Lalla Meryem was born in
Rome and is the oldest of her siblings who are King
Mohammed VI,
Lalla Asma,
Lalla Hasna and
Prince Moulay Rachid.
Education She completed her primary and secondary education at the
Royal College in
Rabat. At school she learned
Arabic and
French and is also proficient in
Spanish which she learned from her Spanish nanny. After she obtained her
Baccalauréat in 1981, Princess Lalla Meryem was appointed by her father as the President of Social Works of the
Royal Moroccan Armed Forces. She continued her studies at the
Mohammed V University of
Rabat where she graduated with a
Bachelor's degree in
sociology.
Official activities Holder of numerous prestigious
official functions, Princess Meryem has focused much of her activities on the social and cultural realm. Using her Royal status, she continues her work on behalf of women and children and advocate their rights on an international level. She is the President of the following organizations: • (1981) President of the Hassan II Foundation for the social works of the former soldiers and ex-combatants; • (1993) President of the Moroccan association in support of
UNICEF; • (1994) President of the National Observatory for the Rights of the Child; • (1995) President of the
Hassan II Foundation for the Moroccans residing abroad; • (1997) President of Al Karam Association; • (2000) President of the INSAF Association for respect for the rights of women and children; • (2003) President of the National Union of Moroccan Women (UNFM). In July 2001, she was nominated
UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador with focus of her Ambassadorship on
UNESCO projects for women and children. Also Member of the Honorary Committee of the
International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children. In 2002, in Rabat the former Moroccan League for Child Protection was reorganize into the “Center Lalla Meryem for abandoned children”. That same year, on October 22, 23 and 24, Lalla Meryem chaired the work of the Euro-Mediterranean Conference on children's rights and human security, which was held in
Marrakesh and attended by representatives of international organizations such as UNESCO, UNICEF,
WHO, the
European Union, the
European Parliament, the
Arab Parliament and national actors concerned. In July 2007, she inaugurated the "Lalla Meryem Park" in
Oujda. This park which is eponymous extends over an area of two hectares and is located to the south of the old medina and adjoins the boulevard Maghreb El Arabi. == Marriage ==