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| Diana considered 'marrying Khan' | Diana considered 'marrying Khan' |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Princess Diana's former butler has told the inquest into her death she had considered a private marriage to heart surgeon Hasnat Khan. | Princess Diana's former butler has told the inquest into her death she had considered a private marriage to heart surgeon Hasnat Khan. |
| Paul Burrell said he spoke to his parish priest about how a Christian woman and Muslim man might marry. | Paul Burrell said he spoke to his parish priest about how a Christian woman and Muslim man might marry. |
| Mr Burrell worked for Diana for more than 10 years. | Mr Burrell worked for Diana for more than 10 years. |
| He also said that he "connected all the princess's friends and all her world" and was "at the hub of the wheel, everybody was at the spokes". | He also said that he "connected all the princess's friends and all her world" and was "at the hub of the wheel, everybody was at the spokes". |
| She asked me if it was possible to arrange a private marriage between her and Hasnat Khan Paul Burrell | She asked me if it was possible to arrange a private marriage between her and Hasnat Khan Paul Burrell |
| Mr Burrell said Diana told him that she had been more in love with Mr Khan than "any other man". | Mr Burrell said Diana told him that she had been more in love with Mr Khan than "any other man". |
| The "extremely serious relationship" had lasted for two years, he said, and Dr Khan had been a regular visitor to Kensington Palace until the couple parted in July 1997. | The "extremely serious relationship" had lasted for two years, he said, and Dr Khan had been a regular visitor to Kensington Palace until the couple parted in July 1997. |
| When asked by Ian Burnett QC, representing the inquest, whether she "contemplated" marriage with Mr Khan, the former butler replied: "Yes, she did. | When asked by Ian Burnett QC, representing the inquest, whether she "contemplated" marriage with Mr Khan, the former butler replied: "Yes, she did. |
| "She asked me if it was possible to arrange a private marriage between her and Hasnat Khan." | "She asked me if it was possible to arrange a private marriage between her and Hasnat Khan." |
| However, it is not known whether Mr Khan was aware of these discussions. | However, it is not known whether Mr Khan was aware of these discussions. |
| Mr Burrell also said he had not been given the impression that her boyfriend, Dodi Al Fayed, was "the one". | Mr Burrell also said he had not been given the impression that her boyfriend, Dodi Al Fayed, was "the one". |
| The next gift you are going to receive will be a ring and it could be misconstrued as an engagement ring Paul Burrell to Diana | The next gift you are going to receive will be a ring and it could be misconstrued as an engagement ring Paul Burrell to Diana |
| He described Diana's relationship with Mr Al Fayed as "a very new friendship which developed into something more". | He described Diana's relationship with Mr Al Fayed as "a very new friendship which developed into something more". |
| He told the High Court in London that he did not believe the couple's romance had begun during a holiday on Mr Al Fayed's yacht at the end of July 1997. | He told the High Court in London that he did not believe the couple's romance had begun during a holiday on Mr Al Fayed's yacht at the end of July 1997. |
| Instead he thought it was only after their return that the pair became romantically linked. | Instead he thought it was only after their return that the pair became romantically linked. |
| Diana had taken a holiday on Mohamed Al Fayed's yacht, the Jonikal, with her sons, Princes William and Harry. | Diana had taken a holiday on Mohamed Al Fayed's yacht, the Jonikal, with her sons, Princes William and Harry. |
| When asked by Mr Burnett about the early nature of the relationship, Mr Burnell replied: "It was very fresh, new and exciting." | When asked by Mr Burnett about the early nature of the relationship, Mr Burnell replied: "It was very fresh, new and exciting." |
| Mr Burnett also asked: "By that stage had you any sense from the Princess that... to use a hackneyed phrase that has appeared in so many media reports, Dodi was 'the one'?" | Mr Burnett also asked: "By that stage had you any sense from the Princess that... to use a hackneyed phrase that has appeared in so many media reports, Dodi was 'the one'?" |
| Mr Burrell replied: "No, I didn't have that impression. | Mr Burrell replied: "No, I didn't have that impression. |
| Showered with gifts | Showered with gifts |
| "I certainly don't think the romance started on the first holiday. I think that would have been inappropriate with William and Harry being in attendance." | "I certainly don't think the romance started on the first holiday. I think that would have been inappropriate with William and Harry being in attendance." |
