London store Harrods to remove Diana statue

This file picture taken on August 31, 2006 reveals a everlasting memorial to Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi al-Fayed is seen in Harrods in London, 31 August 2006, on the ninth anniversary of their demise. London luxurious division retailer Harrods stated on January 13, 2018 it was taking down a statue of the late Princess Diana and her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and returning it to former proprietor Mohamed Al Fayed. Al Fayed commissioned the bronze statue, which reveals his son and Diana holding palms and releasing a fowl, after they have been killed in a Paris automotive crash in 1997.John D MCHUGH / AFP

London luxurious division retailer Harrods stated Saturday it was taking down a statue of the late Princess Diana and her boyfriend Dodi Al Fayed and returning it to former proprietor Mohamed Al Fayed.

Al Fayed commissioned the bronze statue, which reveals his son and Diana holding palms and releasing a fowl, after they have been killed in a Paris automotive crash in 1997.

It remained there after he supplied Harrods to the funding arm of Qatar's sovereign wealth fund in 2010.

Nonetheless the retailer's managing director, Michael Ward, stated it was now time to return it, noting that Diana's sons Princes William and Harry have been commissioning their very private statue to their mom at Kensington Palace.

"We're very proud to have carried out our place in celebrating the lives of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Dodi Al Fayed at Harrods and to have welcomed individuals from in every single place on the planet to go to the memorial for the sooner 20 years," he stated.

"With the announcement of the mannequin new official memorial statue to Diana, Princess of Wales at Kensington Palace, we really actually really feel that the time is correct to return this memorial to Mr Al Fayed and for most people to be invited to pay their respects on the palace."

Al Fayed has accused the royals of masterminding the demise of Diana and his son, and consequently Harrods misplaced its royal warrant in 2000.

A spokesman for the Al Fayed household educated The Conditions newspaper it was "grateful" to Qatar Holdings for preserving the memorial of the couple, along with: "It's now time to convey them residence."