Former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed has died at the age of 94, his family have announced.
The Egyptian businessman, whose son Dodi died in a car crash alongside Diana, Princess of Wales, in Paris in 1997, was the owner and chairman of Fulham between 1997 and 2013 when he sold it to current owner Shahid Khan.
In the years after the death of his son Mr Al Fayed repeatedly claimed his son and Princess Diana were murdered in a plot by the British establishment.
The billionaire's relationship with the royal family was recently depicted in season five of The Crown, where Mr Al Fayed, played by Salim Daw, was seen getting to know Diana.
Mr Al Fayed had taken control of Harrods in 1985 and he had also purchased the Ritz hotel in Paris in 1979.
In a statement released by Fulham FC, his family said: "Mrs Mohamed Al Fayed, her children and grandchildren wish to confirm that her beloved husband, their father and their grandfather, Mohamed, has passed away peacefully of old age on Wednesday August 30 2023.
"He enjoyed a long and fulfilled retirement surrounded by his loved ones. The family have asked for their privacy to be respected at this time."
Everyone at Fulham was incredibly saddened to learn of the death of our former Owner and Chairman, Mohamed Al Fayed.
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) September 1, 2023
We owe Mohamed a debt of gratitude for what he did for our Club, and our thoughts now are with his family and friends at this sombre time.
And in a tribute on the club's website, his successor Mr Khan said: "On behalf of everyone at Fulham Football Club, I send my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mohamed Al Fayed upon the news of his passing at age 94.
"The story of Fulham cannot be told without a chapter on the positive impact of Mr Al Fayed as chairman.
"His legacy will be remembered for our promotion to the Premier League, a Europa League Final, and moments of magic by players and teams alike.
"I always enjoyed my time with Mr Al Fayed, who was wise, colourful and committed to Fulham, and I am forever grateful for his trust in me to succeed him as chairman in 2013. I join our supporters around the world in celebrating the memory of Mohamed Al Fayed, whose legacy will always be at the heart of our tradition at Fulham Football Club."
With a business empire encompassing shipping, property, banking, oil, retail and construction, Mr Al Fayed was also a philanthropist, whose foundation helped children in the UK, Thailand and Mongolia.
Additional reporting by AFP
