The relationship between Princess Diana and film producer Dodi Al Fayed continues to be the subject of speculation and controversy 26 years after her tragic death in a car accident in Paris.
To this day it is questioned whether the romance between Diana and Dodi was real or simply a fantasy exaggerated by the press.
Article summary
When did Dodi and Diana meet
It is said that the first meeting between Princess Diana and Dodi Al-Fayed took place in 1987 in Windsor, during a polo match, but this encounter went unnoticed by both.
It was not until 1997 when Dodi’s father, Mohamed Al Fayed, an Egyptian tycoon and friend of Earl Spencer, invited Diana and her sons William and Harry to spend a few days in St. Tropez on the yacht Jonikal, which Al Fayed had just bought for $30 million.
Mohamed Al Fayed had planned a “summer of love” for his son Dodi, but Diana had plans of her own. She agreed to spend time on the French Riviera as part of her plan to make her ex-boyfriend, cardiologist Hasnat Khan, jealous.
Dodi was in a relationship with American model Kelly Fisher, whom he was to marry, but days before the wedding, the international press published photos of the princess in a compromising pose with Al Fayed, which meant the end of the relationship.
How long were Diana and Dodi together
Diana and Dodi spent several weeks together in France and Italy, where they were photographed by the paparazzi. Their romance seemed idyllic and passionate, but also fleeting and mediatic.
Some friends of the princess, such as Derek Dean, director of the British National Ballet, believe that Diana enjoyed Dodi’s company during that summer, but had no intention of marrying him.
Some rumors claimed that Dodi had bought an engagement ring for Diana, while others suggested that the princess had broken up with him before the accident. However, the truth about their feelings and their relationship remains a mystery. No one knows what they really felt for each other or what would have happened if they had survived the accident.
When did Princess Diana die
On August 31, 1997, Diana and Dodi left the Ritz Hotel in Paris to go to the producer’s apartment. On the way, their car hit a column in the Pont de l’Alma while being chased by photographers.
Diana died hours later in the hospital due to the serious internal injuries she suffered. Dodi died on the spot along with the driver of the vehicle, Henri Paul. The only survivor was bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones.
The couple’s death shocked the entire world and generated numerous conspiracy theories about the causes and perpetrators of the accident. However, none have been proven or accepted by the authorities.
Diana will always be remembered for her charisma and for being a fashion icon, but the question of the true nature of her relationship with Dodi will always remain open.