| Hasnat Khan was in a relationship with Diana for two years | |
| Mr Burrell also said a ring bought by Mr Fayed for the princess was "not an engagement ring, it was a friendship band". | Mr Burrell also said a ring bought by Mr Fayed for the princess was "not an engagement ring, it was a friendship band". |
| He said that to make sure no-one, including Mr Al Fayed, would be misled into thinking it was anything else, Diana wore it on the fourth finger of her right hand instead of on her left. | He said that to make sure no-one, including Mr Al Fayed, would be misled into thinking it was anything else, Diana wore it on the fourth finger of her right hand instead of on her left. |
| Mr Burrell said this was his idea, made to the excited princess as she was being showered with gifts of "very expensive" Bulgari jewellery by her new beau that included a necklace, earrings, a bracelet and a watch. | Mr Burrell said this was his idea, made to the excited princess as she was being showered with gifts of "very expensive" Bulgari jewellery by her new beau that included a necklace, earrings, a bracelet and a watch. |
| Mr Burrell said he told Diana: "You know what is coming next. The next gift you are going to receive will be a ring and it could be misconstrued as an engagement ring. | Mr Burrell said he told Diana: "You know what is coming next. The next gift you are going to receive will be a ring and it could be misconstrued as an engagement ring. |
| 'On the rebound' | 'On the rebound' |
| "She said 'If he gave me a ring, what should I do with it?' and I said 'Put it on the fourth finger of your right hand and immediately he will see that it is a friendship ring, not an engagement ring' and that's when she said 'I need marriage like a rash'." | "She said 'If he gave me a ring, what should I do with it?' and I said 'Put it on the fourth finger of your right hand and immediately he will see that it is a friendship ring, not an engagement ring' and that's when she said 'I need marriage like a rash'." |
| Mr Burrell said the couple were definitely not engaged and rubbished rumours that they planned to wed. | Mr Burrell said the couple were definitely not engaged and rubbished rumours that they planned to wed. |
| "This was only a 30-day relationship. The princess had just finished a long-term relationship with someone she had cared deeply about. I know that because I was there and saw it. | "This was only a 30-day relationship. The princess had just finished a long-term relationship with someone she had cared deeply about. I know that because I was there and saw it. |
| "And on the rebound from that relationship, (she) had met someone who was very kind, generous and spoiling. The princess enjoyed it." | "And on the rebound from that relationship, (she) had met someone who was very kind, generous and spoiling. The princess enjoyed it." |
| He said that if Diana had got engaged she would have told close friend Lucia Flecha de Lima or "someone she trusted as much as me". | He said that if Diana had got engaged she would have told close friend Lucia Flecha de Lima or "someone she trusted as much as me". |
| Unrivalled knowledge | Unrivalled knowledge |
| Coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker has previously said the jury may think Mr Burrell had unrivalled knowledge of intimate aspects of Diana's life as he "plainly had a close professional relationship with Diana." | Coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker has previously said the jury may think Mr Burrell had unrivalled knowledge of intimate aspects of Diana's life as he "plainly had a close professional relationship with Diana." |
| Diana died along with her lover Dodi Al Fayed and their driver Henri Paul in a car crash in Paris in 1997. | Diana died along with her lover Dodi Al Fayed and their driver Henri Paul in a car crash in Paris in 1997. |
| Mr Burrell is likely to be questioned about a note from the princess to him in which she said that her husband Prince Charles was "planning an accident in my car". | Mr Burrell is likely to be questioned about a note from the princess to him in which she said that her husband Prince Charles was "planning an accident in my car". |
| He may also be asked about a conversation he had with the Queen in which he claims she warned him: "There are powers at work in this country about which we have no knowledge." | He may also be asked about a conversation he had with the Queen in which he claims she warned him: "There are powers at work in this country about which we have no knowledge." |
| In 2002 Mr Burrell, who worked for the Royal Family for more than 20 years, was cleared of stealing Diana's possessions after an Old Bailey trial collapsed. | In 2002 Mr Burrell, who worked for the Royal Family for more than 20 years, was cleared of stealing Diana's possessions after an Old Bailey trial collapsed. |