Arrival in Morocco of the French President for a State visit to the Kingdom at the invitation of His Majesty the King

Upon their arrival at Rabat-Salé airport, the French Head of State, Emmanuel Macron and Mrs. Brigitte Macron were welcomed by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, who was accompanied by H.R.H. Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, H.R.H. Prince Moulay Rachid and T.R.H. Princesses Lalla Khadija and Lalla Meryem.



H.M. the King, accompanied by H.R.H. Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and H.R.H. Prince Moulay Rachid, and His illustrious guest went to the honorary platform to salute the national colours to the sound of the national anthems of both countries, while a 21-gun salute rang out as a sign of welcome to the French President.

H.M. the King, accompanied by H.R.H. Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and H.R.H. Prince Moulay Rachid, and the French Head of State then reviewed a detachment of the Royal Guard which paid the honours.

At the entrance to the Royal Lounge of Rabat-Salé airport, the French Head of State and Mrs. Brigitte Macron were invited to the traditional ceremony of offering milk and dates.

After a brief pause, the procession of the two Heads of State headed towards the Royal Palace of Rabat. The inhabitants of the cities of Salé and Rabat gathered all along the route taken by the official procession to express their joy on this first day of this State visit which will undoubtedly add a new milestone to the edifice of the centuries-old relations of friendship uniting the two countries and the two peoples.

The main arteries taken by the Royal Procession were decorated with Moroccan and French flags.

In a great gesture of communion and spontaneity, H.M. the King kindly stopped the procession to engage, with the French President, in a walkabout amidst the cheers of the jubilant citizens.

Arriving at the "Bab Assoufara" gate, the procession of H.M. the King and His illustrious guest was escorted by the fanfare and cavalry of the Royal Guard to the Méchouar Square of the Royal Palace.

This Royal Guard troop, which escorts H.M. the King's procession when the Sovereign welcomes distinguished guests, conferred a distinguished character to this official and popular ceremony reserved for the French President in the capital of the Kingdom, commensurate with the deep ties uniting Morocco and France.

At the Méchouar Square, the French President Emmanuel Macron was greeted by the Head of Government, the speakers of the two Houses of Parliament, the Advisors to H.M. the King, the Delegate President of the Supreme Council of the Judicial Power, First President of the Court of Cassation, the King's Prosecutor General at the Court of Cassation, President of the Public Prosecution, members of the government, the High Commissioner for Planning, the High Commissioner for Former Resistance Fighters and Former Members of the Liberation Army, the President of the Constitutional Court, the President of the Court of Auditors, the President of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council, the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Ulema, the President of the Supreme Council for Education, Training and Scientific Research, the President of the National Human Rights Council, the Ombudsman of the Kingdom, the President of the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication, the President of the Competition Council, the President of the National Authority for Probity, Prevention and Fight against Corruption, the President of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs and the Chamberlain of H.M. the King.

The French Head of State was also greeted by the Director of the Royal Court, the chargés de mission at the Royal Cabinet, the Dean of the diplomatic corps accredited to Morocco, the heads of European diplomatic missions accredited to Morocco, the senior officers of the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, the Director General of National Security and Director General of Territorial Surveillance and the Director General of Studies and Documentation, as well as by the Wali of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region, Governor of the Rabat prefecture and the elected officials of the region.

Subsequently, H.M. King Mohammed VI was greeted by the members of the official French delegation accompanying President Emmanuel Macron during this visit, composed in particular of Mr. Bruno Retailleau, Minister of the Interior, Mrs. Anne Genetet, Minister of National Education, Mr. Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Rachida Dati, Minister of Culture, Mr. Sébastien Lecornu, Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans, Mr. Antoine Armand, Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry, Mrs. Annie Genevard, Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, Mr. Patrick Hetzel, Minister of Higher Education and Research, Mrs. Olga Givernet, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Ecological Transition, Energy, Climate and Risk Prevention, in charge of Energy.

It also includes Mr. Thani Mohamed Soilihi, Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, in charge of Francophonie and International Partnerships, Mrs. Naïma Moutchou, Deputy for Val-d’Oise (4th constituency) and Vice-President of the National Assembly, Mr. Bruno Fuchs, Deputy for Haut-Rhin (6th constituency) and President of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Karim Ben Cheikh, Deputy for French citizens established outside France (9th constituency) and former President of the France-Morocco Friendship Group of the National Assembly, Mr. Christian Cambon, Senator for Val-de-Marne (Île-de-France) and President of the France-Morocco Friendship Group of the Senate, as well as several personalities from the worlds of business, culture and sport.

H.M. King Mohammed VI was also greeted by Christophe Lecourtier, French Ambassador to Morocco, as well as by members of the French Embassy in Rabat.

The French Head of State was then greeted by members of the honorary committee, which includes in particular the Minister of National Land Planning, Urbanism, Housing and City Policy, Mrs. Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, and the Ambassador of H.M. the King in Paris, Mrs. Samira Sitail.

The two Heads of State went to the Royal Cabinet where His Majesty King Mohammed VI, accompanied by H.R.H. Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, H.R.H. Prince Moulay Rachid, and T.R.H. Princesses Lalla Khadija and Lalla Meryem, and the President of the French Republic, H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Macron, and his wife Mrs. Brigitte Macron posed for a family photo.