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.
“Not Doing a Very Good Job of Being a Mother,” Angelina Jolie Appeared With Her Son Pax, Sparking Public Outrage
Angelina Jolie attended the event, as always, accompanied by one of her children. This time, the actress was joined by Pax, who had been involved in a serious accident over the summer. His appearance sparked a negative reaction from the public.
49-year-old Angelina Jolie and her 20-year-old son Pax Jolie-Pitt turned heads on the red carpet. Angelina embodied old Hollywood glamour in a stunning black gown that draped elegantly over her figure.
The sleeveless design added sophistication, and she accessorized it with long black gloves that extended over her elbows. Her blonde hair was styled straight with a middle part, perfectly framing her face. Her minimal yet radiant makeup highlighted her flawless complexion.
Pax, still recovering from his accident, walked confidently beside his mother. He wore a sleek black suit, matching trousers, and patent leather dress shoes. His look was completed with a crisp white dress shirt, a black tie, and dark sunglasses. Despite the visible scars on his forehead and an arm cast hidden under his jacket, Pax exuded confidence.
Pax Jolie-Pitt met with an e-bike accident and is recovering from the traumatic incident that occurred when he collided with a car in Los Angeles. The accident happened during rush hour on July 29, leaving witnesses fearing the worst. Pax lost consciousness at the scene. Paramedics revived him, and he was quickly taken to the hospital, where Angelina stayed by his side. Pax had been riding a Talaria Sting R MX4 electric bike, a popular model priced around $3,000.
Pax was hospitalized following an accident that occurred around 5 p.m. on Monday, July 29, in an area of Los Feliz Boulevard. A week later, a source revealed that Pax was “still recovering” after being discharged from an ICU in Los Angeles. “He’s uncomfortable and will require additional treatments. Still, he was very fortunate,” the insider shared. “It could have been much worse, especially since he wasn’t wearing a helmet.”
The source also mentioned that Jolie was “shocked and concerned” when she received the call about the accident, adding that her other children were “doing their best to support Pax.”
Despite the harrowing experience, Pax was in good spirits at the premiere. The bond between him and Angelina was evident as they posed for photos. However, many fans expressed their concern and wondered if it was a good idea for Pax to be on the red carpet while still recovering from the accident. “If he was so seriously injured and is still rehabbing, why did she take him to an event in Toronto?”, commented one. “Why is she always dragging her kids to premieres??…why never a date?” wondered another.
One commenter wrote, “A totally spoiled Pax, and I’m sure his siblings are exactly the same. Raising children without rules and guidelines will nearly always result in youngsters thinking they can do just as they like.” Another added, “Not doing a very good job of being a mother.”
Meanwhile, Brad Pitt took his relationship with his new girlfriend, Ines de Ramon, to the next level: they made their debut as a couple at the Cannes Film Festival.
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