Egyptian billionaire and former owner of Harrods department store, Mohamed al-Fayed, has died at the age of 92, his family announced on Wednesday. Al-Fayed gained notoriety for his promotion of the discredited conspiracy theory that the British royal family was behind the deaths of his son, Dodi, and Princess Diana in a car accident in Paris in 1997. Al-Fayed, who built his fortune in real estate and shipping, was always considered an outsider in Britain, owning symbolic establishments such as Harrods, Fulham FC, and the Ritz hotel in Paris, but never truly embraced by society. He often clashed with the British government, even threatening to move to France at times. Al-Fayed’s death came just a day before the 26th anniversary of his son and Diana’s death.
Al-Fayed’s controversial takeover of Harrods in 1985 sparked a bitter business feud in the UK. He further caused scandal in 1994 when it was revealed that he had paid politicians to ask questions in parliament on his behalf. However, Al-Fayed’s most prominent role was his relentless pursuit to prove that Princess Diana and his son were murdered. Unsupported by any evidence, he claimed that the British royal family orchestrated their deaths to prevent Diana from marrying a Muslim and having his child. Despite his efforts, an inquest into the deaths of Diana and Dodi concluded that they were unlawfully killed due to their chauffeur’s reckless driving.
Known for his self-invention, boasting, and autocratic nature, Al-Fayed was a central figure in key moments of Britain’s recent history. His application for British citizenship was denied in 1995, which he attributed to racism and claiming he was kept on the fringe of acceptability. The following year, he disclosed his involvement in the “cash-for-questions” scandal, which severely damaged the Conservative government’s reputation and contributed to their electoral defeat in 1997.
Al-Fayed sold Harrods in 2010 to Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, ending his 25-year ownership of the iconic department store. Throughout his life, Al-Fayed was never fully embraced by British society, despite his ownership of significant establishments. His legacy will be marked by his relentless pursuit of justice for the deaths of Diana and Dodi, even though his conspiracy theories were ultimately discredited. Al-Fayed’s family released a statement confirming his peaceful passing and asked for privacy during this time.