1:00pm Thursday 26th November 2009
A Basildon Hospital surgeon, who was once romantically involved with Diana, Princess of Wales, is set to marry.
In July, the Echo told how Hasnat Khan, 51, had left his native Pakistan to take up a position as a heart and lung specialist at Basildon Hospital’s £60million Cardiothoracic Centre.
Mr Khan enjoyed a two-year relationship with the princess, who once described the devout Muslim as her “Mr Wonderful”.
They met two months before she gave her Panorama interview, in 1995, in which she spoke of her marriage difficulties with Prince Charles.
It was rumoured she once smuggled Mr Khan into Kensington Palace in the boot of a car to see her.
Now, the surgeon is planning to marry Greek woman Alexandra Panagoulas, 30, who is training to be a cardiothoracic surgeon.
Mr Khan chose not to appear at the inquest into the princess’s death, in London, last year, but submitted written evidence.
Contrary to media speculation, it was she who ended their two-year affair after meeting Dodi Fayed, son of Harrods owner, Mohammed Al Fayed.
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