SEBASTIAN SHAKESPEARE: Fayed family feud, Round 2: it’s off to court

Mohamed Fayed, 91, pictured attending the ‘Chanel Collection des Metiers d’Art’ in Paris in December 2016

His life was marred by tragedy when his son Dodi died in the Paris car crash which claimed the life of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Now, it seems the twilight days of former Harrods owner Mohamed Fayed, 91, are to be blighted by a protracted High Court battle between his two youngest children.

For I can disclose that Camilla Fayed — the third of Fayed’s offspring by his second wife Heini Wathen — has just submitted a document, disputing claims made by her brother Omar, who has alleged that he was the victim of a ‘violent assault’ orchestrated by Camilla in tandem with her husband, Mohamad Esreb.

Her brother, who, as I revealed, is claiming £100,000 damages from his sister and brother-in-law, says the attack happened at Barrow Green Court, their parents’ Surrey estate, on May 18 after he had gone there for a ‘socially distanced’ meeting with his father.

Camilla, 35, completely denies her brother’s version of events, saying there was no attack and dismissing all his claims as ‘groundless’. She also alleges that given his ‘general demeanour and behaviour’, Omar was ‘on drugs’.

In a defence document just submitted to the High Court, she alleges that her father had been ‘so upset’ by Omar’s ‘demeanour and behaviour’ that he contacted her, asking her and her husband to come to Barrow Green Court.

On their arrival, says Camilla, her mother, Heini, informed them Omar had been ‘making allegations’ about Esreb.

Camilla, who considered the allegations to be ‘hurtful and untrue’, decided to ask Omar about them. When she did so, he allegedly responded by ‘shouting and swearing’ at her and Esreb and ‘threatening to have them arrested’.

Camilla Fayed at the Fabulous Fund Fair for London Fashion Week in February last year

Omar Fayed, right, with Karim Fayed at Bernardi's in London in September 2015

Camilla Fayed, left, at the Fabulous Fund Fair for London Fashion Week in February last year and Omar Fayed, far right, with Karim Fayed at Bernardi’s in London in September 2015

It seems the twilight days of former Harrods owner Mohamed are to be blighted by a protracted High Court, building pictured, battle between his two youngest children (file photo)

It seems the twilight days of former Harrods owner Mohamed are to be blighted by a protracted High Court, building pictured, battle between his two youngest children (file photo)

Omar, alleges Camilla, ‘appeared to have red, bloodshot eyes, was sweating profusely and was behaving erratically. He seemed jittery and unable to stand still’. Camilla and her husband were obliged to follow Omar as he moved about ‘in order to talk to him’.

There was, she alleges, ‘no attack’ on him by the men he describes as ‘bodyguards’, nor did she call out —– as Omar alleges she did —– ‘Get the phone!’, still less did she take his iPhone.

How many more documents must be exchanged before one sibling or the other sees their claims go up in smoke?

Model and environmentalist Lily Cole has a guilty conscience about globetrotting. ‘Travel is probably the personal contradiction I’ve struggled most with,’ she admits. 

‘I just naturally had a traveller’s spirit as a child. I always yearned to travel the world — and as soon as I got the chance, I gobbled it up. 

‘At the same time, the pace at which we’re travelling is part of the problem. My answer to that has been travelling a lot less.’

Teese’s cuddly kiteese 

Dita Von Teese, the 47-year-old ex-wife of Marilyn Manson, has become the proud new owner of two Devon Rex kittens and has taken to pushing them around in a navy pram

Dita Von Teese, the 47-year-old ex-wife of Marilyn Manson, has become the proud new owner of two Devon Rex kittens and has taken to pushing them around in a navy pram

Burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese knows how to command attention. This time, it has nothing to do with glamorous outfits or titillating performances.

The 47-year-old ex-wife of Marilyn Manson has become the proud new owner of two Devon Rex kittens and has taken to pushing them around in a navy pram.

Aleister, Dita’s beloved Devon Rex, died in May. Sporting a furry hat and long dark skirt with heels, Dita posted this picture online. ‘Look what the stork dropped off,’ she joked.

He is famous for making gangster films like Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels but Guy Ritchie is a softie at heart. 

Yesterday, the director posted this touching tribute to his second wife Jacqui Ainsley: ‘To the best friend of my soul, and the greatest mate in my life — thank you for all the years of happiness, love and generosity. Happy fifth anniversary!’ 

Ritchie and Ainsley recently enjoyed an evening out at a London art gallery with his first wife Madonna, from whom he was bitterly divorced in 2008. Love is all around.

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