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 before the infamous Panorama interview that would forever alter Diana’s life. You might remember that interview, when Princess Diana opened up about her struggles with mental health and the challenges 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 certainly true. But she also had personal reasons. Beneath the surface, her motivations were deeply emotional. At 35, Diana had found a reason to smile again.
When Diana and Khan began seeing each other, it became her most serious relationship since her separation from Prince Charles three years earlier. But it was wrapped in secrecy. Few knew about their budding romance — a bond that seemed improbable at first glance. Dr. Khan, then 37, was a heart surgeon who was running fat and smoked a pack of cigarettes a day.
He had a penchant for late‑night jazz clubs and Kentucky Fried Chicken — an unconventional match for the Princess of Wales.
But that didn’t stop Diana.
“He’s drop‑dead gorgeous,” Diana reportedly told Oonagh Toffolo.
Secret messages
To keep their love hidden, Diana cleverly disguised her messages for Khan, using the alias “Dr. Armani.” They met in secret, often in unconventional places to avoid prying eyes.
Once, Diana wore 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 blossomed even during simple 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 laugh.
Diana was so smitten 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 exploring 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 warm afternoon tea.
Met William and Harry
Their whirlwind romance grew more serious 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 said he was “the love of her life,” and that she was devastated when their relationship ended.
But like many love stories, theirs faced obstacles.
The mounting pressure from the media began to strain their relationship. While Diana was used to the spotlight, for Khan, the intense scrutiny was overwhelming.
He feared that going public could jeopardize his career.
They discussed possible solutions, including moving to Pakistan — a plan that nearly happened. They also considered relocating to Australia or South Africa, but nothing came of it. According to The Guardian, Diana’s desire for public acknowledgment clashed with Khan’s reluctance, leading to a heartbreaking end: 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, learning about it only after it became public. “When I found out, I was really mad; mad as hell,” he admitted in a 2012 interview.
Khan attended her funeral at Westminster Abbey. The shadow of her tragic death still lingers. “Sometimes I feel like screaming,” Khan said, reflecting on the emotional turmoil. “There have been very bad times. I have moved on, but it keeps coming back.”
Despite the heartbreak, Khan remembers Diana fondly: “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 participating in humanitarian efforts in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Reflecting on his life, Khan said: “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 a fascinating chapter in her life — a testament to the complexity of love in the face of royal duty and relentless public scrutiny.
As we remember the Princess, we honor 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.