Duke and Duchess of Sussex: Official Visit to Morocco - February 23-25, 2019

[Lady Reem]

But there were no security issues on the Ireland trip as they had large crowds and did walkabouts.

Prince Charles and Camilla also visited Morocco safely after there had been protests as well.

My concern is with Meghan being 7 months pregnant and going on this trip in the current circumstances.

None of the other royals were there in the midst of conflict. Before or afterwards, yes, but not NOT during an ongoing one. I stand by my previous points but the bolded bit is also very concerning re certain habits I mentioned. It takes just one determined person with an agenda, and just because things went well once it doesn’t mean that will always be the case.

 

[Mademoiselle Lilo]

What security concern?
Reading this i was like is there a war or something going on and i have no information about????

This reports are totally over the top and exagerated, there nothing to be faired for,teachers demonstartion was going on whole week but peacefully thing get rough couple of days ago but then nothing to be called "securety issue",everything is back to normal and the streets are safe for everyone no matter what their statut Duke and Duchess inculded.
King and Queen of Spain (head of state) visited a few days ago and they were all over in Rabat nothing went wrong

 

[Terri Terri]

THANK YOU! When you see some of the headlines in the UK media, it gives the wrong impression! It is so good to get information from someone who actually lives there!

My concerns have disappeared now and I am looking forward to this visit!

 

[Osipi]

Thanks for the real story of things, Mademoiselle Lilo. I just caught one blip on YouTube about the scuffle and it stated that the walkabout was not going to happen.

Looking forward to experiencing Rabat vicariously through Harry and Meghan this weekend. ?

 

[Lumutqueen]

Not a good start for some royal reporters who were delayed this morning due to fog and their bags haven’t come with them!

Omid Scoobie saying kick off this evening.

 

[Mademoiselle Lilo]

You are welcome all
I am like you all: surprised and little shocked about those headlines and reports from the british media,especially that where Duke and Duchess events are taking place in Rabat are faaaar from where the demostraions is going on,that's first second in the agenda there nothing mentioned about a walkabout unless they mean visiting the Andalusian Gardens then and again it's far from where the demostraions taking place and a totally safe place not to mention beautiful and would be a shame to make them miss the visit for a stupid and unreal reason.... Duke and Duchess will be very busy with attendig events in places totally safe and high secured so i don't understand the Bohahaha of the press it's a kind an insult to the hosts.

 

[Countessmeout]

Thank you for clearing that up. Its always hard to know what to believe when it comes to the UK news and some of their headlines. They like to make drama where there isn't any. Blowing up things when needed.

 

[Winnie]

I agree with you Countessmeout. On my last visit there I laughed at quite a lot of those FAKE NEWS articles that British media loves to print. We have the same here in USA but only the hard haters or their young followers believe. The normal citizen only use those papers to wrap garbage in or on the bottoms of their bird cages. It will never change. Drama sells, happiness doesn't.

 

[Dman]

If you guys find any live coverage links make sure to post them.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

But there were no security issues on the Ireland trip as they had large crowds and did walkabouts.

Prince Charles and Camilla also visited Morocco safely after there had been protests as well.

My concern is with Meghan being 7 months pregnant and going on this trip in the current circumstances.

I remember a heavily pregnant Princess Máxima escorting Queen Beatrix during an ehausting State Visit in Turkey. The Turkish authorities provided an ambulance with a medical team, constantly driving near the royal entourage, in case the Princess felt unwell. I assume similar arrangements will be made for the Duchess of Sussex.

 

[ACO]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1099355159048712192

Looks like the start of #RoyalVisitMorocco will be slightly later than anticipated (I still can’t say when, though, sorry). As I understand it, Harry and Meghan will be staying as guests of the King of Morocco in one of his private residences.

They are staying with the MRF but have no official engagements with them?

---

And then it was explained.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1099358305095430145

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex begin a four day #RoyalVisitMorocco this evening, arriving into Casablanca. Just confirmed that Harry and Meghan will meet with King Mohammed on Monday and will have a private meeting with crown Prince Moulay Hassan. Coverage in @thesundaytimes

So now they standing until Tuesday. I wonder if this was just added on or was embargoed until today.

 

[jacqui24]

They were always going to stay during the day on Monday as they had engagements scheduled. And if they are going to stay with MRF, I can’t imagine it was decided last minute that they’ll meet. KP’s announcement on this visit has been appalling. Are they are on term break too?

 

[Mademoiselle Lilo]

They are not staying with any member of the MRF if i understand well King offers one of the royal residences for their stay,those residence are used for guests only and not used by the RF.
Excited about the leeting with Moulay hassan ?

 

[ACO]

I mean... Tuesday. It has been corrected. Roya said it is now 4 days which means they are travelling back on Tuesday. I assumed they were saying at the British Embassy so the announcement they were staying in one of their residences instead was a bit surprising. But it makes sense now knowing they will be meeting them. I just wonder why it all is just being released today.

 

[Dman]

Meghan’s pregnancy has been taken into account for the trip.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1099356564299923459

 

[jacqui24]

I remember a heavily pregnant Princess Máxima escorting Queen Beatrix during an ehausting State Visit in Turkey. The Turkish authorities provided an ambulance with a medical team, constantly driving near the royal entourage, in case the Princess felt unwell. I assume similar arrangements will be made for the Duchess of Sussex.

Rebecca English is reporting that sources tell her medical provisions have been made for her.

 

[Lumutqueen]

Royal Reporter asked if they would meet Lalla Salma, and no reply was given.

