The late Mohamed Al-Fayed, father of Dodi Fayed, reportedly spent years and millions of pounds investigating the tragic car crash that claimed the lives of his son and Diana, Princess of Wales.
On August 31, 1997, Dodi Fayed and Princess Diana were killed in a car accident in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris. Their driver, Henri Paul, was also killed, while the only survivor was bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones. Investigators later concluded that the crash was caused by reckless driving while under the influence of alcohol and medication, combined with the pursuit of paparazzi.
A Metropolitan Police inquiry ruled the deaths as an unlawful killing. Despite this, conspiracy theories about the incident have persisted for decades, with Mohamed Al-Fayed among those who questioned the official findings.
His personal investigation and suspicions
Reports suggest that Al-Fayed funded private investigations and sought help from Egyptian intelligence in hopes of uncovering what truly happened. According to sources cited by media outlets, he believed the British establishment may have disapproved of Diana’s relationship with his son. However, the official Operation Paget investigation, led by former Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir John Stevens and concluded in 2008, found no evidence of a conspiracy.
“Our conclusion is that, on the evidence available at this time, there was no conspiracy to murder any of the occupants of the car,” Stevens stated.
Those close to Al-Fayed described him as determined to learn the truth, even if he eventually accepted that some questions might never be answered.
Allegations of abuse and Harrods’ response
Beyond his search for answers, Mohamed Al-Fayed’s legacy has also been clouded by serious allegations. In 2023, shortly before his death, he was accused by multiple former employees of sexual assault and rape. He was never charged.
A BBC documentary, Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods, featured testimonies from alleged victims. Following the airing of the documentary, Harrods — the luxury department store once owned by Al-Fayed — announced a compensation scheme for survivors, which has since received over 100 claims. The scheme was also extended to employees of Fayair, a private airline company formerly owned by him.
In a statement, Harrods condemned the alleged abuse, expressing deep regret that victims had been failed and pledging support through the involvement of an independent survivor advocate.