In a BBC television interview broadcast on Thursday night, Earl Spencer did not say the relationship was casual but that his sister's relationship with Dodi had not gone past the ``exciting'' and ``heady stage.''

And he dismissed Al Fayed's claims that they were set to marry when they were killed in a Paris car crash on August 31.

Nobody in Diana's family knew of any marriage plans, Spencer said. ``It is speculation as to what might have happened or what might not have happened. It is completely ridiculous.''

Writing in The Mirror newspaper, Al Fayed said he was sure that if Diana and Dodi had lived, she would have discussed Dodi's marriage proposal with her elder son, Prince William, when she returned to London.

``Had William given his approval and I feel sure that,like any loving son in such a situation, he would have replied: Whatever makes you happy, mummy', and I believe that an announcement of an engagement would have followed,'' Al Fayed said.

He said the Earl's courageous and historic eulogy at Diana's funeral had noted that she had at last found joy in her private life.