Mohammed Al Fayed’s former security chief has revealed that Al Fayed used to refer to Prince Philip as ‘the Assassin’ and was obsessed with outliving the late Duke of Edinburgh.
Al Fayed’s former security chief Andre Steele also claimed that the disgraced former owner of Harrods blamed ‘dark forces’ for the 1997 crash which claimed the lives of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed.
Mr Steele, who guarded Al Fayed from 2004 to 2008 said that Al Fayed believed that Diana and Dodi had been ‘betrayed and ultimately killed by the royals.’
This is despite an inquest finding the pair were unlawfully killed in the Paris crash in part due to the ‘gross negligence’ of their driver who had been drinking.
Speaking to The Sun, Mr Steele said: ‘He particularly blamed Philip and would refer to him as an assassin or killer. He also called him “The German”. But he loved and spoke very highly of Queen Elizabeth II.’
In what the ex-bodyguard refers to as a ‘strange obsession,’ the billionaire allegedly mentioned ‘several times he wanted Philip to die before him.
Al Fayed would eventually get his wish when Prince Philip died before Al Fayed in 2021 – at the age of 99 – with Al Fayed dying last year aged 94.
Since his death, more than 250 women have contacted Harrods after allegedly being sexually assaulted or raped by Al Fayed while working at the store.
The luxury department store said the women came forward following the release of a documentary last month, which uncovered years of sexual abuse allegations against the former owner of Harrods.
Mr Steele previously alleged that Al Fayed would target Harrods workers and attacked women in his Surrey mansion.
Police are currently investigating 61 claims of sexual assault against Al Fayed.
Al Fayed famously owned London’s high end department store Harrods from 1985 to 2010 making him one of the most famous billionaires in the world at that time.
However, Al Fayed’s reputation has been forever tarnished after a BBC documentary last month revealed that more than 20 women had accused him of rape and sexual assault.
Since then the number of accusers has only increased.
The luxury store’s current owners have said they are ‘appalled’ by the allegations and have been investigating whether any current members of staff were involved.