Burrell says Dodi not ‘the one’ for Di

The Princess of Wales's former butler Paul Burrell has told the inquest into her death that Dodi Fayed was not "the one" for Diana. Burrell, who flew in from his Florida home to give evidence, told a packed courtroom in London how the relationship blossomed during the final month of Diana's life in 1997. He described it as an "exciting time" for the Princess. However the former aide - who once famously claimed that Diana called him her 'rock' - cast doubt on the idea that the couple were poised to announce their engagement when they were killed.

Burrell said that he did not believe the couple's romance had begun during a holiday on Mohamed Fayed's yacht at the end of July 1997, as is widely believed, but only after their return. He told the inquest that although the couple had been in frequent contact after Diana's return to London, he was aware of Dodi visiting Kensington Palace only once during that time.

Asked by Ian Burnett QC, representing the inquest, about the nature of the relationship by mid-August, Burrell replied: "It was very fresh, new and exciting." Mr Burnett went on: "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'?" The former butler said: "No, I didn't have that impression." (Continued below)

Meanwhile the man who Diana called her 'dishy doctor' - and who Burrell used to smuggle into Kensington Palace in the boot of his car - has spoken for the first time about their affair. Heart surgeon Hasnat Khan said yesterday that the 23-month affair still casts a long shadow over his life. "Sometimes I feel like screaming," he told the Mail on Sunday. "There have been very bad times. I have moved on, but it keeps coming back."

The interview revealed that the past 10 years have not been kind to Khan. The man who Diana once likened to actor Omar Sharif is now severely overweight and his arranged marriage - to Hadia Sher Ali, the 29-year old daughter of an Afghan noble - has ended after just 18 months. "We've separated," said Khan. “There were multiple reasons. That's really all I can say."

Burrell told the inquest today that Diana had once asked him to find out whether it was possible for a 'private marriage' to be arranged for her and Hasnat Khan. Burrell said he spoke to his parish priest about it.