On October 10, 2026, the health of **King Mohammed VI** emerged as a sensitive topic during the opening of the Moroccan Parliament. The 63-year-old monarch's frailty was evident as he relied on a crutch for support, struggling to speak more than a few words without becoming fatigued. Dressed in a loose-fitting **yellow djellaba**, he could not conceal his slim figure, a stark contrast to his previously heavier appearance. He was accompanied by his son, **Crown Prince Moulay Hassan**, and his brother, **Moulay Rachid**—the second in line for the throne—as they entered the Parliament. Throughout the proceedings, Crown Prince Moulay Hassan remained attentive to his father, ensuring he did not stumble as he took his seat at the head of the assembly.
During his **12-minute address**, the king notably addressed the migration crisis at the Ceuta border for the first time. With a weak and hoarse voice, he asserted that he would not tolerate “pressure, threats, or blackmail” from Spain just before the scheduled visit of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. In a departure from previous years, television coverage did not show him walking through the corridors leading to the assembly hall, further emphasizing concerns about his deteriorating health.
The monarch's physical decline has been a recurring theme since a public appearance at the end of September, where he commemorated the **28th anniversary of his father Hassan II's death**. Footage released by Moroccan media outlet [Le 360](https://www.eldebate.com/gente/20260922/mohamed-vi-marruecos-reaparece-rabat-tambaleandose-dificultad-caminar_461414.html) depicted him looking notably thin, with a serious expression as he appeared unsteady on his feet.
King Mohammed VI has largely withdrawn from public life, resulting in scarce official information regarding his health. In December 2024, he underwent emergency surgery due to a **trauma to his left shoulder**, which resulted in a fractured humerus while he was engaging in sports. A few months prior, he was seen supporting himself with a cane while greeting **Emmanuel Macron** at the foot of the airplane stairs at Rabat airport.
In 2018 and 2020, he underwent two **cardiac surgeries**. The first took place at the Ambroise Paré Clinic in Paris, following a diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmia. Images of the king recovering, surrounded by his four brothers and two sons without the presence of **Lalla Salma**, led to confirmation of their divorce shortly thereafter. The second surgery, conducted in Rabat, was necessitated by a relapse and involved a radiofrequency ablation to normalize his heart rhythm.
As the king's health becomes a focal point of concern, Crown Prince Moulay Hassan's role has increasingly come to the forefront of Morocco's institutional agenda. At just 23 years old, he has been independently presiding over significant official events on behalf of his father, including diplomatic luncheons and military academy ceremonies. Notably, the king entrusted him with welcoming **Chinese President Xi Jinping** at the Casablanca airport in November 2024. Additionally, in May of the same year, Mohammed VI appointed him as the Coordinator of the Offices and Services of the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR).
As reported by eldebate.com.
