Princess Diana's Loves: The Untold Stories Behind Her Most Memorable Romances

Sain April 19, 2025

As the world’s most beloved figure, Princess Diana was no stranger to male attention. It’s been over two decades since her tragic death, yet her romances remain some of the most talked-about chapters of her extraordinary life. From her horse riding instructor James Hewitt and her devoted bodyguard Barry Mannakee to her enigmatic final love, billionaire Dodi Fayed, Diana’s relationships were as varied as they were captivating.

Let’s take a closer look at the men who captured her heart—and the one who may have broken it. Spoiler alert: It’s not who you think. Keep reading to uncover the truth about Diana’s loves, and don’t miss some surprising insights from those who knew her best.

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But who really captured Diana’s heart? While many close friends have labeled heart surgeon Hasnat Khan as the love of her life, her former bodyguard Ken Wharfe offers a different perspective. Keep scrolling to dive deeper into the stories of all the men who shaped Diana’s life.

Prince Charming: The Turbulent Love Story of Diana and Charles

princess diana prince charles getty images

Diana and Charles. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Despite their highly publicized divorce, Diana never stopped loving her husband, Prince Charles. Her former bodyguard Ken Wharfe shared in a recent interview, "The one true love of Diana's life was her husband. She genuinely loved him." But, as we all know, love isn’t always enough. Ken added, "Unfortunately, he loved someone else, and that was the problem." That someone else, of course, was Camilla Parker Bowles.

Rebellion in Love: Diana and James Hewitt

Ken, who served as Diana’s personal protection officer from 1987 to 1993, believes Diana turned to her horse riding instructor, James Hewitt, as a form of protest against Charles' affair with Camilla. "I’m convinced it was a protest vote on Diana’s part," Ken explained. "She was essentially saying, 'If you can do it, so can I.'"

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But was their relationship as intense as the tabloids made it out to be? Ken revealed that the affair wasn’t as all-consuming as it seemed. "I think he did bring some happiness into her life, but it wasn’t a full-on relationship where they saw each other every weekend," Ken said. "Frankly, within a year, she was lucky if she saw James five or six times. It just wasn’t possible." Diana’s attempts to make Charles jealous ultimately fell flat. "I suspect it didn’t bother him much," Ken admitted. "It bothered Diana a great deal because she loved Charles."