The Moroccan royal family mourns the loss of Princess Lalla Latifa, mother of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who died at the age of 75 in Rabat following a long illness.
Born Latifa Amahzoune in 1949 in Khénifra, Lalla Latifa belonged to the Berber tribe of Zayanes and came from an influential family. Her grandfather, Mouha Ou Hammou Zayani, is known for his resistance against the French colonial occupation in the early 20th century. She was also the half-sister of General Hammou Amahzoune, involved in the attempted coup d’état of Skhirat in 1971 against King Hassan II, a significant episode in Moroccan history.
Due to health problems that appeared in August 2022, the princess stayed in France, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, where she regularly received visits from her son, King Mohammed VI. Faced with the worsening of her condition, she chose to return to Morocco, where she died a few weeks after her return. Her death was confirmed by a spokesperson for the royal palace on June 29.
Although this loss is deeply felt, no national mourning has been declared. In accordance with Moroccan customs, the princess was buried quickly. Dubbed “the mother of the royal children” by the Moroccan media, Lalla Latifa leaves a legacy of discretion and family devotion.
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