Prince Mohamed Ali Farouk, grandson of Egypt’s last king, returns to Cairo, expressing gratitude to King Hassan II for facilitating his birth during family exile. His return symbolizes reconciliation between royal and republican eras while addressing historical tensions between Egypt and Morocco. The prince aims to rehabilitate his family’s image, devoid of political ambitions, focusing on cultural heritage preservation.
Prince Mohamed Ali Farouk, the grandson of Egypt’s last monarch, has made a significant return to Cairo, expressing his appreciation for the late King Hassan II’s pivotal role in facilitating his birth in Egypt during the period of his family’s exile. He stated, “Thanks to King Hassan II’s support, who intervened with President Sadat, my mother Fadila was authorized to give birth in Cairo,” as he spoke to AFP in French. His birth in Egypt in 1979 marked him as the first direct male descendant of the royal lineage to return following the 1952 revolution.
Having resided abroad, primarily in France, Prince Mohamed Ali, who was granted an Egyptian passport in 2020, is now establishing his life in Cairo. He underscores that his return symbolizes a reconciliation between Egypt’s royal and republican histories. He articulated, “For my father, Egypt was a lost homeland. For me, it’s a rediscovered one,” while managing a technical real estate consulting firm in Paris. His father, Fouad II, became king at the age of seven months after King Farouk’s abdication, ruling briefly until the monarchy was dissolved in 1953.
The prince’s return was also influenced by his wife, Princess Noal Zaher of the Afghan royal family, who expressed a desire to raise their children closer to their heritage. He mentioned, “It was Noal who supported me throughout my reflection. She wanted to live in the Orient.”
Examining the complex historical relations between Morocco and Egypt, the prince appreciates King Hassan II’s diplomatic maneuvers, which contrasted sharply with the tensions of their predecessors. The strained relationship began in the late 1950s during a state dinner in Morocco, where King Hassan II made a remark about Egyptian President Nasser, indicating a tempestuous diplomatic history.
The culmination of their strife occurred during the 1963 Sand War between Morocco and Algeria, wherein Nasser dispatched troops to support Algeria, resulting in heightened military and diplomatic tensions. A proposed reconciliation meeting in 1965 between the leaders disintegrated into hostility, exacerbated by demands regarding Morocco’s alliances, resulting in threats that emphasized military readiness.
Relations lessened in tension post the presidencies of Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarak, though remnants of conflict surfaced during President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s early administration. Specific incidents, particularly Sisi’s diplomatic missions, stirred apprehension, but were explained as security coordination with Algeria concerning weapon trafficking and threats in Libya. Egypt has reiterated its support for Morocco’s territorial claims in Western Sahara.
Currently, Prince Mohamed Ali aims to enhance the narrative of his royal lineage without engaging in political pursuits. He expressed, “I simply want to work on rehabilitating the image of my royal family and contribute to preserving and transmitting its historical, cultural, and artistic heritage,” asserting the importance of recognizing their 150-year history.
In conclusion, Prince Mohamed Ali Farouk’s return to Cairo represents a significant moment, connecting Egypt’s historical royal legacy with contemporary society. His gratitude towards King Hassan II highlights the complex diplomatic interplay between Egypt and Morocco throughout history. The prince’s focus on preserving his family’s heritage, combined with a desire to heal past divisions, underscores the evolving narrative of Egypt’s monarchy in the modern context.
Original Source: www.moroccoworldnews.com
