Morocco - Personal background

Sidi Mohamed Ben al-Hassan, who was born 21 August 1963, is one of five children of Hassan II. He was educated in French and Arabic and also speaks some English and Spanish. Sidi Mohamed received a degree in international law from a French university and wrote a thesis on relations between the European Union (EU) and North African countries. He is known for being studious, quiet, and interested in technology and social issues, although in his younger years, Sidi Mohamed gained a reputation as a playboy, showing a fondness for fast cars and nightclubs. In March 2002, he married Lalla Salma Bennani, a 24 year old computer expert and engineer from a middle class family in Fez.