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.
Heather Locklear: Navigating the Highs and Lows of Life
Legendary actress Heather Locklear, known for her roles in television shows like “Dynasty,” “T.J. Hooker,” “Melrose Place,” and “Spin City,” has lately re-emerged in the public eye. The 62-year-old actress’s altered appearance in recent paparazzi images has astonished fans. The scar that is clearly visible on her face is proof that her battles with addiction and other personal problems have had an impact.
Heather Locklear was recently pictured in Los Angeles with her fiancé, Chris Heisser, and she hardly looked like herself. After seeing pals, Locklear showed off her kindness by rolling down the car window and giving money to a homeless guy they saw. She was dressed simply in white and went for a makeup-free, natural look.
Chris Heisser and Heather Locklear have seen many highs and lows in their lives. Due to her battles with alcohol and drug addiction, Locklear has had severe bodily changes and legal issues. She sought assistance through over 20 treatment sessions over the years, and she has publicly recounted her fight to conquer addiction.
Locklear has also had trouble locating a committed relationship. Before renewing her high school relationship with Chris Heisser, she went through two miserable marriages to rock singers Tommy Lee and Richie Sambora while attending Newbury Park High School. Four years ago, after they reconnected, they were engaged. Ava Locklear’s kid from her marriage to Sambora recently got engaged to Tyler Farrar, her partner. Locklear’s kid and fiancé’s love and support have surely been a source of strength for her on her road to rehabilitation and atonement.
Unfortunately, news of Locklear’s private problems has frequently surfaced. Police have been summoned to her home multiple times over the years. After being detained in 2018 on suspicion of assaulting an officer and domestic abuse, she became well-known. Locklear was sentenced to 120 days of suspended jail time and 30 days of involuntary admission to a mental health hospital after entering a guilty plea to all charges.
Heather Locklear’s remarkable talent and fascinating performances helped her become one of the most beloved television actresses of the 1980s and 1990s. She was a six-time contender for the Golden Globes, showcasing her versatility in shows including Melrose Place and Spin City. She never received any recognition, although she had a big influence on the television industry.
When thinking back on the highs and lows of “Melrose Place” actress Heather Locklear’s life, it’s critical to keep in mind that beneath the public scrutiny and personal hardships lies a woman who perseveres in facing her obstacles with bravery and fortitude. The lesson from Locklear’s narrative is that one can find hope and take back control of their lives even in the face of adversity.
Leave a Reply