Respected heart surgeon Hasnat Khan, who reportedly had a romantic liaison with Princess Diana, had decided not to go through with an arranged marriage set up by his parents in Pakistan

Sources within the UK Pakistani community say Khan was to have wed a cousin in Lahore selected by his parents Rasheed and Naheed.

Hasnat, known to friends and family as Nathie bhai, was one of the nine suitors revealed by former royal butler Paul Butler who authored the controversial book A Royal Duty that earned him a staggering £300,000 in advance serialisation rights.

Out of all the men in Diana's life following her divorce, Khan is said to have been the most respectful and loyal to her memory and remains in touch with her two sons, Princes William and Harry.

When Diana visited Lahore in 1997 and called on her long time friend Jemima, wife of cricketer Imran Khan, she confided her love of Dr Khan and her desire to make their relationship more permanent.

Soon after she was pictured in a salwar kameez, she confided in Imran's sister how much she was in love with the London-based surgeon.

One story even has Diana urging Dr Khan to move in with her and live in Kensington Palace, but he refused to do so.

It was after Diana's death that the deeply religious Khan family selected a Lahore bride for Dr Khan and the nuptials were expected to go ahead within the next few months, but all that has now changed.

For his part Dr Khan has refused to discuss his personal life with the media, a decision that has earned him the respect of the British royal family, including Prince Charles and his two sons.