Princess Lalla Khadija of Morocco comes of age and takes on a new institutional role
On 28 February Princess Khadija, daughter of King Mohammed VI of Morocco and his ex-wife Salma Bennani, turns 18
In an atmosphere of austerity and following the royal instructions for the cancellation of Eid Al Adha, the Islamic ritual sacrifice of cattle or feast of the lamb, the Moroccan people have a reason to celebrate on 28 February.
It is the birthday of Princess Lalla Khadija, the youngest daughter of King Mohammed VI and his ex-wife Salma Bennani, born on 28 February 2007 and therefore coming of age.
The ‘jewel in the Alaouite crown’, as the press has dubbed her, had a discreet childhood, far from the palace, while she was educated at the Royal College in Rabat. There she learnt the four languages she speaks (Arabic, French, English and Spanish), which will undoubtedly be fundamental for her to carry out her ceremonial work representing the Moroccan Royal Family.
Discreet celebration
The anniversary is expected to be celebrated in private and discreetly, in line with the austerity that has been imposed in Morocco in recent days due to the prolonged drought, which is affecting the economies of the most vulnerable and is a serious concern for the Monarchy and the Government.
Even so, the anniversary is a source of pride for the Moroccan people, who just a few months ago, on the occasion of the official visit of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, had the opportunity to see Princess Lalla Khadija in public again, after having spent part of her adolescence away from public life.
On that visit, in October 2024, Princess Lalla Khadija reappeared in public as an elegant young woman who perfectly fulfilled her role of accompanying King Mohammed VI in his role as host.
Institutional role
The last time Princess Lalla Khadija had been seen in public in an official capacity was in 2018, when she participated alongside the monarch in various institutional events, as part of her preparation for the role she would have to assume in the future, in accordance with the tradition of the Alawite monarchy.
Thus, that year she participated alongside Mohammed VI in the ceremony for the presentation of the progress report and the executive programme in the field of support for education and training.
A few months later, in February 2019, a young Lalla Khadija posed holding her father's hand in a photograph of the official visit to Morocco of the King and Queen of Spain, Felipe VI and Letizia. And in March of that same year, she and King Mohammed VI received Pope Francis during the pontiff's visit to the country.
In December of that year, the princess presided over the inauguration ceremony of the vivarium at the National Zoo of Rabat.
Support for the monarch and the crown prince
From then on, Lalla Khadija stopped making public appearances and it was her older brother, the crown prince Mulay Hassan, who took on a more prominent role. It was not until last October, with the aforementioned visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, that Moroccan citizens had the opportunity to see the princess again in public, elegantly dressed and fulfilling her role as hostess alongside her three aunts, the sisters of King Mohammed VI.
An institutional role in which she will participate more intensely from the age of majority, to support the monarch and his brother, the crown prince, especially now that Morocco plays an increasingly important role on the international scene, as a strategic ally of the United States, France and, of course, Spain.
