Difficulties of Being a Mother in Public
It may be difficult to navigate parenthood in the spotlight, and Hilton is aware of the particular difficulties she encounters. Some people believe she’s not a good mother if she doesn’t share pictures of her child on social media.
However, there are some that react cruelly and hatefully when she does share happy moments. Hilton doesn’t waver in her devotion to and delight in her kid, though.
She calls him the “biggest blessing” of her life and describes him as “perfectly healthy, adorable, and angelic.” Her desire to have a child has really come true.
For Hilton, spending each day with Phoenix is a potent reminder of what’s important in life. In spite of the nasty remarks, she begs for compassion and understanding from others.
She finds it hard to understand why someone would criticize such innocence. Through her brave narrative, Paris Hilton aspires to encourage greater empathy in society.
Although the event made her more aware of cruelty, it also brought her support from mothers in her community and online who stood up for her and Phoenix.
Knowing that there are so many people in the world that adore and support me fills me with such gratitude. It meant a lot to me that someone was watching out for Phoenix and that they would stand up for me.
The Paris in Love actress claims that parents have been reaching out to her via emails, direct messages, and other correspondence, saying they couldn’t believe she had to go through this at such an early stage of motherhood.
“I just read through all of the notes expressing how much people like Phoenix, how stunning he is, and how important it is to ignore trolls. Seeing how much love there is for my son and me simply meant a lot to me. I sincerely thank everyone who is reading this. I sincerely appreciate everyone’s concern for us.
As she begins this new chapter of parenting with Reum, Hilton, a mother of two, enters the holiday season and declares herself to be “just over the moon that our little princess is here!”
“Having my little baby boy and now my little girl makes my life feel so complete,” the woman tells PEOPLE.
Phoenix was born, and according to Hilton, the pair is “just so grateful and so happy.” Being able to spend our first holidays as parents is amazing.
“I’m eagerly anticipating those times. I’ve always loved the holidays, but now that I have family to spend them with, they’re even more meaningful to me.
Celebrating the Arrival of Phoenix
On January 16, Paris Hilton and her husband Carter Reum welcomed their first child, Phoenix, into the world via surrogacy.
Hilton expressed her unfathomable love for Phoenix on Instagram along with the happy news of his arrival. By telling people about this amazing tale of love and hope, let’s celebrate it. We can share compassion and understanding by working together.
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