A tense moment depicted in season six, episode three of The Crown portrays Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed seeking refuge in a jewelry store in Monaco. While the drama unfolds on screen, reality paints a less dramatic picture.
In truth, Diana and Dodi did visit a jewelry store, specifically Repossi, around August 20, as revealed in an interview with jeweler Alberto Repossi by the Washington Post after their tragic deaths. Contrary to the show’s portrayal, the couple spent only a brief four or five minutes in the store, as they already had a specific ring in mind.
During the 2007 inquest into their deaths, Repossi testified that Diana and Dodi had indeed visited his Monte Carlo store, swiftly selecting the desired ring. Dodi later contacted Repossi to request resizing, indicating that the engagement announcement was planned for early September. The short conversation centered on ensuring the ring would be ready by the end of August.
Despite the show’s suggestion of a ring pickup in Paris, Repossi clarified that the ring, after resizing to fit Diana’s finger, was scheduled for collection in Paris. On August 30, Dodi reportedly visited the boutique in the French capital and left with the ring. Claude Roulet, a Ritz Paris hotel official, supported this account, testifying that he assisted Dodi in choosing the ring on August 30, with no involvement from Diana.
The ring’s tragic connection to the fatal car crash on August 31, 1997, adds a somber note to this chapter in history. French police reportedly discovered the ring at the crash site during the early hours of that fateful day. The reality, while not as dramatic as portrayed in The Crown, remains a poignant part of the intricate narrative surrounding Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed.
