A number of employment tribunals, successfully brought by people claiming racial discrimination, took place during Al Fayed’s ownership of Harrods.

Henry said he didn’t witness any sexual assault when he worked at the store, but there was “hearsay” amongst staff.

“I had lots of people tell me things, I suspected a lot of things, I saw some things, but who am I going to tell?” he said. “You can suspect all you want, but without having some proof… it’s not evidence in court.”

Al Fayed was accused of racism by Vanity Fair in 1995, an allegation he vehemently denied. It sparked a libel lawsuit that the billionaire later agreed to drop, as long as further evidence the magazine had gathered in preparation for a trial was locked away.

Many years after leaving his post, Henry said he still feared reprisals from people in the former chairman’s security team.

“Just a few things I said to you could cost me my life – and if not my life, my livelihood,” he said.

Despite these fears, he said other members of Harrods security staff should come forward to the authorities.

“If they have daughters, they have granddaughters, they have a mother, they should tell [what they know]… but I can assure you those people would keep their mouths shut.”

The statement received from Harrods also said: “These were the actions of an individual who was intent on abusing his power wherever he operated and we condemn them in the strongest terms. We also acknowledge that during this time his victims were failed and for this we sincerely apologise.”

It added: “While we cannot undo the past, we have been determined to do the right thing as an organisation, driven by the values we hold today, while ensuring that such behaviour can never be repeated in the future.”