How Long Were Dodi Fayed and Diana Together?

The whirlwind romance of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed captivated the world in the late 1990s, but their love story was tragically cut short by a car accident that took both their lives on Aug. 31, 1997. With The Crown Season 6, Part 1 now depicting their relationship and its devastating conclusion, let's take a look back at when Dodi and Diana met, how long they were together and what Dodi was known for outside of his connection to the Royal Family.

What did Dodi Fayed do for a living?

Dodi Fayed was a wealthy Egyptian film producer based in London. As the eldest son of billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed, who owned the famous department store Harrods, Dodi grew up privileged and jet-setting between luxurious homes. He got his start in the movie business as an attaché at the United Arab Emirates Embassy in London and later began working for his father's production company, Allied Stars, where he served as executive producer on films like Chariots of Fire, F/X, Hook and The Scarlet Letter.

How did Dodi and Diana meet?

Dodi and Diana met for the first time at a 1986 polo match, but their romantic relationship didn't start until a decade later, after Diana and then-Prince Charles divorced. At the time, Dodi's father, Mohamed Al-Fayed, invited Diana to vacation with the family in St. Tropez, France, with her sons William, then 15, and Harry, then 12.

When William and Harry went back to London, Diana continued traveling, and following charity stops in Angola, Bosnia and New York City, linked up with Dodi for a sail around France once more after dating for just several weeks.

The couple arrived in Paris on Aug. 30, and later that night were heavily pursued by paparazzi. The struggle to escape from photographers, combined with the fact that they weren't wearing seatbelts and the fact that the driver was reportedly intoxicated, led to the their untimely deaths in the early morning of Aug. 31, 1997.

Related: How Accurate Is 'The Crown?' A Fact-Check of the Series Compared to the Real Royal Family

How long was Dodi with Diana?

Dodi and Diana dated for about a month, from their first meeting in Saint-Tropez in July 1997 until the night of their crash.

Were Diana and Dodi engaged?

Engagement rumors were persistent, and according Mohamed Al-Fayed's spokesperson, per The Guardian, Dodi and Diana had chosen an engagement ring before their death. However, the validity of Mohamed's claim has been disputed, and it remains unclear whether they were legitimately intending to marry.

How rich was Dodi Fayed?

As the eldest son of Mohamed Al-Fayed, Dodi was born into a billionaire family (his father died in August 2023 with an estimated net worth of $2 billion). Although Dodi's personal net worth at the time of his death isn't known, The Guardian has reported that he had a monthly allowance of £400,000, which is the equivalent of $499,448 in 2023, not accounting for inflation.

How did Dodi Fayed die?

In the early morning hours of Aug. 31, 1997, Dodi and Diana were killed in a car accident in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris. The couple was traveling back to London after nine days on vacation in the French Riviera. While Dodi died on impact, Diana passed away from internal bleeding later at the hospital. Investigations found Paul was intoxicated and driving at excessive speed.

Conspiracy theories swirled about the true cause of Dodi and Diana's deaths, and Dodi's father himself insisted years after the fact that the couple was murdered by “people who did not want Diana and Dodi to be together.” However, his claims, which Buckingham Palace and the princess’s family denounced, were never substantiated. Officials concluded the crash was an accident.

How old was Dodi when he died?

Dodi was 42 at the time of his death, while Diana was 36.

Related: 50 Princess Diana Quotes to Memorialize the People's Princess

What were Dodi Fayed's last words?

There are no concrete reports about Dodi's final words, as he died on impact. However, some insight exists into Princess Diana's last conversations. Xavier Gourmelon, the firefighter who treated Diana at the crash scene, told The Independent that her last words were "My God, what's happened?" She reportedly appeared lucid and able to speak after being rescued.

In Tina Brown's 2007 book, The Diana Chronicles, Diana's doctor reported that she woke up after the crash in pain, repeatedly saying "how much she hurt." Her final moments were spent slipping in and out of consciousness.

Related: How Did Princess Diana Die? The Truth About the Heartbreaking Crash That Took the Life of the People's Princess

Did Dodi Fayed have any children?

No, Dodi Fayed did not have children at the time of his death at age 42. He was married briefly in his 20s to model Suzanne Gregard, but they split after eight months and had no kids. Dodi's early death prevented him from having a chance to start a family with Diana or any other future partner.

Was Dodi engaged when he met Diana?

Dodi was reportedly engaged to American model Kelly Fisher when he met Diana.

Why did Dodi's ex-fiancé Kelly Fisher sue him?

According to Fisher, he broke off their engagement to be with Diana, prompting her to sue him for breach of contract.

"Mr. Fayed needs to take responsibility for the woman that he ‘left at the altar’ and treated with such total disrespect,” Fisher's lawyer, Gloria Allred, said at a press conference. "He threw her love away in a callous way with no regard for her whatsoever." (According to the claim, Dodi had promised Fisher $500,000 if she moved to Paris and scaled back on her modeling career, an obligation she said she'd fulfilled on her end.)

Fisher withdrew her lawsuit after Dodi's death. "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," Allred said.

Who plays Dodi Fayed in The Crown?

British actor Khalid Abdalla plays Dodi Fayed in Seasons 5 and 6 of The Crown. He's previously appeared in movies like The Kite Runner and United 93.

Next, How to Watch 'The Crown' Season 6