Diana needed somewhere to take her sons on holiday, and they were at an age where they wanted action and fun. Prince Charles had many royal residences where he could take Prince William and Prince Harry, so they enjoyed being outdoors and riding horses (which Diana didn't do), swimming, fishing, hiking, and shooting. How could Diana compete with that while keeping the boys out of the public eye?
William and Harry were bothered by the paparazzi who constantly followed their mother, so Diana looked for a relatively private place to take her sons. When Mohamed Al-Fayed invited Diana to take her sons aboard the Jonikal to have fun in the waters of St. Louis, William and Harry went jet skiing, jumped off the back of the yacht, and swam while enjoying their holiday with their mother.
When it was time for the two princes to head to Scotland for the rest of their summer vacation, Diana chose to stay with Mohamed's son, Dodi, who showered the princess with attention and gifts. Diana had always needed a great deal of attention, time, and affection from her lovers, and she received this and more from Dodi. Dodi was very much in love with Diana, and he also adored the media attention that came with being with her.
Contrary to public belief, Diana was not in love with Dodi, according to those closest to her at the time. Those who have spoken about her relationship with Dodi say that the Princess of Wales was actually trying to make Hasnat Khan jealous. Hasnat had recently ended their relationship, and the princess was hurt by it. Diana loved the attention and pampering Dodi gave her and was in no hurry to return to her home at Kensington Palace, where she believed the royal family was monitoring her and following her.
Dodi was engaged at the time to an American actress, Kelly Fisher, but broke off the engagement over the phone because he fell in love with Diana instantly. Dodi showered Di with roses, jewelry (including a ring bought just days before her trip ended), a luxurious stay at the Ritz in Paris, and a degree of freedom from the paparazzi, who didn't always manage to photograph the couple.
Yes, Diana hoped Hasnat Khan would see the photos and take her back, and Hasnat did call Diana the night she died. He had a feeling something was very wrong, so Khan called to check on the princess, but his call went straight to voicemail. Diana liked Middle Eastern men, and Dodi fit all of Diana's criteria when it came to romance. Dodi tried to woo the princess, and they seemed like a couple in love.
Appearances can be deceiving, and we now know that Diana's heart wasn't ready to accept Dodi. In my opinion, I don't think the couple would have lasted. They both needed vast amounts of adoration, and neither could give enough to the other in the long run. They were both needy people looking for someone to lavish them with attention and devotion, and for a few weeks in the summer of 1997, Dodi and Diana certainly made headlines around the world.