King Mohammed VI of Morocco’s recent private visit to France might be concealing a visit to his mother, Lalla Latifa, who was previously announced to be suffering from an illness. The French-speaking site “Afrik” reported that the King had a falling out with his mother about a year ago. Within two months, the Moroccan monarch made three trips to France, possibly due to the deteriorating health of the former wife of the late King Hassan II.
After the latter’s demise, Lalla Latifa relocated to France. Not only did she move, but she also married the former personal guard of her late husband, Mohammed Mediouri. This marriage was not well-received by the current Moroccan King, Mohammed VI, leading to a strained relationship between mother and son. The Spanish newspaper “El Confidencial” previously revealed that the King had boycotted this wedding, and the cold years between the mother and her son persisted until Lalla Latifa’s illness was announced, without further details about the nature of her ailment.
The severe condition of Lalla Latifa prompted Mohammed VI to re-establish contact with his mother, whom he began visiting regularly. It’s speculated that his trip to France might be for this purpose. If no official announcement is made about this royal journey, questions will multiply, with some drawing connections between his mother’s health and the King’s stay in France.
It remains challenging to determine whether the King is currently residing in his palace in Biarritz or in Bougival, the French town located in the Yvelines department of the Île-de-France region, where his mother lives. Additionally, there’s no information on whether the King plans to meet French President Emmanuel Macron during his stay. Bilateral meetings between the two leaders could potentially defuse tensions between Paris and Rabat.