Clearly most of this visit has been embargoed until the very last minute, security reasons perhaps?

 

[Mademoiselle Lilo]

I think that Moroccan side was not informed with the visit untile it's announced this why Imo it's all messy they waited for confirmation that the King is in Morocco and can receive them before going on with any more details

 

[Countessmeout]

You are suggesting the British government decided on and planned an official visit to Morocco, without informing the Moroccan government ahead of time I was under the impression for an official visit, there had to be an invitation. Royals make 'private trips' abroad all the time, even if they are for engagements, like some of Harry's trips to Africa. But when it is an 'official tour' it is agreed on by both sides.

I doubt the Moroccan government wasn't aware of the trip from the start. And the king would have known and been advised. It wouldn't be left up to chance that he was in the country at the time of the tour or not.

It seems more likely it was simply a matter of security, that certain details were not revealed ahead.

 

[Mademoiselle Lilo]

Well i don't want to be rude but never heard of any invitation for them to visit especially that some reports was talking about them steeping in after "regional trip" cancelled..hard to tell but from the start it seems to me like surprise visit..nice one though.
King of Spain programme was all over the media weeks before he visits and nobody was talking about "securety concern"... why the securety concern come only for the Duke and Duchess? I have to admit anyway that all thatvtalks about the securety start to bother me
So let's move on the visit is happening and they are receiving a 5 starts treatement from the MRF: a meeting with the King,another one with the Crown Prince and an event with King's cousin....not to mention a stay in an exclusive private royal residence

 

[ACO]

It just seemed it was embargoed. I don't think either government were unaware just the press. It is shaping up to be a nice, jammed packed trip. A little delayed due to weather so they should arrive in the next 2 hours.

 

[Madame Verseau]

Looking forward to the trip and get pass the baby shower noise. There are news stories of the queen's Morroco trip and apparently it wasn't that good. I hope the Sussexes have a successful trip representing queen and country.

 

[Somebody]

I remember a heavily pregnant Princess Máxima escorting Queen Beatrix during an ehausting State Visit in Turkey. The Turkish authorities provided an ambulance with a medical team, constantly driving near the royal entourage, in case the Princess felt unwell. I assume similar arrangements will be made for the Duchess of Sussex.

Yes, Máxima was about 8 months pregnant at that time and at the border of being allowed to fly.

 

[jacqui24]

When they visit a foreign country on official business, it’s not just by invitation of the country. It can also be at the request of Foreign Office. Most practical is who pays for the expenses on the trip. Like with the major Oceanic tour The Sussexes undertook late last year, Australia and New Zealand invited them where as Fiji and Tonga were at the request of Foreign Office.

If the FO didn’t let the Moroccan government know ahead of time....

 

[ACO]

Camilla Tominey said it was planned recently but Chris Ship countered her and said this has been long in the works. So who is right? Two Royal reporters saying opposite things.

Either way it is happening.

 

[Lumutqueen]

.

Either way it is happening.

THIS! Doesn’t matter what’s gone, let’s focus on what’s happening.

There are clear politics behind this trip but let’s just enjoy it!

What’s the weather like in Morocco?

 

[Mademoiselle Lilo]

Weather?: Awsome,all sunny spring is already here at day around 26 degree only get cooler at night some 10 to 8 degree.

 

[Countessmeout]

Well i don't want to be rude but never heard of any invitation for them to visit especially that some reports was talking about them steeping in after "regional trip" cancelled..hard to tell but from the start it seems to me like surprise visit..nice one though.
King of Spain programme was all over the media weeks before he visits and nobody was talking about "securety concern"... why the securety concern come only for the Duke and Duchess? I have to admit anyway that all thatvtalks about the securety start to bother me
So let's move on the visit is happening and they are receiving a 5 starts treatement from the MRF: a meeting with the King,another one with the Crown Prince and an event with King's cousin....not to mention a stay in an exclusive private royal residence

Maybe the Spanish government wasn't as concerned about releasing information. The BRF doesn't always make public plans well in advance. I am suggesting on the British side, they embargoed the information.

Even if it wasn't an official 'invitation', the Foreign office isn't going to plan an 'official tour' of a country without notifying the other country that they are coming. There are security concerns (no matter the country, no one is insinuating anything about your country) on a foreign tour. Security concerns that are the worry of both countries.

This isn't a private visit for a charity. This is a political visit. Something that will have been planned months in advance (possibly before Meghan was even known to be pregnant). The logistics will have been worked out for months on both sides of the trip. This isn't a last minute holiday.

 

[Lumutqueen]

Half 8 in Morocco currently, really late arriving. Weather in the UK has been lovely today except for some early bouts of fog so i'm surprised at the delay.

 

[jacqui24]

Maybe the Spanish government wasn't as concerned about releasing information. The BRF doesn't always make public plans well in advance. I am suggesting on the British side, they embargoed the information.

Even if it wasn't an official 'invitation', the Foreign office isn't going to plan an 'official tour' of a country without notifying the other country that they are coming. There are security concerns (no matter the country, no one is insinuating anything about your country) on a foreign tour. Security concerns that are the worry of both countries.

This isn't a private visit for a charity. This is a political visit. Something that will have been planned months in advance (possibly before Meghan was even known to be pregnant). The logistics will have been worked out for months on both sides of the trip. This isn't a last minute holiday.

When the British Ambassador to Morocco is invoked, and he’s VERY involved if you look on his twitterlol, there is very little they wouldn’t have notified the Moroccan government ahead of time I’d imagine. That would make his job pretty difficult going forward, wouldn’t it?