Dodi Fayed, half-brother of Princess Diana’s lover has stated that spending time with Diana was a delight and that the time they spent together had ‘lovely familial vibes.
Omar Fayed (34), was 9 when Dodi, his elder brother, died in Paris car accident in 1997. However, he says that he still has positive memories about the royal.
Just weeks before the fateful crash he had holidayed with his brother and the Princess of Wales, Princes William and Harry – guests of his father Mohamed Al-Fayed – on his family’s yacht in St Tropez.
Tatler interviewed Mr Fayed and he said that he had met Princess Diana and Prince William several times. They were also very charming and came to visit my dad’s place.
Omar Fayed, 34 (pictured), was nine years old when Dodi died in Paris in 1997. He said that he had only positive memories about Diana’s death.
“There were many great stories about that time, but it brought out wonderful family feelings for those who lived it.”
Omar described the accident as tragic and did not believe in conspiracy theories.
Mohamed Al Fayed (ex-Harods owner) previously stated that his father was the one who assassinated the couple in a plot devised by MI6 under the direction of the Duke.
Omar however said, “Those terrible events are long at ease in my heart.
A few weeks prior to the tragic crash, he was on vacation with his brother and Princess of Wales, Prince William and Harry. These were his guests at his father Mohamed Al-Fayed’s St Tropez yacht.
“We must be humble enough accept the mystery.” It is amazing to me how many perspectives I’ve seen, heard and that it continues.
Also, he spoke to the magazine regarding Harrods’ “gilded prison”, and how he had begun a new chapter of his career as a tech-space entrepreneur.
Omar is currently the co-founder, CEO and President of ESTEE (Earth Space Technical Ecosystem Enterprises), a space advocacy organization for human exploration and colonisation.
“I didn’t want to be Mr Harrods,” he stated about the London department shop, which was purchased in 2010.
He said spending time with Diana and her sons was ‘delightful’ and the period surrounding their relationship had ‘lovely family vibes’. Five years ago, Diana was pictured together with William and Harry. This photo was taken in 1992.
Omar, who at 19 was elected to Harrods’ board of directors in 2006, said: “I saw a large hole in the pension pot. I advised my father to sell.
“If we had not, we would have gone to the bottom and next thing you know, there’s another Philip Green BHS case. He would probably have received more criticism than he deserves, I believe.
These comments are his latest, months after Mohamed Al Fayed (ex-Harods owner) began to repair family rifts when his health started to decline.
Omar, Omar’s youngest son, offered an olive branch of support to Camilla (36), with whom he was involved in a legal fight.
Relations between the family and Omar – who was once set to inherit Harrods, the Knightsbridge store Mohamed owned – have soured of late.
A source at the time said Omar had ceased visiting his father at his Surrey estate – despite the fact the 92-year-old is ‘nearing the end of his life’.
Omar is currently the CEO and cofounder of ESTEE (Earth Space Technical Ecosystem Enterprises), a space advocacy organization for human space exploration.
Al Fayed, aged 92, was Harrods’s most famous owner from 1985 through 2010.
Tensions worsened last July when Omar filed a case against Camilla at the High Court, seeking £100,000 in damages after accusing her and her husband Mohamed Esreb of sending bodyguards to accost him during one of his rare visits to the estate.
According to legal papers, Camilla denies the allegations and claims that Omar was ‘on drugs’.
Omar told the Mail that Omar was not a druggy and that he was ready to have a relationship.
Al Fayed, aged 92, was said to be ‘near the end of his days’. He owned Harrods between 1985 and 2010, and was its most prominent owner. (Pictured with Princess Diana, February 1996).
Covid restrictions that he added to his dad’s life have caused him rancour.
‘I love my sister very much and she knows that,’ he said.
‘Perhaps it was because I didn’t see my father for months during pandemic restrictions. We don’t necessarily get to choose our family members.
“Before my brother and her husband got together she and I had lived together and shared many common friends. We were very, very close.’
Camilla responded to these claims by asking “how is it alleged” that her two bodyguards were under her control.
Heini Wathen claims that Mohamed didn’t know of the court case between two of his children.
Another family source stated: “This would hurt him so very much.”
After a judge ordered them to resolve their differences privately, it seems unlikely that the case will proceed.
Tatler’s January issue now available