Why Harrods is removing its statue of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed
Ever since her tragic death in 1997, countless tributes have been created to honour the life of Princess Diana, but none have caused quite as much controversy as the statue of the late Princess and her boyfriend Dodi Fayed, which has stood in Harrods since 2005.
Commissioned by Dodi’s father, Mohamed Al-Fayed, the three-metre statue titled "Innocent Victims" depicts the couple dancing with an albatross, which supposedly represents the Holy Spirit.
Another memorial created by Al-Fayed is a plaque located near the Egyptian Escalator, showing a photo of the couple along with a wine glass from the princess’ last meal (we know, it’s weird) and a mysterious ring given to Diana by Dodi.
But no matter what you might think of the memorials and despite all the confusion and controversy surrounding them, they’ve become some of the iconic London department store’s most popular tourist attractions.
Now, however, they’re finally being returned to Al-Fayed, the former owner of Harrods who sold it to Qatar Holdings in 2010. Twenty years after their death, Harrods says it’s an “appropriate time” to move on.
“We are very proud to have played our role in celebrating the lives of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Dodi Fayed at Harrods and to have welcomed people from around the world to visit the memorial for the past 20 years,” the store’s managing director Michael Ward said in a statement.
“With the announcement of the new official memorial statue to Diana, Princess of Wales at Kensington Palace, we feel that the time is right to return this memorial to Mr. Al-Fayed and for the public to be invited to pay their respects at the palace.”
In response, Al-Fayed said he is “grateful” that the new owners preserved the memorials until now. “It has enabled millions of people to pay their respects and remember these two remarkable people. It is now time to bring them home.”
Tell us in the comments below, are you sad to see the memorials go? Or is it time for them to be moved?