By Emmanuel Nduka
On Monday, July 1, the Royal Palace of Morocco issued a statement to confirm the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Latifa, wife of the late King Hassan II of Morocco, and mother of the current Alawi monarch.
Heritage Times HT reports that she passed away on Saturday, June 29 at the age of 78.
The death announcement was made by the spokesman of the Royal Palace of the Alaouite Kingdom.
In a statement released by the Moroccan Press Agency (MAP), the official sources of 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 his first wife he had no children) with whom he had five children: Princess Lalla Meryem; the current King of Morocco Mohammed VI; Princess Lalla Asma; Princess Lalla Hasna and Prince Mulay Rachid.
“The spokesman of the Royal Palace announces with immersed sadness and deep sorrow the death of Her Royal Highness Lala Latifa, may God rest her soul, this Saturday, June 29, 2024,” the statement read by the spokesman, Abdelhak El Merini, on Moroccan public television read.
A Moroccan official source told EFE that Lala Latifa died in Rabat, although Mohammed VI’s mother had been living in Paris since the death of Hassan II in 1999.
The King’s mother had been suffering from health problems for years, a time in which the Moroccan monarch has regularly gone to see her in the French capital.
Following the announcement, Moroccan television and radio stations suspended their programming to broadcast the Koran, as is customary in such cases in Muslim countries. Latifa Hamou, of Berber origin and born in 1946, was known for her discretion and her life away from the public spotlight, but she has been a respected and beloved figure within the Alawite kingdom.
Lalla Latifa 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 (she had no children with his first wife) and had five children with the monarch: Lala Mariam, the current King Mohammed VI, Lalla Asma, Lalla Hasna and Prince Mulay Rachid.
See full statement by the spokesman of the Royal Palace below:
“In the name of God, the clement, the merciful.
“Prayers and greetings be upon the Prophet, His family and His companions.
“The spokesman of the Royal Palace announces, with immense sadness and deep sorrow, the passing away of HRH Princess Lalla Latifa, may God have her in His holy mercy, this Saturday the 22nd of Dhu ul-Hijjah 1445 corresponding to June 29, 2024, wife of the late His Majesty King Hassan II, may God rest her soul, and mother of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist and preserve Him, and Their Royal Highnesses the Princes and Princesses.
“Announcing this painful loss, we implore the Almighty to surround the mourned deceased with His infinite mercy, divine clemency and welcome her in His vast paradise, and grant long life to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God preserve Him and perpetuate His glory.
“We belong to God and to Him we shall return”.
