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Diana planned to convert to Islam and marry Dr Hasnat

By Timur Moon

LAHORE: Princess Diana was “on the verge of converting” to the Muslim faith before her tragic death in order to facilitate her planned marriage to the man she loved, Pakistani heart surgeon Hasnat Khan, his parents last night claimed.

Prominent London specialist Hasnat Khan’s father Rashid Ahmed Khan and mother Nahid Khan met the princess in person when she visited their home in the Pakistani city of Lahore in 1996.

She had become increasingly close to Hasnat through her fundraising work at London’s Royal Brompton hospital, where Hasnat worked as a cardiac surgeon.

Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell has described the doctor as her “soulmate” and said, “she begged him to marry her.”

Hasnat’s mother Nahid Khan told Daily Times that her son believed a marriage would prove unworkable.

“Everyone knew she wanted to marry him, but he felt that a marriage would be impossible,” said Mrs Khan. “He said, ‘if we marry, we will not be able to go anywhere together. The two cultures are so different.’

“Perhaps this is why she wanted to become a Muslim. She said before her death that she had made a decision that would shock the world. Her conversion would have made a marriage much easier in Pakistan.”

Hasnat and Diana spent increasing periods of time together after becoming involved in joint fundraising efforts. “She met my son at the Royal Brompton hospital in London,” said Hasnat’s father Rashid Khan. “They were together to help raise donations. They were good friends.”

She subsequently met the family after flying to Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore for the inauguration of the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital, founded by former Pakistan cricket captain Imran Khan, whose wife Jemima was a close friend of Diana.

“She came to Lahore for the hospital’s inauguration,” said Mr Khan. “She came to my residence in Lahore, because of her connections with my son. She was here for a few days, and we met for one or two hours. We exchanged pleasantries. But they never sought my permission to marry.”

His wife added: “Hasnat told me that when he first met Diana in London, he had initially failed to recognise her, which she found very amusing.

“She liked him, and she even asked if she could watch him as he conducted open heart surgery at the hospital.” Mrs Khan said her son had called the family from England to say that Diana was keen to meet them.

“Later she rang herself and asked if she could come and meet us,” said Mrs Khan.

“She was so nice, so friendly and down to earth. She met my mother, Hasnat’s grandmother, my nephews and nieces, all the family. They would always contact her if they were in England.”

Mrs Khan said that her son had always listened to Diana, and would offer her help and advice on anything that was troubling her.

“She used to talk to him about her problems and he would help her. She could trust him to keep her family secrets.”

After spending the day with his family, Diana remained in correspondence with Hasnat’s parents.

Mrs Khan said: “Her letters were always full of love. She once wrote to me that ‘Without love people die’. She respected my son so much, and would tell me in her letters, ‘he is so honest, and so innocent’. She would send greetings to all the family, and they would contact her if they were travelling to England.”

But Mrs Khan denied speculation that Diana had sought to meet Hasnat’s family in order to discuss marriage proposals.

“It was clear that Diana respected Hasnat very much,” she said. “There were a lot of rumours that she wanted to marry him. He didn’t talk to us about it, but he told his friends that a marriage wouldn’t be possible due to the cultural differences.”

Mr Khan claimed that, while Diana was still alive, his son had explicitly ruled out any marriage.

“Before Diana died Hasnat told me that he had no intention of marrying her. I don’t know whether or not my son was involved with her. He never speaks to me about her. It is a matter of the past. Let us forget about it.” Both parents paid tribute to the Princess’ tireless humanitarian work, and her great personal charm.

“She was a good mother, a good social worker, and a wonderfully caring woman” said Mrs Khan.

“She was always concerned for the welfare of poor people, patients, the needy.”

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