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Diana jury told of surgeon affair | Diana jury told of surgeon affair |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A heart surgeon has given his first detailed account of his two-year relationship with Princess Diana, and insisted it was Diana who ended it. | |
In a statement read out at the inquest into her death, Hasnat Khan said Diana broke up with him following her holiday with Mohammed Al Fayed and his family. | |
He said she had denied meeting anyone else but was not her "normal self". | |
The jury also heard he believed Diana's death in Paris in 1997 shortly after they split up was a "tragic accident". | |
Mr Khan, 48, declined to appear at the High Court in person or via video link from Pakistan, where he now lives. | |
Instead, a statement, understood to have been made to the Metropolitan Police in 2004, was read out to the jury. | |
Black wig | Black wig |
They were told the princess's relationship with the surgeon began in 1995 after they met at London's Royal Brompton Hospital. | |
Mr Khan said Diana had been "down to earth" and "very flirtatious with everyone". | |
He described one occasion when the couple were in a pub and Diana had wanted to order drinks at the bar because it was something she had never done. | |
On another date, Diana wore a black wig on a visit to Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in Soho, central London, he said. | On another date, Diana wore a black wig on a visit to Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in Soho, central London, he said. |
The jury heard the couple went on to have a normal sexual relationship and Mr Khan had "no reason to believe" Diana was ever unfaithful. | |
He said he had often stayed at Kensington Palace and had met princes William and Harry. | |
Mr Khan said he and the princess had discussed the subject of marriage, but believed the press intrusion would make his life hell. | |
'Pakistan move' | 'Pakistan move' |
He said he would not be able to live a normal life and, if they ever had children together, he would never be able to take them anywhere. | He said he would not be able to live a normal life and, if they ever had children together, he would never be able to take them anywhere. |
The only way they could live anything near a normal life would be to move to his home country of Pakistan, where the press did not bother people, he told Diana. | The only way they could live anything near a normal life would be to move to his home country of Pakistan, where the press did not bother people, he told Diana. |
So she went to Pakistan and talked to Jemima Khan, then married to cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan. | So she went to Pakistan and talked to Jemima Khan, then married to cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan. |
"Later I got the impression she did not consider living there a possibility," said Mr Khan. | "Later I got the impression she did not consider living there a possibility," said Mr Khan. |
At a second meeting, she said it was all over between us, but she denied there was anyone else Hasnat Khan | At a second meeting, she said it was all over between us, but she denied there was anyone else Hasnat Khan |
The affair ended a few weeks before she died after a meeting in Battersea Park, in south London. | The affair ended a few weeks before she died after a meeting in Battersea Park, in south London. |
Mr Khan said after Diana returned from a holiday with Mohamed Al Fayed and his family he thought she had met someone else because Diana was "not her normal self". | |
"I did not know who it was. It could have been a bodyguard or anyone," he said. | "I did not know who it was. It could have been a bodyguard or anyone," he said. |
"I was surprised when she said there was no-one else. At a second meeting, she said it was all over between us, but she denied there was anyone else." | "I was surprised when she said there was no-one else. At a second meeting, she said it was all over between us, but she denied there was anyone else." |
It was only when he heard news broadcasts that he learned about Diana's relationship with Mr Al Fayed's son, Dodi. | It was only when he heard news broadcasts that he learned about Diana's relationship with Mr Al Fayed's son, Dodi. |
Dodi died alongside Diana in a car crash in the Pont d'Alma tunnel in Paris in August 1997. | |
The inquest continues. | The inquest continues. |