Morocco is witnessing a quiet but significant acceleration in its royal succession planning as Crown Prince Mulay Hasán increasingly assumes public and institutional responsibilities while his father, King Mohamed VI, faces recurring health challenges. According to reporting from El País, the 23-year-old heir is being steadily introduced into the core functions of state, combining ceremonial representation with growing access to sensitive military and governance structures.
The transition has become more visible in recent months as the king, who has undergone surgery for a shoulder fracture and has also suffered from lumbar issues, reduces his public presence and delegates key duties to his eldest son. While Moroccan authorities have not framed this as a formal handover, the pattern of engagements and appointments suggests a deliberate strategy to prepare the heir for eventual rule.
Mulay Hasán has recently presided over a series of high-profile national events, including the opening of major cultural and sporting institutions. Among them was the inauguration of the Africa Cup of Nations ceremony in Rabat, the unveiling of the Mohamed VI Tower, a landmark skyscraper reshaping the capital’s skyline, and the opening of the International Publishing and Book Fair, attended by international literary figures such as Spanish author Irene Vallejo. These appearances have reinforced his visibility as a future monarch increasingly present in the symbolic life of the nation.
Born in 2003 in the royal palace of Rabat, Mulay Hasán has been groomed for succession from an early age within the strict structures of Morocco’s monarchical protocol. His education has taken place within elite institutions closely linked to the royal court, including the Royal College and later the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, where he studied governance and international relations. He is fluent in several languages, including Arabic, French, English, Spanish, and Amazigh, and is reportedly receiving training in Mandarin Chinese, reflecting Morocco’s expanding global diplomatic interests.
Beyond his academic formation, the prince has also been gradually integrated into state diplomacy and military affairs. Over the years, he has represented his father at international funerals and diplomatic meetings, including encounters with world leaders such as Chinese President Xi Jinping and French officials. He was also present at a pivotal meeting between King Mohamed VI and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, which helped ease diplomatic tensions between Rabat and Madrid over the disputed Western Sahara territory.
His role within Morocco’s military hierarchy has expanded despite the absence of formal training in military academies. Holding the rank of colonel since his youth, he has now been appointed to one of the highest administrative positions within the Armed Forces General Staff. The post, which places him in proximity to national security planning, was previously held by King Mohamed VI himself during his own period as heir apparent. This appointment marks a significant step in the consolidation of Mulay Hasán’s institutional authority.
El País reports that the king has increasingly encouraged his son’s participation in official duties, particularly during periods of reduced royal activity. In recent public appearances, observers have noted that the prince has at times assisted his father physically during ceremonies, reflecting both the king’s health limitations and the symbolic visibility of the succession process. Mohamed VI, who has faced multiple medical procedures in recent years, including cardiac surgery, has spent extended periods abroad, fueling periodic public speculation about his condition.
Despite these absences, the monarchy remains the central pillar of political authority in Morocco, and the controlled visibility of the royal family continues to be carefully managed. Mulay Hasán’s rising profile appears designed to ensure continuity and stability within this system, which places significant weight on the symbolic presence of the monarch as guarantor of national unity.
The prince’s growing prominence was particularly evident during a widely publicized football event in Rabat, where he performed the ceremonial kick-off in front of tens of thousands of spectators. The moment, widely circulated in Moroccan media, was interpreted as a public affirmation of his emerging leadership role. However, he was not ultimately tasked with presenting the tournament trophy, a role instead carried out by his uncle, Mulay Rachid, the second in line to the throne.
Alongside institutional responsibilities, the royal family’s private dynamics have also drawn attention. Mulay Hasán’s mother, Lala Salma, who largely withdrew from public life following her separation from the king in 2018, has reportedly reappeared in limited public settings with her children. According to El País, she continues to maintain a close relationship with both the crown prince and his sister, Princess Lala Khadija, and resides in Rabat. Her discreet return to public visibility, including visits to hospitals and cultural sites, has been interpreted as part of a broader effort to maintain family cohesion during a sensitive political transition.
Within Morocco, the monarchy’s stability is closely tied to the health and presence of the king, making succession preparation a matter of national significance. El País notes that Mohamed VI’s intermittent absences and visible physical decline have intensified attention on his heir, even if no formal transfer of power has been announced.
As Mulay Hasán approaches full adulthood, his role appears to be evolving from ceremonial representative to active participant in governance. He is reportedly engaging in ongoing consultations with domestic and international experts in geopolitics under the supervision of leading figures in Morocco’s economic establishment, including executives linked to strategic state-owned industries.
For now, the Moroccan monarchy continues to balance continuity and transition, with the crown prince stepping carefully into roles that reflect both preparation and necessity. As King Mohamed VI gradually reduces his public engagement, Mulay Hasán’s presence at the center of national life suggests that Morocco is quietly entering a new phase in its long-standing royal system, one shaped by gradual succession rather than abrupt change.
