Since the unprecedented influx of 70,000 irregular immigrants from Morocco to Spain's Ceuta, the spotlight has been firmly placed on Morocco and its monarch, King Mohammed VI, who is currently 63 years old. Despite his attempts to maintain a low profile away from the media frenzy, the king finds himself at the center of various controversies. These range from his extended stays in Paris, which have led critics to label him as an 'absent king,' to his close friendship with Abu Bakr Azaitar, a former MMA fighter, and the considerable wealth he possesses.
According to a report by Forbes in 2019, King Mohammed VI boasts a staggering fortune exceeding $8.2 billion, making him the wealthiest king in Africa and the fifth richest monarch globally. This starkly contrasts with the minimum wage in Morocco, which stands at approximately 300 euros per month. Furthermore, the king's serious health condition, namely sarcoidosis, has sparked ongoing speculation regarding his well-being, a situation that continues to cause distress among Moroccans. This article delves into the personal life of Mohammed VI, including insights into his son, the future heir to the Moroccan throne, Moulay Hassan, who is the result of his marriage to Princess Lalla Salma, along with their daughter, Princess Lalla Khadija, and provides an overview of key figures in the royal family.
King Mohammed VI: Age and Education
Born on August 21, 1963, in Rabat, Morocco, King Mohammed VI ascended to the throne at the age of 35 on July 23, 1999, following the death of his father, King Hassan II, who was a close friend of King Juan Carlos I of Spain. He is the 18th monarch of the Alaouite dynasty, which has ruled Morocco since 1666. As per the Moroccan Constitution, he also holds the title of Amir al-Mu'minin, or 'Commander of the Faithful.'
Shortly after his father's passing, he delivered his inaugural speech via television, pledging to combat poverty and corruption, create jobs, and uphold human rights. At the tender age of four, he was enrolled in the Quranic school of the Royal Palace, where he, along with his four siblings, became proficient in Spanish, thanks to their Spanish governesses. In 1985, he earned a degree in legal, economic, and social sciences from the University of Rabat, followed by a Certificate of Higher Studies (CES) in Political Science in 1987, graduating with honors. In July 1988, he completed his final exams for a second CES in Public Law, achieving the same commendable results.
To further enrich his education, his parents sent him to Brussels in November 1988 for a tutored stay under Jacques Delors, who was then the President of the European Commission. Eventually, he obtained his doctorate from the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis in France for his thesis on 'Cooperation between the European Economic Community and the Arab Maghreb Union' in 1993, and was awarded an honorary doctorate by George Washington University in the United States in 2000. From a young age, he represented his father in diplomatic missions to various heads of state, participating in numerous national and international meetings and conferences. Remarkably, at just 10 years old, he represented King Hassan II at the funeral of French President Georges Pompidou on April 6, 1974, marking his first official assignment abroad. Between July 23 and July 30, 1980, at the age of 17, he undertook a tour of several African nations, meeting with the presidents of Senegal, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Nigeria.
A Legacy of Tradition and Modernization
King Mohammed VI's father, King Hassan II, born in Rabat on July 9, 1929, reigned from 1961 until his death in 1999. He was exiled to Madagascar by French authorities in 1953, alongside his father, King Mohammed V, returning to Morocco in 1955. Hassan II was married to Lalla Latifa Hammou, his second wife, with whom he had five children, as his first wife bore no heirs. In addition to his two wives, he maintained a harem that reportedly included dozens of concubines, estimated to be around 50 women.
Lalla Latifa Hammou, Mohammed VI's mother, descended from the Amazigh people and was the daughter of the governor of Khénifra. She married King Hassan II on November 9, 1961, and never held a public life, passing away on June 29, 2024, at 78 years of age. She was buried privately at the Royal Palace in Rabat and was primarily regarded as the mother of the royal princes. The arrival of Lalla Salma, Mohammed VI's wife, marked a significant shift, as she became the first spouse of a Moroccan king to have an official public agenda and held the title of Royal Highness.
King Mohammed VI announced his engagement to Salma Bennani shortly after his father's death in 1999, and they were married on March 21, 2002, at the Royal Palace in Rabat. Salma, who is 14 years younger than the king, adopted the title Princess Lalla Salma and became a modern emblem for the kingdom. Together, they have two children: Crown Prince Moulay Hassan, born in 2003, and Princess Lalla Khadija, born in 2007.
Unlike his predecessors, King Mohammed VI's marriage broke several traditions—he publicly married a woman 14 years his junior and bestowed upon her the royal title of 'consort princess,' signaling a clear attempt to modernize the image of the Alaouite monarchy. Lalla Salma was the first wife of a Moroccan king to engage with the media in a Western style and officially held the title of Royal Highness. Previously, the king's wife was merely referred to as 'the mother of the princes,' with no public recognition of her identity or image.
After their marriage, King Mohammed VI renounced polygamy, a long-standing tradition within the Moroccan monarchy, opting for a singular marriage. This marked a historic shift, as his father, King Hassan II, had two official wives and a harem. Lalla Salma introduced the role of First Lady in Morocco, actively participating in public events both domestically and abroad, hosting foreign dignitaries, such as the Spanish royal family, and attending significant occasions, like the coronation of the Dutch king and the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
As a modern symbol of the monarchy, Lalla Salma sharply contrasted with her mother-in-law, Lalla Latifa, who maintained a life away from the public eye. King Hassan II had acknowledged in an interview that while he found his wife educated and presentable, she was not a queen. In contrast, Lalla Salma quickly became a charismatic figure celebrated for her involvement in philanthropic efforts, particularly in cancer awareness and treatment, founding the Lalla Salma Foundation in 2005. She also served as a goodwill ambassador for the World Health Organization (WHO).
Lalla Salma was noted for her elegance and fashion sense, becoming a style icon in both Morocco and Europe, adeptly blending traditional caftans with modern European fashion. Her striking appearance, characterized by her curly red hair and blue eyes, set her apart from traditional beauty standards in the country. She often appeared in public without a hijab, which drew mixed reactions from more conservative sectors, though respect for the king remained unwavering. Over the years, after marrying and having children, Lalla Salma gradually withdrew from the public sphere, with her last appearance in 2017 leading to speculation about a potential divorce, which was officially confirmed in 2018.
Following their divorce, Lalla Salma earned the moniker 'the ghost princess' due to her complete withdrawal from public life and the scarcity of images of her. Rumors circulated that she was being held in captivity or forced into exile, but she later clarified that her absence stemmed from the loss of her official representation. Since the separation, she has focused on raising her two children, residing primarily in a private residence in Rabat, while reportedly her son, Crown Prince Hassan, lives nearby with his father in the Royal Palace.
Despite her low profile, Lalla Salma has been spotted abroad on several occasions, including vacations in Greece and Mykonos with her children. Reports indicate that she owns a villa on the island of Kea, featuring extensive amenities and a vast garden. In July of the previous year, she was seen strolling through the streets of Capri with her children.
As reported by vozpopuli.com.
