Harrods Mogul's 'Creepy' Royal Obsession: Princess Diana's Friend Mohamed Al Fayed Had Bizarre Connection to Queen Elizabeth

The late Mohamed Al Fayed, who is facing brand new sexual assault allegations from the grave, had a "creepy" infatuation with the British royal family years before he even met Diana, Princess of Wales.

The owner of the world-famous London department store Harrods, who died at the age of 94 last August, developed a friendship with Princess Diana believed to have started in the early 1990s. Their bond grew when the doomed royal met and romanced Fayed's son, Dodi, a film producer and notorious playboy. It was to be Diana's final relationship, as both perished together along with drunk driver Henri Paul in a car wreck on August 31, 1997.

Al Fayed garnered notoriety after the accident, which became a defining cultural moment of that decade. The Egyptian businessman accused the royal family, particularly Prince Philip, of arranging the crash. But the retail mogul's relationship with the royals stretches back years earlier, when he felt rejected by the British establishment due to his "race."

This in part led to Al Fayed purchasing the former home of the exiled Edward, Duke of Windsor, and Wallis Simpson named "Villa Windsor" near Paris, France.

The "conspiracy theorist" bought the lavish estate in the 1990s, and often expressed his admiration for the couple and their story, which fueled his fascination with royal history.

Al Fayed used Villa Windsor to display memorabilia related to the royal family, including items connected to the ex-Edward VIII and Wallis. The property also served as a testament to Al Fayed’s connections to the monarchy and his ongoing interest in royal affairs. He hosted events at the villa and utilized it as part of his broader narrative regarding his relationships with various members of the Crown, especially after Diana and Dodi's tragic deaths.

The businessman was also rumored to have a years-long interest in Queen Elizabeth II, and even allegedly went so far as to try and plant himself in spaces where he could potentially meet her and get a photo op speaking with her. These events are depicted in the final season of Netflix's The Crown.

In light of today's allegations about the deceased mogul, a spokesperson for Harrods stated, "We are utterly appalled by the allegations of abuse perpetrated by Mohamed Al Fayed. These were the actions of an individual who was intent on abusing his power wherever he operated and we condemn them in the strongest terms. We also acknowledge that during this time as a business, we failed our employees who were his victims and for this, we sincerely apologize."

The statement added, "While we cannot undo the past, we have been determined to do the right thing as an organization, driven by the values we hold today while ensuring that such behavior can never be repeated in the future."

Al Fayed is buried next to Dodi at his home Barrow Green Court in Surrey, England.

Daily Mirror reported on Al Fayed's royal obsessions.