Lalla Latifa, mother of King Mohamed VI and widow of the late monarch Hassan II, died this Saturday, according to a press release from the spokesperson for the Moroccan Royal Palace. “The spokesperson for the Royal Palace announces, with immense sadness and deep affliction, the death of HRH Princess Lalla Latifa, may God rest her in His holy mercy, this Saturday 22 Dou Al Hijja 1445 AH corresponding to June 29, 2024, wife of the late 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 Their Royal Highnesses the Princes and Princesses. », Indicates the note distributed by the official MAP agency. An official Moroccan source told the EFE agency that Lalla Latifa died in Rabat, although she had resided in Paris since the death of Hassan II in 1999. She had suffered from health problems for years, during which time the Moroccan monarch regularly visited her in the French capital.
After the announcement, Moroccan televisions and radios suspended their programming to broadcast the Koran, as is customary in the Morocco.
Of Berber origin and born in 1946, Lalla Latifa was known for her discretion and her life away from the public, but she was a respected and loved figure within the Alawite kingdom, specifies the same source. In fact, she never appeared in an official photo during the reign of Hassan II and had the title of princess, not queen. She was the second wife of Hassan II, and had five children with the monarch: Lala Mariam, the current king Mohamed VI, Lala Asma, Lala Hasna and prince Moulay Rachid.
