Jeweller knew of Diana and Dodi engagement
A JEWELLER confirmed today that Diana and Dodi were engaged weeks before their deaths.
Top jeweller Alberto Repossi told the inquest into her death that Princess Diana and her boyfriend Dodi Fayed had been choosing rings for their engagement.
He also alleged that American spies would have known about the couples plans to announce their engagement in early September because, he said, they were bugging Dodi’s calls.
The jeweller's shop, owned by Mohamed al Fayed and located opposite the Ritz Hotel, said Dodi made the revelation in a telephone call to discuss re-sizing a ring he had ordered.
Following Dodi's call, Mr Repossi claims he met the couple in a hotel for a secret meeting in St Tropez in the south of France where he showed them the ring and other jewellery which he thought the Princess might be interested in.
But, giving evidence to Diana’s inquest by video link from Paris today, Mr Repossi said he could not remember which hotel it was.
He also claimed he had not told Scotland Yard investigators about the meeting because he had vowed not to speak about it as he could not prove it had taken place and because a journalist was “mean” to him.
Mr Repossi clashed repeatedly with Nicholas Hilliard, counsel to the inquest, when challenged about different accounts he had given to the police and various reporters.
At one point he thumped the table in front of him and declared in English: “You are very tough.”
He claims he received two phone calls from Franco Mora, the then manager of the Ritz, around that time. The first call alerted him that a “very important client” would be coming in.
Mr Mora's second call called was to inform him that Diana and Dodi had seen a diamond ring in his window, gave him a size, and said it was needed by the beginning of September.
“What we were happy about was to be chosen by a lady who was everywhere in the media and who chose a jewel, a ring, from our collection,” he told the court.
He said he told Mr Mora that this would be difficult because his workshop would be closed for the month of August.
“Mr Mora said nothing,” he said.
“But then the same day I received a call from Dodi who told me that he needed this ring for the end of August because at the beginning of September their engagement would be announced.
“I told him that I would do everything necessary.”
The hearing continues.
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