It’s one of the most polarising statues of the late Princess Diana of Wales and her boyfriend Dodi Al-Fayed.
But whether you love it or hate it, now is your time to bid it a fond farewell because the monument is being removed from London department store Harrods and given back to Dodi’s father and former Harrods owner, Mohammed Al-Fayed, who sold the iconic shopping centre to Qatar Holdings in 2010.
In 2005, Dodi Fayed’s father Mohamed Al-Fayed created two controversial memorials for his fallen son and Diana.
The first is the Innocent Victims statue, which is nearly three-meters high and shows a bronzed Diana and Dodi dancing with an albatross, which apparently symbolises the Holy Spirit.
The second plaque can be found near the Egyptian Escalator and showcases a photo of Diana and Dodi, as well as wine glass from Diana’s last meal (seriously, WTF) and the mysterious ring Dodi brought for his girlfriend, which many have speculated could have been an engagement sparkler (someone is very clearly stirring the pot here!)
It’s weird, it doesn’t make much sense and the tributes have become one of the most popular tourist attractions at Harrods.
But twenty years after Diana and Dodi passed away in a tragic car crash in Paris, Harrods says it’s now an “appropriate time” to move things on.
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Mohamed Al-Fayed stands proudly next to the controversial statue of the couple.
“We are very proud to have played our role in celebrating the lives of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al-Fayed at Harrods and to have welcomed people from around the world to visit the memorial for the past twenty years,” the company’s managing director Michael Ward explained 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.”
“We are grateful to Qatar Holdings for preserving the Dodi and Diana memorial at Harrods until now,” Mohammed Al-Fayed added in his response.
“It has enabled millions of people to pay their respects and remember these two remarkable people. It is now time to bring them home.”
It’s the end of an era: The tribute also features a wine glass from Diana’s last meal and the mysterious ring Dodi brought for his girlfriend just hours before their death, which many have speculated could have been an engagement sparkler.
However, not everyone is happy with the decision.
One British family called the move “a real shame.”
While another American tourist told Arab News: “How could they do that? Just dump it, to where? Out of sight? Diana was loved in the States as much as in the UK. It’s so sad.”
Thankfully for those wanting to pay tribute to the People’s Princess, there’s a range of poignant options around London including The White Garden at Kensington Palace, the Diana: Her Fashion Story exhibition and the Princess Diana memorial playground.
Princess Diana’s sons Prince William and Prince Harry have also commissioned artist Ian Rank-Broadley to create a statue of their late mother. It’s due to be unveiled on the grounds of Kensington Palace later this year.
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Gone but never forgotten…
