UK NEWS
FILM OF DIANA'S LAST DAYS ON LOVE BOAT 'IS A TRAVESTY'
So Tender: Diana and Dodi
By Martin Evans
THE moment the world learned of Princess Diana’s relationship with Dodi Fayed was at the centre of a bitter wrangle last night as another TV show was accused of misleading the public.
A row has broken out over the drama-documentary Diana: Last Days Of A Princess, which was broadcast on Five earlier this week.
In the programme it is alleged she colluded with the Press to set up the famous photograph of her kissing Dodi on board his father’s yacht off St Tropez in the summer of 1997.
But Mohamed Al Fayed, who agreed to cooperate with the documentary, is furious that the memory of the couple’s love is being sullied by what he describes as “grotesque inaccuracies”.
The Harrods boss claims such suggestions are untrue and has accused programme makers of duping him into taking part in a “trashy” programme.
The famous photograph showing Diana and Dodi embracing stunned the world when it was first published on August 10, 1997. The picture was seen as confirming rumours sweeping the globe that Diana had finally found love again.
In the weeks leading up to the picture Diana had travelled to Paris with Dodi before taking Princes William and Harry on holiday on the Al Fayed family yacht.
Those closest to her at the time remember the blossoming love between the pair and insist she was the happiest and most excited she had been in years.
As love grew between them, Dodi bought the Princess a ring and the couple were photographed sealing their romance with a kiss.
But in the programme, which starred Genevieve O’Reilly as the Princess and Patrick Baladi as Dodi, it is claimed Diana set the whole incident up, tipping off newspapers in advance.
The programme-makers suggest she did this in order to make her former lover Hasnat Khan jealous.
Last night Mr Al Fayed said: “These were magic moments for two people who were in love.
“I cannot understand why people want to rubbish the relationship.
“They were happy, they were smiling, Diana – who everybody loved – was having the time of her life.
“Suggestions that she was simply play-acting for the Press are clearly untrue.”
The Egyptian-born tycoon was also upset over the choice of casting in the programme.
He said: “Also grotesque was the actor chosen to play me. It is racial caricaturing – and that is insulting. Do the producers think that all Egyptians resemble gorillas?”
The programme, which is the latest TV documentary to come under fire over allegations of inaccuracy, failed to capture the public’s imagination, with just 1.5 million people tuning in.
It was supposed to blend witness accounts and drama in order to portray the final months of Diana’s tragic life.
But Mr Al Fayed, who gave a lengthy interview for the programme, has complained it was riddled with inaccuracies.
He said he only agreed to take part in the programme because he believed the filmmakers were intent on telling the truth about what happened in the weeks leading up to the Paris car crash in August 1997.
But he added that the “trashy” programme had only compounded the grief that he still feels for his son and the Princess.
He said: “I was approached to help a film crew about a programme the makers said was dedicated to telling the truth about what happened.
“The tragedy is still very painful for me to talk about so it’s not a decision I took lightly. I was assured that it would be a faithful and factual account.
“I answered all their questions and gave a lengthy interview. But the programme did not use most of it.
“One of the most serious was the allegation that Diana contrived the famous picture of them supposedly kissing.
“This is a grotesque misrepresentation of what happened.”
He added: “Trashy programmes like this don’t make it easier to cope with the situation my family has endured for the last 10 years. My mistake was to believe the filmmakers’ assurances.”
Five refused to comment on the allegations of inaccuracy last night.
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05.08.07, 1:30pm
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• Posted by: Hcorriere • Report Comment
THE 'ROYAL' FAMILY
05.08.07, 12:51pm
Neither Princess Diana nor Mohamed Al Fayed tried to destroy the 'Royal' Family.
The 'Royal' Family is destroying itself with the exception of Princess Diana's sons, Princes William and Harry.
Princess Diana was the redemptrix and still is the true jewel in the crown as well. Princess Diana was the only hope for the 'Royal' Family and as a result Princess Diana's sons, Princes William and Harry are now the only hope of the monarchy continuing.
Mohamed Al Fayed loves Britain but NOT the British Establishment which have been trying to destroy him. The bigoted British Establishment started the "war" with Mr Fayed.
The bigoted British Establishment cannot tolerate the fact that Mr Fayed owns Harrod's where most of them do their shopping.
The British Establishment claims the reason for not granting Mohamed Al Fayed British citizenship is due to his alleged dodgy business dealings in the past.
Talk about cheek! Considering the actual dodgy business dealings of the British Establishment's Government during the tenures of Thatcher, Major, and Blair, and specifically the overly sleazy ten years of BLiar's reign of terror.
• Posted by: EnglishMyst • Report Comment
RUBBISH CHANNEL FIVE
02.08.07, 8:57pm
What a load of rubbish this program was . shame on channel five.
the program may as well have been written by the idiotic french who wrote that load of rubbish of a report on the deaths.
the program was just one contradiction after another.
rubbish , load of stuff and nonsense.
• Posted by: jessica • Report Comment
FILM OF DIANA'S LAST DAYS ON LOVE BOAT ' IS A TRAVESTY'
02.08.07, 6:53pm
How are the public mislead? Who were the other people on that boat that knew what was going on reporting move?
How much of all this is media reporting with photographers running around the world after them which people now believe is all gospel.
Why do we have these films anyway?
Whatever conclusions any enquiry come up with
if it is not the answer they wanted the Diana obsessives will never be satisfied,it will just go on and on. Her sons need to be considered,its their mother they should say when enough is enough,she may be called The people's princess
but she belongs to them first.
• Posted by: Maggie • Report Comment
LIE DOWN WITH DOGS - GET UP WITH FLEAS
02.08.07, 5:16pm
Al Fayed has tried to play the media for years to promote his views on what happened on the fateful day and also the supposed romance beforehand. Suddenly because the media are not showing things as he would like they are villians. He and the few other people who are interested in what went on need to realise that the vast majority of people in Britain have lost interest in the affair.
Please let them rest in peace.
• Posted by: BEEGEE • Report Comment
IT WAS GOING TO BE A HAPPY EVER AFTER STORY TILL SOMEONE PUT A STOP TO IT.
02.08.07, 4:50pm
Diana and Dodi had fallen in love. They had bought an engagement ring that very day in Paris. Unfortunately they never got a chance to anounce it to the world because they were killed that very night. Do you think it was fare that Diana could marry and Charles couldn't ?
• Posted by: Save_Britain • Report Comment
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