Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Latifa, wife of the late King Hassan II of Morocco and mother of the current Alawite monarch, died on Saturday at the age of 78.
This was announced by the spokesperson for the Royal Palace of the Alawite Kingdom in the official media. In a statement published by the Moroccan Press Agency (MAP), official sources from the neighboring country confirmed the news of the death of the former wife of Hassan II.
Born in 1946, Lalla Latifa was the second wife of King Hassan II, with whom she had five children: Princess Lalla Meryem, the current King of Morocco Mohammed VI, Princess Lalla Asma, Princess Lalla Hasna and Prince Moulay Rachid.
“The spokesperson for the Royal Palace announces with deep sadness and deep sorrow the death of Her Royal Highness Lala Latifa, may God rest her soul, on Saturday June 29, 2024,” read the press release read by the spokesperson. speaking, Abdelhak El Merini, on Moroccan public television.
An official Moroccan source told EFE that Lala Latifa died in Rabat, although Mohammed VI’s mother had lived in Paris since Hassan II’s death in 1999. She had suffered from health problems for years and the Moroccan monarch regularly visited her in the French capital.
Following the announcement, Moroccan television and radio stations suspended their programs to broadcast the Quran, as is customary in such cases in Muslim countries. Latifa Hamou, of Berber origin and born in 1946, was known for her discretion and life away from the spotlight, but she was a respected and beloved figure within the Alawite kingdom.
In fact, Lala Latifa never appeared in an official photo during the reign of Hassan II and bore the title of princess, not queen. She was Hassan II’s second wife (she had no children with his first wife) and had five children with the monarch: Lala Mariam, the current King Mohammed VI, Lala Asma, Lala Hasna, and Prince Mulay Rachid.
Statement from the spokesperson for the Palais Royal
“In the name of God, the Merciful, the Merciful and the Merciful, prayers and greetings to the Prophet, his family and his companions,
The spokesperson for the Royal Palace announces, with immense sadness and deep sorrow, the death of HRH Princess Lalla Latifa, may God have her in His holy mercy, this Saturday 22 Dhu ul-Hijjah 1445 corresponding to June 29, 2024 , wife of His Majesty King Hassan II, may God rest his soul, and mother of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist and preserve him, and of Their Royal Highnesses the Princes and Princesses.
In announcing this painful loss, we implore the Almighty to surround the deceased with His infinite mercy, His divine clemency and to welcome her into His vast paradise, and to grant a long life to His Majesty King Mohammed VI , may God preserve him and perpetuate His glory. We belong to God and it is to
Him we will return.”
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