Mohamed Al Fayed, the self-made Egyptian businessman who once owned the iconic Harrods department store and Fulham Football Club, has peacefully passed away at the age of 94, as confirmed by his family. Al Fayed, known for his tragic connection to the car crash involving his son, Dodi Fayed, and Princess Diana 26 years ago, spent his later years in a devoted pursuit of justice and conspiracy theories surrounding the incident.

In a statement released by the Fulham club, the Al Fayed family announced, “Mrs. Mohamed Al Fayed, her children, and grandchildren wish to confirm that her beloved husband, their father, and their grandfather, Mohamed, has passed away peacefully of old age on Wednesday, August 30, 2023. He enjoyed a long and fulfilled retirement surrounded by his loved ones.”

Mohamed Al Fayed’s life took a significant turn when his son Dodi Fayed tragically lost his life in a car crash with Princess Diana in Paris. Al Fayed vehemently believed in a conspiracy theory that blamed the British Establishment, including Prince Philip, for their deaths. He asserted that the royal family arranged the accident due to their disapproval of Diana’s relationship with an Egyptian, claiming that Diana was pregnant and planning to marry Dodi, which the royal family allegedly could not accept.

In 2008, during an inquest into the deaths, Al Fayed listed several alleged conspirators, including Prince Philip, Prince Charles, former Prime Minister Tony Blair, Diana’s sister Sarah McCorquodale, two former London police chiefs, and even the CIA. However, the official inquest concluded that the tragedy resulted from the reckless actions of the driver and paparazzi pursuing the ill-fated couple.

Mohamed Al Fayed’s passing marks the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy that intertwines his business ventures with a deeply personal and controversial quest for answers about his son’s untimely death.

Credit: AP