Harrods fights Mohamed Al-Fayed's family for control of estate as abuse victims seek £150m

Harrods will seek to remove family members of the late Mohamed Al-Fayed as executors of his estate in a hearing at the High Court in November.

Al-Fayed, a billionaire whose business interests included the department store, Fulham Football Club, and the Hotel Ritz Paris, died aged 94 in 2023.

Following his death, multiple women have accused him of sexual harassment and assault.

His estate faces claims from 270 alleged sexual abuse victims which are said to be worth £150 million, the High Court heard on Thursday.

Harrods is also facing claims and will seek to get money from the estate of Al-Fayed, who owned the store between 1985 and 2010, to help pay settlements.

Lawyers for the department store argue that the Al-Fayed estate is at risk of bankruptcy as it is worth about £111 million.

Harrods will apply to have Al-Fayed’s widow Heini Wathen-Fayed and his daughters Camilla Fayed and Jasmine Linnea Fayed removed as executors of the estate and replaced by independent executors at a two-day hearing beginning on 3 November.

Judge Joanna Valentine ruled on Thursday that ahead of the trial, Ms Wathen-Fayed and Camilla Fayed must provide Harrods with information about whether the family is involved in the ownership of a company which owes debts to the estate.

She refused 13 other requests for information by Harrods, saying they were “tangential” to the court’s decision, and denied a bid by Harrods for Ms Wathen-Fayed to be required to give evidence at the trial.

Stephen Moverley Smith KC, for Ms Wathen-Fayed and Camilla Fayed, argued the requests for information were a “fishing expedition”.

In written submissions, Penelope Reed KC, for Harrods, said that the store had paid £5.8 million to alleged victims as of August 2026, with more to follow.

She said that Harrods is concerned the Al-Fayed estate is at risk of bankruptcy and a lack of information provided by the family has “exacerbated those concerns”.

KP Law, which represents 270 women who allege that they were sexually abused by Al-Fayed, says the total value of their claims is about £150 million, the court heard.

Mr Moverley Smith told the court that KP Law opposes the removal of the family as executors, arguing that it could slow down the resolution of claims.

Rape Crisis offers support for those affected by rape and sexual abuse. You can call them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk. If you are in the US, you can call Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673).