Who Is Dodi Fayed? Look Back At Princess Diana's Lover At Time Of Her Death

Netflix's "The Crown" is exploring the late Princess Diana's brief romance with Dodi Fayed before their tragic demise in 1997.

The couple dated for a few months after Princess Diana called it quits with her boyfriend of two years, Hasnat Khan. In August 1997, the speeding car carrying Diana and Fayed away from the paparazzi crashed into a pillar in Paris. Fayed and their driver died instantly, while the late Princess of Wales died hours later from her injuries.

Although Diana (played by Elizabeth Debicki) and Fayed's (Khalid Abdalla) actual relationship won't be explored until the sixth season of "The Crown," as the series' final installment will document her final days, the latest season introduced the backstory of Fayed and his connection to the British royal family, People reported.

Ahead of "The Crown" Season 6, here's everything to know about Fayed, from his career as a Hollywood producer to his relationship with the late beloved princess.

1. He was born and raised in Egypt

Fayed was born Imad El-Din Mohamed Abdel Moneim Fayed on April 15, 1955, to couple Samira Khashoggi and Mohamed Al Fayed in Alexandria, Egypt.

He spent most of his childhood and teenage years in his hometown before pursuing his studies at Collège Saint Marc in Egypt and the Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland, according to Biography.

2. He was born with a silver spoon

Fayed's father, Egyptian billionaire Mohamed, is well known for his business ventures across Europe. These include his former ownership of Harrods department store and Fulham F.C. in the U.K., as well as the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Paris, where Diana and Fayed had their last meal before their car crash, according to People.

In the latest season of "The Crown," it was shown that Mohamed had a connection to the royal family, as he took over the lease of Paris' Villa Windsor, the former home of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, after Wallis Simpson's death. He also worked closely with Edward VIII's former valet, Sydney Johnson.

3. He served as an attaché at the United Arab Emirates Embassy in London

After graduating from Sandhurst Military Academy, Fayed intended to join the air force in Dubai as his father was stationed there due to business concerns at the time. But instead, he briefly worked as an attaché, a member of the support staff under the ambassador, at the United Arab Emirates embassy in London, according to Vanity Fair.

4. He was an executive producer

Fayed was active in Hollywood in the '80s and '90s, executive producing a number of well-known films such as "Chariots of Fire" in 1981 and "The Scarlet Letter" in 1995.

The former, which starred Ben Cross and Ian Charleson as young runners training for the 1924 Paris Olympics, won best picture at the 1982 Oscars. During the ceremony, co-producer David Puttnam expressed his gratitude toward Fayed and his father in his acceptance speech.

5. He was a divorcé

Fayed and Princess Diana had both been married once before they started dating each other.

He was first married to model Suzanne Gregard before they divorced in 1986 after less than a year of marriage. He was also briefly engaged to model Kelly Fisher before dating the late royal.

6. He reportedly met Princess Diana at a polo match

Before Fayed and Princess Diana reconnected in 1997 during a vacation in St. Tropez, France, along with her sons Prince William and Prince Harry, the couple reportedly met 11 years prior at a polo match in 1986, The Independent reported. Fayed played against Diana's then-husband, King Charles III.

7. He was serious about his relationship with Princess Diana

Lee Sansum, Diana's former bodyguard, claimed in his book, "Protecting Diana: A Bodyguard's Story," that Fayed was more than just a "summer fling," despite allegations that he was just a rebound following the princess' split from surgeon ex-boyfriend Khan.

"They were really friendly and affectionate towards one another," Sansum wrote of Diana and Fayed, according to Page Six. "The guys on the security team all thought it was game on and would develop into a serious relationship. You wouldn't see them kissing in public, so some people misread that as if it wasn't a romantic relationship, but her boys were often around and the paparazzi were always there too so that naturally made them more cautious and less demonstrative to one another."

Sansum also claimed that Princess Diana and Fayed had plans to move to the U.S. before their tragic death.