Moulay El Hassan.. A year of engagements, a future taking shape. Morocco’s Royal Family and people will mark Friday with celebrations honoring the 23rd birthday of Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan — an occasion that reflects the enduring relationship between Moroccans and the Alaouite Throne, long considered a pillar of the Kingdom’s unity and stability.
Twenty-three years ago, on May 8, 2003, the Ministry of the Royal Household, Protocol, and Chancellery announced the birth of a son at the Royal Palace in Rabat. King Mohammed VI named him Moulay El Hassan, in tribute to his grandfather, the late King Hassan II. That announcement, received with deep significance across the country, now marks an annual occasion that grows in weight with each passing year.
The Crown Prince’s birthday has come to represent more than a personal milestone. It serves as a moment of national reflection on the bond between Morocco’s citizens and its sovereign institution — a bond expressed through the oath of allegiance to the King as Commander of the Faithful and guarantor of the Nation’s interests.
A Year Defined by Duty and Representation
The past twelve months have seen Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan take on an increasingly visible role in the life of the Kingdom. His engagements — spanning military affairs, cultural events, sports, and diplomacy — reflect a deliberate preparation for future leadership.
Most recently, King Mohammed VI appointed Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan as Coordinator of the Offices and Services of the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces — a significant military role that capped a year of substantial public responsibility.
On April 30, the Crown Prince chaired the opening ceremony of the 31st International Book Fair in Rabat, held under the patronage of the King. Two weeks earlier, on April 13, he inaugurated the Mohammed VI Tower in Rabat — a landmark architectural project presented as a symbol of the urban transformation reshaping the twin cities of Rabat and Salé.
These engagements followed a particularly active stretch beginning in late 2025. On December 21, the Crown Prince presided over the opening ceremony of the 35th Africa Cup of Nations at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat — the same venue he had officially inaugurated on September 4, following reconstruction works carried out to meet FIFA 2030 standards.
The equestrian calendar also featured prominently. On October 18, he presided over the 2025 Rabat Grand Prix of the Longines Global Champions Tour, an event that consolidates Morocco’s position on the international equestrian circuit. Four days later, he chaired a ceremony honoring the U20 National Football Team following their victory at the 2025 World Cup in Chile.
In September, the Crown Prince chaired the opening of the 16th El Jadida Horse Show, and on October 5 presided over the award ceremony of the King Mohammed VI Grand Prix in show jumping, part of the final of the 14th Morocco Royal Tour CSI 4*W.
On August 25, the Crown Prince received at the Royal Palace in Tetouan children from Al-Quds who participated in the 16th edition of summer camps organized by Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency — an engagement reflecting Morocco’s longstanding commitment to the Holy City.
Between the Military and the Mosque: A Complete Formation
The military dimension of the Crown Prince’s year was particularly substantial. On July 31, he received at the Royal Guard Officers’ Club in Tetouan a message of loyalty and good wishes from the Royal Armed Forces on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the King’s accession to the Throne. On the same occasion, he met with valedictorians of leading military and paramilitary academies before chairing a luncheon in honor of dignitaries attending the oath-taking ceremony of the “Sultan Ahmed Al-Mansour Al-Dahbi” class.
On June 4, he presided over the graduation ceremony for the Higher Defense Course and the General Staff Course at the Royal College of Higher Military Education in Kenitra. On May 14, he chaired a luncheon at the Officers’ Mess Circle in Rabat marking the 69th anniversary of the Royal Armed Forces.
Beyond military affairs, the Crown Prince stood alongside King Mohammed VI during the religious vigil of Laylat Al-Qadr and the Eid Al-Fitr prayer — a reminder that the formation of an Alaouite heir carries a spiritual dimension alongside its civic and institutional ones.
Each public appearance adds definition to a profile still taking shape: a young royal learning the weight of representation, stepping into spaces where presence itself carries meaning. At 23, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan is visibly being prepared — through protocol, ceremony, and responsibility — for the role that lies ahead.
- Based on reporting by MAP (Maghreb Arab Press)