Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lalla Salma |
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Lalla Salma in 2012
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| Princess consort of Morocco | |
| Tenure | 12 July 2002 – c. March 2018 |
| Born | Salma Bennani 10 May 1977 Fez, Morocco |
| Spouse | |
| Issue | |
| Father | Abdelhamid Bennani |
| Mother | Naïma Bensouda |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
Princess Lalla Salma (born Salma Bennani, 10 May 1977) is the former wife of Mohammed VI of Morocco, the King of Morocco. They got married in 2002. She became the first wife of a Moroccan ruler to be publicly known. She was last seen in an official role in December 2017.
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Early Life and Education
Lalla Salma was born as Salma Bennani in Fez, a city in Morocco. Her father, Abdelhamid Bennani, was a university teacher. Her mother, Naïma Bensouda, passed away when Salma was only three years old.
After her mother's death, Salma and her sister Meryem were raised by their grandmother, Fatma Abdellaoui Maâne. Salma grew up in Rabat, the capital city of Morocco. She often appeared in public with her half-cousin, Saira.
School and University
Lalla Salma went to school in Rabat. She attended private schools like Lycée Hassan II and Lycée Moulay Youssef. She also studied at a special engineering school called the École nationale supérieure d'informatique et d'analyse des systèmes.
After finishing her engineering studies, she worked for a short time. She was an information services engineer at ONA Group. This company is Morocco's largest private business group. It is also partly controlled by the Moroccan royal family.
Lalla Salma speaks several languages. She is fluent in Arabic and French. She also learned to speak Spanish later in life.
Marriage and Family
Lalla Salma met King Mohammed VI at a private party in 1999. They became engaged on 12 October 2001. Their first wedding ceremony, called the sadaq, happened on 20 March 2002. The main wedding celebration, known as the zafaf, took place on 12 and 13 July 2002. This grand event was held at Dar al-Makhzen, the main Royal palace in Rabat.
Lalla Salma stopped her public official duties around March 2018. Since then, she has occasionally taken part in private events. She was last seen at one of these events in 2021.
Royal Children
Lalla Salma and King Mohammed VI have two children:
| Name | Date of Birth | Place of Birth | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crown Prince Moulay Hassan | 8 May 2003 | Dar al-Makhzen, Rabat, Morocco | 22 |
| Princess Lalla Khadija | 28 February 2007 | Dar al-Makhzen, Rabat, Morocco | 18 |
Public Activities and Recognition
As Princess of Morocco, Lalla Salma kept a somewhat private life. However, she was more visible than previous princesses. She actively supports groups that fight cancer and the Fez Sacred Music Festival.
Lalla Salma often represented the King and Morocco at important meetings and gatherings. She traveled to countries like Saudi Arabia, Japan, Thailand, Palestine, Tunisia, and France. For example, she attended the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011. She also went to the wedding of Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, in 2012. In 2013, she attended the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.
Fighting Cancer and HIV/AIDS
In January 2005, the Spanish government honored her with a special award. It was called the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic. In September 2005, Lalla Salma started a group in Morocco to help prevent cancer. She created the Lalla Salma Foundation – Prevention and Treatment of Cancer. She has also worked to prevent HIV/AIDS in Africa.
In 2006, Princess Lalla Salma was named a Goodwill Ambassador by the World Health Organization. This role focused on cancer care, promotion, and prevention. Besides her work on cancer and HIV/AIDS, she also supports and encourages women's empowerment.
Mosque in Her Honor
In May 2017, a mosque was built and opened in her honor in Fez. It is called the "Mosque H.R.H. Princess Lalla Salma". This mosque is located on Al Mizane Square and can hold over 3,000 people for prayers.
Honors and Awards
Lalla Salma has received several important honors:
Spain: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (14 January 2005).
Senegal: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (1 December 2008).
WHO: Gold Medal of the World Health Organization (25 May 2017).
See also
In Spanish: Lalla Salma para niños
