During last week’s French state visit to Morocco, we were treated to a rare public appearance by King Mohammed VI’s only daughter, Princess Lalla Khadija, in elegant diamonds and pearls.
President Emmanuel Macron of France and his wife, Brigitte, were in Morocco for a state visit last week. On Monday, they joined the royal family in Rabat for a ceremony during which President Macron and King Mohammed VI signed several diplomatic agreements, including pacts related to energy and infrastructure.
In this official photo, the King and President Macron posed with the extended royal family. Standing (L-R) are the King’s younger brother, Prince Moulay Rachid; the King’s son and heir, 21-year-old Crown Prince Moulay Hassan; President Macron; and King Mohammed VI. Seated (L-R) are the King’s daughter, 17-year-old Princess Lalla Khadija; the King’s younger sisters, Princess Lalla Asma and Princess Lalla Hasna; Brigitte Macron; and the King’s elder sister, Princess Lalla Meryem.
The ceremony marked Lalla Khadija’s first public engagement in several years. The seventeen-year-old princess is reportedly an accomplished student at the Royal College of Rabat, speaking Arabic, French, English and Spanish fluently. She was carefully poised during the public ceremony, following the example of her aunts. She dressed conservatively for the occasion in a black-and-white houndstooth jacket and black trousers, with a little playful, youthful interest peeking through thanks to the pearl embellishments on her shoes.
The pearl and diamond theme continued through to the earrings, necklace, bracelet, watch, and rings that Lalla Khadija wore with her outfit for the state visit ceremony.
The statement jewels of the ensemble were the princess’s earrings, modern pendants that featured large round pearls balanced on slender pear-shaped diamond frames.
She also wore a delicate pavé-set diamond necklace and a coordinating tennis-style bangle bracelet, as well as sparkling diamond rings on both hands.
Lalla Khadija and her elder brother are the only children of King Mohammed VI and his former wife, Princess Lalla Salma, who were divorced several years ago. Lalla Salma was an exuberant jewelry wearer during her tenure as Morocco’s royal consort, and I know I’m not the only one who misses seeing the way she styled her jewelry pieces on a regular basis. Last week’s appearance by Lalla Khadija suggests that she may have inherited some of her mother’s style–and also shows that, in a promising move, the women of the Moroccan royal family are continuing to take on a more visible public role as the years move forward.
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