French First Lady hosts Moroccan Princesses as Rabat-Paris ties mend

«At the very high instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God help him, Their Royal Highnesses Princess Lalla Meryem, Princess Lalla Asmae, and Princess Lalla Hasnaa were received for lunch on Monday at the Élysée Palace, at the invitation of Madame Brigitte Macron», announced the Moroccan News Agency (MAP).

«This lunch signifies the continuation of the historical relations of friendship between the Kingdom of Morocco and the French Republic», added the same source.

On this occasion, President Emmanuel Macron greeted the princesses. The French presidency also noted that the head of state recently spoke by telephone with King Mohammed VI.

This meeting follows a recent warming of relations between Rabat and Paris. On October 19th, King Mohammed VI appointed Samira Sitaïl as Morocco's ambassador to France. Since then, France has actively sought to improve relations, with Ambassador Christophe Lecourtier stating in a November interview with Radio 2M that France's support for Morocco's position on the Sahara «will experience new developments, as we must now move forward».

This sentiment was recently echoed by newly appointed French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné, who expressed his desire to «write a new chapter» in relations and reaffirm France's «clear and constant support for the Moroccan autonomy plan (in the Sahara) since 2007. We add that it is now time to move forward».