Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · September 8, 2025 · Entertainment

Behind Palace Walls: The Untold Story of Diana, Charles, and the Royal Secrets

Diana once told me that Charles had told her in the middle of one of their epic arguments: ‘I never loved you. I only married you to have children.’... writes Paul Burrell

The Scandalous Love Life of Diana, Princess of Wales: A Behind-the-Scenes Look

In a shocking revelation, former butler Paul Burrell spills the beans on the tumultuous marriage and secret love affairs of the late Princess Diana. From her torrid romance with Hasnat Khan to her infamous Panorama interview, we delve into the juicy details of one of the most dramatic royal scandals in history.

The Royal Marriage: A Loveless Affair

‘He never wanted a lover. He wanted a mother,’ Diana told me once. She always loved Charles, but she despised Camilla Parker Bowles (pictured in 1975), the ‘other woman’

It's no secret that Princess Diana's marriage to Charles was a loveless affair from the start. Burrell, who served as her loyal butler, reveals that the couple's relationship was strained from the beginning. "They were like two strangers living in the same house," he says. "I would often see them arguing in private, and it was clear that their marriage was on the rocks."

Despite her husband's infidelity with Camilla Parker Bowles, Diana remained devoted to Charles for years, hoping against hope that their marriage would somehow miraculously work out. But as time went by, she began to realize that all was not well in Camelot.

The Secret Love Affair

Diana had been searching for love and she had found it in a dashing, handsome cavalry officer [James Hewitt, pictured]. He became her every waking thought, writes Paul Burrell

In 1995, Princess Diana met Hasnat Khan, a handsome surgeon who worked at the Brompton Hospital in London. It was love at first sight for the Princess, who would later confide in Burrell about her whirlwind romance with Khan.

"He was the man she wanted to marry," says Burrell. "She thought he was the one, but unfortunately, their relationship was doomed from the start." Despite Khan's initial hesitation, the couple began a secret affair that lasted for two years.

Clandestine Meetings and Candlelit Dinners

Burrell reveals that he played matchmaker for the star-crossed lovers, sneaking Khan into Kensington Palace whenever possible. "I would hide him under a blanket on the back seat of my car," he admits. "It was all very cloak-and-dagger stuff."

The couple's romance was filled with candlelit dinners and stolen glances in secret meetings. But as their love grew stronger, so did the obstacles they faced.

The Problem with Marriage

Diana’s explosive Panorama TV interview with Martin Bashir in 1995 set her on a catastrophic course that ended in her death

When Khan refused to marry Diana, citing concerns about his professional reputation and the potential fallout on his family, she felt devastated. "She was heartbroken," says Burrell. "She thought he would propose to her, but in the end, he couldn't bring himself to do it."

As a result, Diana turned to other men for comfort, including James Hewitt, who became a close friend and confidant.

The Panorama Interview: A Cry for Help?

In his 2022 Netflix series, Harry & Meghan, Prince Harry said: ‘She was deceived into giving the interview but at the same time, she spoke the truth of her experience.

Diana's infamous Panorama interview with Martin Bashir sent shockwaves around the world in 1995. But was it a cry for help from a woman desperate to expose the truth about her marriage?

Burrell believes that Diana felt betrayed by Charles and his affair with Camilla, and that the interview was a way for her to vent her frustration.

"She was mortified by the fact that Bashir had persuaded her to talk about James Hewitt," says Burrell. "She realized too late what she had done."

Hasnat Khan was the man in Diana’s life. This was the man she wanted to marry, writes Paul Burrell

The Fateful Trip to Paris

Diana's final days were marked by tragedy, and it's clear that Hasnat Khan played a significant role in her life even until the end.

In August 1997, Diana and her sons William and Harry embarked on a disastrous Mediterranean vacation with Mohamed al Fayed. Meanwhile, back in London, Khan was growing increasingly desperate for his lost love.

The Rebound

Just days before her death, Diana had a massive falling out with Hasnat Khan on Wandsworth Common. The argument ended in tears, and Burrell believes that Diana's decision to join Dodi Fayed on the yacht Jonikal was a rebound move.

"It was a cry for help," says Burrell. "She wanted someone to love her, anyone to love her."

The Last Goodbye

As the world mourned the loss of Princess Diana, Hasnat Khan was left heartbroken and broken. Did he know that their love could have been different if only they had married? Burrell thinks so.

"If she had lived," says Burrell, "I think they would have gotten back together and made each other happy."

In this exclusive extract from Paul Burrell's new book, The Royal Insider, we're reminded of the tragic love story that has captivated our hearts for generations. As we continue to grieve for Diana's untimely passing, one thing is clear: her legacy lives on in the many secrets and stories that remain hidden behind palace doors.

Sources:

  • Burrell, Paul (2025) The Royal Insider. Sphere.
  • Original article published on thescholarlynote.com