Dodi Fayed's funeral cortege departs from Regent's Park Mosque

Dodi Fayed is Buried in Britain

Dodi Fayed's body was flown back to London on Sunday evening, accompanied by his father, Harrods owner Mohammed Al Fayed. The body was taken first to the Regent's Park Mosque in central London and from there to a Muslim cemetery in Woking. A police spokesman in Woking said that the Al Fayed family had insisted on a private ceremony and that those wishes were being respected.

Educated in Switzerland and at the Sandhurst military acadamy, Dodi Fayed held both Egyptian and United Arab Emirates citizenship. He spent most of his working life in the family business, but also became known as a successful film producer in Hollywood, where his production company was involved in the Oscar winning film Chariots of Fire.

But Dodi Fayed became best known as a wealthy international playboy with a series of glamorous female escorts. He was briefly married to an American model whom he later divorced. Dodi Fayed's appearances in the gossip columns began in the 1980's - when he was in his thirties - usually involving his appearances at nightclubs around the world.

The most recent controversy involving Dodi Fayed revolved around California model, Kelly Fischer. Ms Fischer had instigated legal proceedings against Dodi Fayed, claiming he had promised to marry her and then left her after he began his romance with Diana. She had demanded $500,000 for "breach of contract".

Dodi Fayed first met Diana ten years ago, at a polo match. Mohammed Al Fayed was a close friend of Diana's father, the late Earl Spencer.