Season 5 of The Crown gave viewers a closer look into Princess Diana's personal life as her marriage to King Charles III unraveled. The show delves into her private relationship with Hasnat Khan, a chapter of her life that was largely kept out of the public eye until after her tragic passing. This relationship, though brief, was meaningful and remains a significant part of her story.
Who Is Hasnat Khan?
Hasnat Khan is a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon who was born in Pakistan in 1958. Over the years, he has worked at prestigious institutions like the Royal Brompton Hospital and the London Chest Hospital during the 1990s. By the early 2000s, Hasnat was practicing his craft at St. Bart’s Hospital and Harefield Hospital, according to various reports. In 2013, it was revealed that he was working as a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at Basildon University Hospital.
Hasnat has always been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the portrayal of his relationship with Diana in the 2013 film Diana, starring Naomi Watts and Naveen Andrews. He criticized the movie for relying too heavily on hearsay and conjecture. "It is based on gossip and Diana’s friends talking about a relationship that they didn’t know much about, and some of my relatives who didn’t know much about it either," he stated in an interview with The Daily Mail. "It is all based on hypotheses and gossip."
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How Did Princess Diana Meet Hasnat Khan?
The story of how Diana and Hasnat met is almost poetic. It all began at the Royal Brompton Hospital, where Hasnat was working. Diana had come to visit the husband of her acupuncturist, Oonagh Shanley-Toffolo, who had recently undergone surgery. This chance encounter sparked a friendship that would evolve into something much deeper. Diana began making regular visits to the hospital to see patients, which allowed her to spend more time with Hasnat.
Hasnat once described Diana in glowing terms, emphasizing her humanity and the qualities that made her so beloved by so many. "I found her a very normal person. We all have our drawbacks, but I found her a very normal person with great qualities and some personal drawbacks, like bad habits," he shared with The Daily Mail in 2008. "I think she did great work for the country and for people all over the world—not just in the U.K. but everywhere. I think that is important."
Their friendship blossomed into romance in 1995, just as Diana's marriage to Charles was coming to an end. The couple faced significant challenges, particularly from the intrusive media. "Diana and I had a very good relationship with no personal problems," Hasnat explained. "The only problem we did have was with the media, and the only place we could have any real privacy was at Kensington Palace as they could not get to us there."
When Did Princess Diana and Hasnat Khan Split?
In the summer of 1997, Diana was invited on a luxurious yacht trip to St-Tropez, France, by billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed. She had known the businessman and his eldest son, Dodi Fayed, for over a decade, having first met them at a polo match. After the trip, Diana decided to end things with Hasnat and pursue a relationship with Dodi. The couple spent a blissful month together, splitting their time between Paris and London.
Tragically, their romance was cut short. On August 31, 1997, Diana and Dodi were killed in a devastating car accident in Paris' Pont de l’Alma tunnel. Hasnat attended her funeral at Westminster Abbey, paying his respects to the woman he once loved.
Where Is Hasnat Khan Now?
Following the end of his relationship with Diana, Hasnat went on to marry Hadia Sher Ali in 2006, though the marriage lasted only 18 months. In 2017, it was reported that he was engaged to Somi Sohail. Throughout the years, Hasnat has maintained a low profile, focusing on his career in medicine. Despite the media's interest in his past, he has chosen to keep his personal life private, continuing to serve as a dedicated and respected surgeon.
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