Out of concern for Princess Diana
Was the Royal Palace warned about Mohamed Al-Fayed?
Numerous women have made allegations of abuse against Mohamed Al-Fayed, who died in 2023.
© imago images/Avalon.red/STEVE MAISEY
Shortly before Princess Diana went on holiday, the palace was reportedly warned about Mohamed Al-Fayed. The alleged response is astonishing.
Since last week, serious allegations have been made against the former owner of Harrods, Mohamed Al-Fayed (1929-2023), who died in 2023. The father of Princess Diana’s (1961-1997) last partner, Dodi Al-Fayed (1955-1997), is said to have abused, raped or sexually harassed women in his London luxury department store, among other things. Dai Davies, the former head of the royal security service, told Sky News that he had warned the royal palace about Al-Fayed.
Concern for Harry, William and mother Diana
Lawyers representing 37 alleged victims of sexual abuse described the man, who died last year at the age of 94, as a “monster”. He walked through the sales rooms of Harrods and picked out women who he then had brought to his executive floor. And security chief Davies also said: “I would be worried if a relative of mine went on holiday with him, not to mention the future king and his brother and their mother, Princess Diana.”
In July 1997, a month before her tragic death in Paris, Princess Diana and her sons Prince Harry (40) and Prince William (42) actually went on holiday to their house in St. Tropez at the invitation of Al-Fayed and his wife. This prompted the then security chief Davies to take action.
“Her Majesty is aware of this”
When he learned of the royals’ vacation plans, he was “horrified,” “because I already knew about some of the allegations that were circulating,” Davies said.
Because he knew Al-Fayed’s reputation, he decided to inform the royal family. Davies said he contacted Lord Robert Fellowes (1941-2024), the Queen’s private secretary and husband of Princess Diana’s older Lady Jane Spencer (67). But in a telephone conversation, Fellowes simply told him: “Her Majesty is aware of this.”
The royal family subsequently gave permission for Prince Harry and the future king Prince William to leave the country and go on holiday to St. Tropez to visit the Al-Fayeds, Davies reports.