The Moroccan royal family is in mourning. On Saturday June 29, the world learned of the death of Princess Lalla Latifa, second wife of the late King Hassan II, and mother of the current sovereign, Mohammed VI. Born Latifa Amahzoune, in Khénifra, in 1949, the one who was nicknamed the “Mother of the royal children” by the Moroccan press, came from the Zayanes tribe and an important Amazigh family, recalls Young Africa. In her lineage, she counted Mouha Ou Hammou Zayani, a military leader of the Zayane resistance against the French colonial army at the beginning of the 20th century, who was her grandfather, as well as General Hammou Amahzoune, her half-brother. The latter had been executed with nine other soldiers for orchestrating the Skhirat coup against King Hassan II in 1971.
Discreet, the princess consort married King Hassan II on November 9, 1961 during a double nuptial ceremony, becoming his second wife. He ascended the throne on March 3, 1961, a few days after the death of his father, Mohammed V. She subsequently gave birth to five children: Princess Lalla Meryem in 1962, King Mohammed VI in 1963, Princess Lalla Asma in 1965, Princess Lalla Hasna in 1967, and Prince Moulay Rachid in 1970. Becoming a widow in 1999, she married Mohamed Mediouri in May 2000, after her widowhood, retaining her honorary titles. Formerly Hassan II’s bodyguard, Mohamed Mediouri had become the father-in-law of the new King Mohammed VI. The couple then settled in France, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, at the beginning of the 2000s. Although never having played a public role, Lalla Latifa was still in the spotlight by her eldest son : he had the “SA Princess Lalla Latifa” mosque built for him in 2018, in Salé.
Mohammed VI: This decision taken to get closer to his mother
If the princess consort had a residence in the Paris region, she is not the only member of the Moroccan royal family to have already settled in France. His son, Mohammed VI, also owns several pied-à-terre in the French capital, starting with a luxurious mansion, purchased in July 2020 for 83 million euros. The latter contains a swimming pool, a spa, a 200 square meter terrace, and a garden opening onto the Eiffel Tower. It had been acquired by the monarch to be closer to his mother, as well as his two sisters, also Parisians, explained L’Express last September.
Article written in collaboration with 6Medias.
Photo credits: AGENCY / BESTIMAGE
