Former Butler Claims Princess Diana Hoped to Be America’s First Lady: “If They Were Together…”

Princess Diana, who once enjoyed the compassion and support of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, ceased to have a friendly face within the institution once her divorce from Prince Charles was finalized. Diana later alleged that the royal family showed little sympathy for her battle with depression. While she knew she was never going to be Queen, she reportedly had her eyes set on a new future. Paul Burrell, her former butler, claims that Diana had hoped to marry a wealthy New York businessman who wanted to become president and believed she could become America's first lady. Although it sounds unrealistic, it wasn't at all out of the question given Diana's charm and the many billionaires who pursued her.

Burrell made the revelation in an exclusive interview with Kate Snow on 'Good Morning America.' As reported by ABC News, he said, "She knew a billionaire in America, and she suggested to him that if they were together…His yearning to run in politics could lead to the White House, that one day she could be the first lady and she'd visit Britain on a state visit." Burrell shared that Diana admired America’s fashionable First Ladies and aspired to be one herself. He added, "She's been a huge fan of Jackie Onassis for years, and a huge admirer, too, of Nancy Reagan and Hillary Clinton. But Jackie Onassis had the edge."

The former butler continued, "She fantasized about redecorating the White House...It could have been a reality. It really could. They would have been a golden couple." Despite the possibilities, the mystery man in question wasn’t Diana’s great love—nor were Prince Charles or Dodi Al Fayed, according to Burrell. He dismissed rumors that Diana was engaged to Fayed at the time of their tragic accident in Paris. Instead, he claimed that the Princess had already found her true soulmate long before. That man, he revealed, was Hasnat Khan, a heart surgeon from London. For Diana, Burrell insisted, it was love at first sight.

Burrell explained, "They met by accident. The Princess was visiting a friend at the Royal Brompton Hospital. The elevator was about to close. Someone put their foot in the door. The doors opened, and the Princess saw a man in his scrubs. She looked at him and instantly knew that he was the one. She said to me later, 'Paul, I just knew. He was drop-dead gorgeous.'" However, after just two years, their romance faded, and came to a quiet conclusion. Diana looked for enduring love all of her life, but she frequently found it just out of her reach. So, she continued on, reinventing herself.

After her divorce from Charles, Diana entered a new age, one of freedom, elegance, and a personal style, free from the constraints of royal expectations. While she had previously benefited from the comforts of royal life, her divorce brought with it a new kind of wealth. Diana got away with an astounding £17 million settlement, which at the time was roughly $23.7 million, as reported by The List.