Being married to someone is never easy, not only for commoner, even more a royalty. Married to a prince has been a dream for many women, that is why the story gets more interested and gets much of spotlight. Marrying a prince is not a guarantee to have such the happy marriage too, we have the famous example for this, such as the late Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles from British Monarchy. But stills the story of a King or a Prince marrying an ordinary worth to be in headline.
Like the story of Moroccan King that broke the centuries of tradition to marry the love of his life, Salma Bennani. The couple first met at a private party when Salma Bennani was 21-years-old. As a fairy tale then she married with the only crown Prince of Morocco, Mohammed VI on 21 March 2002 in Rabat. Bennani then granted the personal title of Princess with the title of Her Royal Highness Prince Lalla Salma.
Lalla is a traditional honorific for high-born and royal women which correspond to the western title Lady for noble woman. In the tradional of Morocco there has never been a title given to the King’s wife.
It was love at the first sight for the king to be at that time, he was attracted to a beautiful woman with red hair. At first Salma did not respon immediately because she was still in college and wanted to complete her studies first before getting married. Salma Bennani asked the King to wait, and he did.
A daughter of Al-Haj Abdel Hamid Bennani and Naima Bensouda, Salma grew up to be a brilliant woman, she graduated as the top of her class in computer science from the national School of Computer Science and Systems Analysis. And Bennani was the valedictorian for her year.
Not only that, Salma also set some rules before she agrees to the King’s proposal, and one of the thing she was firm at is a monogamous marriage. In Morocco, every monarch has polygamous marriage which is normal to has more than one wife, but again King Mohammed VI agree to stay loyal.
That was not the only things that break the ancient tradition that has emerged from this Royal Wedding. The King also showed to the world his bride. Traditionally, the wife of Moroccan Kings were very private figure that were obligated to stay within the castle walls. Therefore the wedding brought many wind of changes.
King Mohammed VI was not as conservative as the previous rulers of Morocco, the King grew up with Western education, fluent English, French and has several academic degrees. With all those as his background, he brings the Morocco change to better and began by taking his wife as his equal.
Princess Lalla Salma is passionate about the position of women in the country which treated injustice. Morroco women had no right when it came to marriage, either in marriage contracts and no right to file divorce. She quite determined to change that.
Morocco is a Muslim majority country and it comes a surprise to other commoners that King’s wife is not wearing hijab, but not for the King. Princess Lalla Salma and King often go on diplomatic business together. She also regularly represents Morocco at important events around the world.
They are blessed with a son Crown Prince Moulay Hassan and a daughter, Princess Lalla Khadija.
After their 16-years of marriage, the royal couple have decided to divorce. The news came just weeks after the King had heart surgery in Paris, the Royal House of Morocco released a photograph of King in the hospital with his brother, Prince Moulay Rachid, and his sister, Princess Lalla Meryem, Lalla Asma and Lalla Hasna and his children Prince Moulay Hassan and Princess Lalla Khadija. Without Princess Lalla Salma on the picture.
The last news after being reported disappeared for more than a year, King’s ex-wife, Lalla Salma was seen had dinner at a Chiringuito in Marrakech on April 1, according to a photo published by the digital media Rue20. Princess Lalla Salma was dinned with her daughter Princess Khadija, 12-years-old, and a group of friends with several bodyguards. Princess Lalla Khadija was enjoying the first day of the two weeks holidays they have in Morocco.The last image of 40-years-old Lalla Salma was taken on December 12, 2017 at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Rabat.
The inspiring love story and hopefully the best for Lalla Salma.
Here are the pictures of Princess Lalla Salma and King Mohammed VI
