Mohamed Al Fayed's widow says she does not believe sexual predator allegations against late Harrods owner are true and that £150million compensation claims are 'overinflated'

Published: 22:10 GMT, 29 October 2026 | Updated: 01:39 GMT, 30 October 2026

Mohamed Al Fayed's widow dismissed allegations that the late Harrods boss sexually abused hundreds of women as she refused to back compensation settlements for survivors.

Court documents revealed Heini Wathen-Fayed's position as a bitter legal battle between Harrods and Al Fayed's estate intensifies over who should foot the £150million bill for victims.

A High Court hearing last week revealed that a 2024 letter sent by her lawyers stated that Ms Wathen-Fayed 'does not believe that any of the allegations against the deceased are true.'

It added that 'any claims would face significant limitation and evidential hurdles' and 'at no stage would she support any settlement', according to the Times.

It comes as Harrods seeks to remove Wathen-Fayed and two of her daughters as executors of Al Fayed's estate.

KP Law, which represents 270 women who say they were abused by the disgraced tycoon, states the total value of their claim amounts to around £150million, the court was told.

But lawyers acting for the estate argue that this is 'overinflated' and that highest possible personal injury claim was a 'small fraction' of both the amount sought by KP Law and the value of the estate.

Ms Wathen-Fayed, a Finnish socialite and former model, had four children with her husband of almost 40 years. 

Mohamed Al Fayed and Heini Wathen-Fayed were married for almost 40 years

Since Al Fayed's death at 94 in 2023, hundreds of women have come forward alleging that he raped or sexually assaulted them. 

It prompted Harrods to establish a redress scheme for former employees who say abuse was enabled by the department store which Al Fayed owned from 1985 to 2010.

Meanwhile, other claimants directly employed by Al Fayed, including nannies, private assistants and other personal staff, are also seeking damages.

Harrods has argued that his estate, which is worth £111million, risks bankruptcy from the claims and is seeking access to funds to help cover compensation costs.

The store is seeking to remove Ms Wathen-Fayed and his daughters Camilla and Jasmine Linnea as executors of his estate at a two-day hearing at the High Court next week.

It argues the estate is at risk of bankruptcy and seeks funds to put towards the settlement of sexual abuse claims.

Campaigners have previously said the legal wrangling has delayed compensation and have accused Harrods of putting its commercial interests ahead of survivors' needs.

Harrods told the Times: 'It is clear from last week's hearing and available court documents, alongside a lack of apology or acknowledgement of the abuse, that the Fayed estate has no intention of working constructively with survivors.

'It said this was evident in their statements which highlight 'their focus on using a limitation defence to dismiss claims' and 'their belief' that the estimates provided are 'highly inflated'.'

No One Above, an advocacy group representing alleged victims, said the family should be blocked from controlling the estate and from accessing sensitive evidence.

'Survivors accuse Fayed and others, some of whom are still alive, and police in Britain and France are still investigating.

'Survivors' accounts of abuse and trafficking and their medical records should not be controlled by the family of the men they accuse. Independent executors are essential,' the group said.