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Diana considered 'marrying Khan' Diana considered 'marrying Khan'
(about 1 hour 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, who worked for Diana for more than 10 years, 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. Diana had said she loved Mr Khan more than "any other man", Mr Burrell said.
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 told London's High Court he had connected Diana's network of friends and been "at the hub of the wheel".
Diana, her companion Dodi Al Fayed and their driver Henri Paul died in Paris in a car crash in August 1997.
She asked me if it was possible to arrange a private marriage between her and Hasnat Khan Paul BurrellShe 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". The "extremely serious relationship" between the princess and Mr Khan had lasted for two years, Mr Burrell said, and Mr 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 had "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. It is not known whether Mr Khan was aware of these discussions.
Yacht holiday
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
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. 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
Instead he thought it was only after their return that the pair became romantically linked. He told the court he did not believe the couple's romance had begun during a holiday on Mr Al Fayed's yacht with her sons, Princes William and Harry at the end of July 1997.
Diana had taken a holiday on Mohamed Al Fayed's yacht, the Jonikal, with her sons, Princes William and Harry. Instead, he thought it was only after their return that the pair became romantically linked.
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 Burrell replied: "No, I didn't have that impression.
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."
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. Hasnat Khan was in a relationship with Diana for two years
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 she had told him: 'I need marriage like a rash'."
'On the rebound' He said the couple were definitely not engaged, and rubbished rumours that they had planned to wed.
"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.
"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". Duke 'not nasty'
Unrivalled knowledge Mr Burrell later told the court he had seen letters between the princess and her father-in-law, the Duke of Edinburgh.
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." Prince Philip is not known for diplomacy but he certainly wouldn't have written nasty notes to the princess. He was fond of the princess Paul Burrell
Diana died along with her lover Dodi Al Fayed and their driver Henri Paul in a car crash in Paris in 1997. The correspondence, written as Diana and the Prince of Wales were divorcing in 1992, was “sharp" but not nasty and reflected the "healthy banter" between the two of them, he said.
"The princess did not particularly like what she was told, but Prince Philip was always frank."
Mr Burrell dismissed claims by psychic healer Simone Simmons who said she had seen two letters from Prince Philip around 1994 or 1995 in which he made disparaging remarks.
"Prince Philip is not known for diplomacy but he certainly wouldn't have written nasty notes to the princess. He was fond of the princess," Mr Burrell said.
He added: "Why would he want to harm her? It's not possible."
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.