Prince Mohamed Ali Farouk’s Historic Return to Cairo and His Legacy

Prince Mohamed Ali Farouk has returned to Cairo, expressing gratitude for King Hassan II’s intervention that allowed his birth during his family’s exile. His return symbolizes a bridging of royalist and republican pasts, influenced by his wife, Princess Noal Zaher. Despite a history of tension between Morocco and Egypt, he seeks to restore his family’s reputation without political ambitions.

Prince Mohamed Ali Farouk, grandson of Egypt’s last king, has returned to Cairo, expressing his gratitude for King Hassan II’s pivotal role that enabled his birth in Egypt during his family’s exile. The prince thanked King Hassan II for intervening with President Sadat in 1979, which permitted his mother, Fadila, to give birth in Cairo. This act was significant as it allowed him to become the first male descendant of the royal line to return since the 1952 revolution.

Now holding an Egyptian passport issued in 2020, Prince Mohamed Ali is settling in Cairo after years abroad, primarily in France. His return symbolizes a reconciliation between Egypt’s royalist and republican pasts. He remarked, “For my father, Egypt was a lost homeland. For me, it’s a rediscovered one.” Currently, he manages a technical real estate consulting firm based in Paris.

The prince credits his wife, Princess Noal Zaher of Afghanistan’s royal lineage, for encouraging his return. He stated, “It was Noal who supported me throughout my reflection. She wanted to live in the Orient and wanted our children to grow up closer to their roots.”

The history between King Hassan II and President Nasser was fraught with tension, originating from a diplomatic dinner that spiraled into confrontations. At a state event in the late 1950s, young Hassan II humorously criticized Nasser’s culinary skills while alluding to the latter’s overthrow of King Farouk, setting a precedent for their strained relations.

Tensions peaked during the 1963 Sand War when Nasser sent Egyptian troops to assist Algeria against Morocco, leading to hostilities that included the capture of military officer Hosni Mubarak by Moroccan forces. A failed reconciliation in 1965, following Hassan II’s visit to Cairo, resulted in Nasser’s threats to shorten ties with Morocco over its relationship with West Germany.

Only after Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarak took office did relations begin to improve, though past tensions occasionally resurfaced under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi due to his diplomatic interactions with Algeria and specific incidents involving Egyptian media. Egypt has affirmed its commitment to Morocco’s territorial integrity concerning Western Sahara.

Currently, Prince Mohamed Ali aims to restore his family’s reputation while making clear he harbors no political ambitions. He expressed his desire to rehabilitate the image of his royal lineage, emphasizing that “150 years of history deserve to be honored.”

In summary, Prince Mohamed Ali Farouk’s return to Cairo represents a reconnection with Egypt’s royal heritage, facilitated by the historical intervention of King Hassan II. The relationship between Morocco and Egypt, marked by diplomatic tensions and confrontations, serves as a backdrop to this personal journey. The prince’s focus on cultural rehabilitation and honoring his family’s legacy reflects a commitment to preserving Egypt’s historical narratives without political aspirations.

Original Source: www.moroccoworldnews.com