Mohamed Al Fayed dies at 94; Harrods proprietor publicly grieved deaths of son Dodi and Princess Diana

By Danica Kirka, Cara Rubinsky and Jill Lawless | Related Press

LONDON — Mohamed Al Fayed, former proprietor of the famed Harrods division retailer in London whose son was killed in a automobile crash with Princess Diana, has died, his household mentioned Friday. He was 94.

Al Fayed, a self-made Egyptian businessman who additionally as soon as owned the Fulham Soccer Membership, was devastated by the dying of son Dodi Fayed within the automobile crash in Paris with Princess Diana 26 years in the past. He spent the remainder of his life mourning the loss and combating the British institution he blamed for his or her deaths.

“Mrs Mohamed Al Fayed, her youngsters and grandchildren want to affirm that her beloved husband, their father and their grandfather, Mohamed, has handed away peacefully of previous age on Wednesday August 30, 2023,″ his household mentioned in an announcement launched by the Fulham membership. “He loved a protracted and fulfilled retirement surrounded by his family members.″

Al Fayed was satisfied that Dodi and Diana had been killed in a conspiracy masterminded by Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. He maintained the royal household organized the accident as a result of they didn’t like Diana courting an Egyptian.

Al Fayed claimed that Diana was pregnant and planning to marry Dodi and that the royal household couldn’t countenance the princess marrying a Muslim.

In 2008, Al Fayed instructed an inquest the listing of alleged conspirators included Philip, then-Prince Charles, former Prime Minister Tony Blair, Diana’s sister Sarah McCorquodale, two former London police chiefs and the CIA.

The inquest concluded that Diana and Dodi died due to the reckless actions of their driver and paparazzi chasing the couple.

His relationship with the royal household was depicted the fifth season of “The Crown” final yr.

Born Jan. 27, 1929, in Alexandria, Egypt, Al Fayed was the son of a faculty inspector who started his enterprise profession with pursuits in delivery. He moved to Britain within the Sixties to set about constructing an empire.

Al-Fayed compelled his method into London’s excessive society by buying various lavish institutions after arriving within the UK within the Seventies, and in addition owned the storied Ritz Resort in Paris for 4 a long time.

He appeared to thrive on the limelight. Al Fayed hit the headlines within the Eighties as he battled with rival tycoon “Tiny” Rowland over management of the Home of Fraser group, which included Harrods.

Al Fayed and his brother purchased a 30% stake in Home Of Fraser from Rowland in 1984, and took management of Harrods for 615 million kilos the next yr. That transaction put him in battle with British authorities. The Division of Commerce and Business investigation into the acquisition discovered that the brothers had “dishonestly misrepresented their origins, their wealth, their enterprise pursuits and their assets.”

Al Fayed was additionally a key participant within the “money for questions” scandal that roiled British politics within the Nineties.

Al Fayed was sued for libel a British lawmaker, Neil Hamilton, after the businessman claimed he had given Hamilton envelopes of money and a lavish keep on the Ritz in Paris, in return for asking questions within the Home of Commons.

Hamilton’s lawyer, Desmond Browne, claimed the allegation was fantasy, saying: ″If there have been Olympic medals for mendacity, Mr. Fayed can be a major contender for a gold one.”

The jury present in Al Fayed’s favor in December 1999.

Al Fayed utilized for British citizenship, however his software was rejected in each 1995 and 1998.

Al-Fayed was questioned by police in 2008 in relation to a intercourse assault allegation that he denied, a Harrods spokesperson mentioned on the time. He ultimately bought the shop to the Qatari royal household in 2010, for a reported $2.25 billion.

The Sunday Occasions Wealthy Listing, which paperwork the fortunes of Britain’s wealthiest folks, put the household’s fortune at 1.7 billion kilos ($2.1 billion) this yr, making Al Fayed the 104th richest particular person in Britain.

The tycoon additionally turned a significant participant on the planet’s hottest sport, buying London’s oldest soccer membership, Fulham, after they had been languishing in England’s decrease leagues.