King Mohammed VI of Morocco has received many expressions of affection and condolences from many world leaders following the death of his mother, Princess Lalla Latifa, died Saturday at the age of 78.
Lalla Latifa was the second wife of 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.
Several world leaders sent their condolences to the Alawite monarch on the death of his mother, thus demonstrating the affection they have for the Moroccan royal house, a sign of the important place that the Kingdom of Morocco occupies on the international scene thanks to the important diplomatic relations that it has established with many major world powers.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent messages of condolences to King Mohammed VI on the death of his mother, the official Saudi news agency SPA reported on Sunday.
In a cable sent to King Mohammed VI of Morocco, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud expressed his deepest and most sincere condolences on the death of Princess Lalla Latifa. Meanwhile, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed his “warmest and most sincere condolences” in a separate message.
The President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, also presented his condolences to the Alawite monarch following the death of Princess Lalla Latifa. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Presidential Court, also sent their respective messages to the King of Morocco in the same direction.
The Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, also sent a telegram of condolences to the King of Morocco on the death of his mother, Princess Lalla Latifa, “praying to Almighty Allah to grant her mercy and grant her a place in his vast gardens, and to inspire the honorable royal family with patience and consolation,” as reported by the official Qatar News Agency, QNA.
King Abdullah II of Jordan also sent a message to King Mohammed VI of Morocco to offer his condolences on the death of his mother. The Jordanian monarch offered his condolences on behalf of the Jordanian people and government to the monarch of Morocco, the royal family and the Moroccan people, following the death of Princess Lalla Latifa.
The general feeling in the Arab world was the same. Even Algeria, Morocco’s great political rival in the Maghreb due to its political differences, has sent official expressions of affection. In a message addressed to the King of Morocco, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said: “To His Majesty King Mohammed VI of the brotherly Kingdom of Morocco, I learned with sadness the news of the death of your mother. This sad news, which affects you and the royal family, has deeply saddened me. On my own behalf and on behalf of the Algerian people, I extend my sincere condolences to you.”
The Western world also sent messages of condolences to the Moroccan king, from nations such as the United States and Spain, important allies of the North African country. The British Embassy in Morocco also announced that it would lower its flags at half-mast in all its diplomatic representations in Morocco to honor the memory of Princess Lalla Latifa.
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