Dodi Fayed’s name will always be linked to that of Princess Diana and he will be remembered as the man who accompanied her on the day of her death in a tragic accident in Paris.
Princess Diana died on August 31, 1997 at the age of 36 along with her then-partner, Dodi Fayed, with whom she would have shared her last weeks of life and with whom she believed in love again.
On July 12, 1996, the press office of Queen Elizabeth II announced the “amicable” dissolution of the marriage between Princess Diana and Prince Charles, after 15 years together. It is known that Princess Diana and millionaire Dodi Fayed had been in a relationship for a short time, but the couple was already talking about marriage.
It is said that they began their relationship in mid-1997 after Mohamed Al Fayed, the businessman’s father, invited Lady Di and her children, William and Harry, to his villa in Les Parc de Saint Tropez. The connection between them was immediate and both transmitted a lot of security.
From that moment the couple was seen very close, even Princess Diana spent a vacation aboard Dodi Al Fayed’s yacht. Although they had a very discreet relationship, they were caught several times during their trips to the beach, going for a walk and while having dinner together.
Versions indicate that Dodi Al Fayed was so in love with Diana that he even already had an engagement ring. Some media have highlighted that he would ask her to marry him the night they died, information that was confirmed by the royal jeweler, Alberto Repossi, who stated that the businessman acquired an extravagant ring for Lady Di, as a commitment.
In a statement to the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Repossi said the couple intended to marry and the star-shaped ring he sold them at his Monte-Carlo store would be the piece that would seal the deal. they also stated that they have a purchase receipt attesting to this, noting that it was the Princess of Wales who chose the piece: “Upon entering the store, the princess pointed to the ring that had captivated her.”
What seemed like a story out of a fairy tale ended very soon and in a very tragic way. The couple traveled to France to spend a few days alone, but while they were in their car they were chased by the paparazzi. Diana and Dodi suffered a terrible accident on the Bridge of the Soul, near the Seine River, which ended their lives.
Who was Dodi Al Fayed?
Dodi Al Fayed was born in Alexandria, Egypt in 1955, he died at the age of 42. He was a film producer for movies like ‘Hook’, ‘Chariots of Fire’ and ‘The Scarlet Letter’. He was also the heir to several businesses that included luxury London department store Harrods; the Fulham football club and the Ritz Hotel in Paris.
Before dating Princess Diana, Dodi Fayed had been in relationships with celebrities including Wynona Ryder, Brooke Shields and Julia Roberts. She was about to marry the American model Gloria Allred.
While the loss of Princess Diana and whoever was her last partner was tragic news, her fans are comforted to know that she spent her last moments with a very special person.