Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed were in a relationship for a few months before their untimely deaths in late August 1997
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Photo: Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty; Getty
Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed’s brief romance is being explored on The Crown.
After being introduced in season 5 of the Netflix series, actor Khalid Abdalla continues to portray the Egyptian billionaire scion who was romantically involved with Diana (played by Elizabeth Debicki) in the show’s sixth and final season.
The couple dated for a few months before their untimely deaths in late August 1997, when their car crashed in Paris. As a result of the crash, Fayed and their driver died instantly, while Diana died hours later from her injuries.
Their relationship will be further explored in the show’s sixth season as the series documents Diana’s final days.
From his Hollywood career as a producer to his family background, here’s everything to know about Fayed.
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He was born in Alexandria, Egypt
Born Imad El-Din Mohamed Abdel Moneim Fayed on April 15, 1955, Fayed spent his early life in Alexandria, Egypt. Fayed graduated from Sandhurst Military Academy before attending Collège Saint Marc in Egypt and the Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland, per Biography.com.
His father formerly owned Harrods department store
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Aaron Rapoport/CORBIS OUTLINE/Corbis/Getty; Alessandro Abbonizio/AFP/Getty
Fayed was the eldest son of the Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed, and his only son with his first wife Samira Khashoggi. Though Egyptian-born, Al-Fayed was well known for his business ventures in Europe, including his former ownership of Harrods department store and Fulham F.C. in the United Kingdom as well as the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Paris, where Diana spent her last meal and evening with Fayed before their car crash.
As shown on The Crown, Al-Fayed also had an interesting connection to the royal family, as he took over the lease of Paris’ Villa Windsor (the former home of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor) following Wallis Simpson’s death. He also worked closely with Sydney Johnson, who was the former valet of Edward VIII.
He served as an attaché at the United Arab Emirates Embassy in London
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Following his graduation from Sandhurst Military Academy, Fayed had plans to join the Dubai air force but instead briefly worked as an attaché at the United Arab Emirates embassy in London, per Vanity Fair.
He was an executive producer
Fayed executive produced a handful of big films in the ’80s and ’90s, including Chariots of Fire, Hook, and The Scarlet Letter. The former took home Best Picture at the 1982 Oscars, where producer David Puttnam thanked Fayed and his father during his speech.
He was previously married before dating Princess Diana
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Like Diana, Fayed was a divorcé. He was previously married to model Suzanne Gregard in 1986, but they divorced after less than a year of marriage. He was also engaged to model Kelly Fisher shortly before getting together with Diana.
Who Was Dodi Fayed’s Girlfriend Before Princess Diana? All About Kelly Fisher
He reportedly met Princess Diana at a polo match
According to The Independent, Fayed and Diana first met at a polo match in 1986, where he was playing against Diana’s then-husband Prince Charles. They connected again 11 years later when Diana and her children, Prince William and Prince Harry, vacationed with him and his family in St. Tropez.
