Was Dodi Al Fayed Really Engaged to Kelly Fisher?
The relationship between Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed was brief, and came to a tragic end when the two died in a car crash in the early hours of the morning on August 31, 1997 in Paris. Yet, their short romance was the subject of much speculation in the press—thanks to the fact that Dodi was linked to American model Kelly Fisher at the time. And now, with the final season of The Crown, there's renewed interest in Kelly and Dodi's relationship.
Kelly and Dodi met in Paris in 1996, and Kelly said they were engaged when Dodi started seeing Princess Diana in July 1997. In early August 1997, Kelly, represented by Gloria Allred, sued Dodi, alleging they were set to be married August 9. At the time, Dodi admitted to knowing Kelly, never said that they were engaged, and a Fayed family spokesman denied that Dodi ever promised to wed Kelly.
In a press conference announcing the suit, Allred said, "Mr. Fayed needs to take responsibility for the woman that he 'left at the altar' and treated with such total disrespect. He threw her love away in a callous way with no regard for her whatsoever." Kelly alleged that Dodi offered her money to stop working, and was suing her for this breach of contract. She also wore a diamond and sapphire engagement ring that Dodi had reportedly given her.
Kelly withdrew her lawsuit on September 1, 1997, the day after the deaths of Dodi and Princess Diana. Allred said in a press conference at the time, "Out of respect for the tragedy, and tremendous loss the Fayed family has suffered, she has authorized me as her attorney, to dismiss her lawsuit against Mr Fayed. Although she does have the legal right to pursue the lawsuit against his estate after his death, she has voluntarily chosen not to exercise that right."
She added, "Kelly suffered greatly because of the break up with Mr Fayed. She was engaged to him, and they had planned to marry August 9th 1997. Kelly loved Dodi very much, and she is devastated by his loss, and that of Princess Diana. Nothing is more important than the life of a human being. In the light of this enormous tragedy, Kelly forgives Dodi for all of his past injustices against her."
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