London: Princess Diana seriously contemplated marrying "love of her life" Pakistani-origin heart surgeon Hasnat Khan in the months before she died, her inquest was told.

Diana's controversial former butler Paul Burrell made the claim as he was giving his highly anticipated evidence at the High Court yesterday.

49-year-old Burrell said, "Diana asked me if I would try to arrange a private marriage." He said he consulted a Catholic parish priest near Kensington Palace in October 1996 and the priest, Father Anthony Parsons, "knew who the woman was but not the man".

According to Burrell, Diana's sons Princes William and Harry were aware of their mother's two-year relationship and how serious it was - and "liked" Dr Khan.

Even the Queen's sister, the late Princess Margaret - Diana's next door - was aware of the couples "clandestine comings and goings." Burrell said Diana also wanted Khan to move in with her at the Palace.

He said, "Plans were being laid already for Hasnat to have his own quarters, his own apartment. We decided, me and her, that we would turn some of the rooms into Hasnat's own rooms where he would have some privacy."

Source : PTI