Spanish State Visit to Morocco: January 17-19, 2005

[Blueice]

The kings and queen sofia look nice in formal suits, to me salma's suit doesn't correspond well to the event.

Indeed, thanks for these lovely pics abir - I like P. Salma's outfit and find it quite appropriate for the occasion both in cut and shades - stylish, not too matronly, yet formal, classic, descent, unpretentious and regal - surely, Queen Sofia looked lovely as usual in her classic Chanel item - I'm sure we'll get to see P. Salma wearing similar styles in a years to come - there is, after all, a significant age difference between these two ladies.

The silk thread embroidery around the neck line and the sleeves is, to my personal taste, very chic and gives the outfit special touch without making it flashy, tacky or 'loud' in any way. Besides, under flash light some fabrics tend to appear much more shiny than they actually are. I found it as a good choice that she is not wearing much jewelry, especially necklace. I would of made some changes regarding hair do - perhaps a scoop/up do.

 

[GrandDuchess]

From BBC News:

Spain's king cements Morocco ties

King Juan Carlos of Spain has called for a fair final settlement of the Western Sahara dispute, in a speech to the Moroccan parliament in Rabat.

He said Spain wanted to see a "consensual, just and final" settlement for the former Spanish colony.

The Polisario Front has been fighting for independence since the territory was annexed by Morocco in 1975.

Since the Casablanca and Madrid bombings Morocco and Spain have stepped up their anti-terror co-operation.

The king said the anti-terror fight must "not be conducted in a blind or indiscriminate manner," but must conform to existing legal norms, the Spanish news agency Efe reported.

Polisario plea

In a letter to King Juan Carlos, quoted by the French news agency AFP, the Polisario leader, Mohamed Abdelaziz, said Spain and Morocco shared responsibility for the "tragedy" afflicting the Sahrawi people.

He urged Spain to play a positive role in promoting peace and justice in Arab North Africa.

Successive United Nations attempts to negotiate a settlement between Morocco and Polisario have remained stalled.

Moroccan-Spanish relations have thawed since a Socialist government was elected in Spain last March, to replace the previous conservative administration.

A low point in Spanish-Moroccan relations was a dispute two and half years ago when Spanish troops expelled a group of Moroccan soldiers from the disputed Mediterranean island Perjil.

Anti-terror fight

But the king and Queen Sofia were welcomed to the old royal city of Marrakech by thousands of people waving flags when they arrived on Monday.

The two kings made it clear they wanted to draw a line under the crisis period.

"Our two countries, despite the vicissitudes of politics, have been able to maintain constructive dialogue and mutual trust," King Mohammed told his guest in Spanish.

"What unites us is much stronger than what has been able to divide us," King Juan Carlos replied.

Last year Spain and Morocco reinforced their co-operation by signing an agreement on combating terrorism, drugs and human trafficking.

Eleven of the 18 people charged with carrying out the 11 March Madrid train bombings are Moroccans.

Investigators reportedly linked one of the key suspects, Hasan al-Haski, to the bombings carried out in the Moroccan city of Casablanca in 2003.

 

[abir]

Indeed, thanks for these lovely pics abir - I like P. Salma's outfit and find it quite appropriate for the occasion both in cut and shades - stylish, not too matronly, yet formal, classic, descent, unpretentious and regal - surely, Queen Sofia looked lovely as usual in her classic Chanel item - I'm sure we'll get to see P. Salma wearing similar styles in a years to come - there is, after all, a significant age difference between these two ladies.

You are welcome Blueice. For formal suits, I beleive there are many modern/light/stylish yet classic suits which young ladies can wear them easly in such event. It shouldn't be always black.

 

[Blueice]

To me the dress is nice but it is a bit shinining for a cultural and formal event with a king and a queen. A suit trouser or skirt could be better ...
That's a matter of taste, and hopefuly each one can wear whatever he/she likes

...I belive it is a two pieces suit (jacket/skirt)...

 

[Moon]

...I belive it is a two pieces suit (jacket/skirt)...

I am sure it is a skirt and a jacket..look closely in this pic especially the side where she rised her hand..

 

[abir]

...I belive it is a two pieces suit (jacket/skirt)...

Yes, they are two pieces ... but it's not a jacket, it's a sweater ... a top with no buttons. A jacket has sleeves and fastens down the front

 

[Blueice]

Yes, they are two pieces ... but it's not a jacket, it's a sweater ... a top with no buttons. A jacket has sleeves and fastens down the front

...Sorry abir, but are we talking about the same outfit?...I can hardly call designed, solid fabric, tailored jacket - a sweater...Besides, there are buttons, if you check closely third photo ( a close up with Q. Sofia) you should be able to see one just below the silk-thread embroidery around the neck line...To me this item looks like an 'couture' and has all prerogatives you've mentioned - it is stylish, classic and light. And very chic, to my opinion...

 

[Humera]

Here's another pic of Lalla Salma at the exhibit

 

[Humera]

Pictures from today
At the Mohammad V Mausoleum

 

[Humera]

At the Parliament

 

[Humera]

Queen Sofia and Lalla Meryem arrive at the National Observatory for Rigths of Children on Tuesday 18 January 2005 in Rabat

 

[abir]

The Queen with Lalla Meryem.

Waw, that's something different, Meryem looks very warm with queen sofia, smiling and alive!
Thanks Humera for the picture. Where they were together?

 

[Humera]

I was looking at all the pretty pictures abir posted from IBL and I tried enlarging these two. I know when some of us saw the pictures of Lalla Salma and Lalla Meryem standing together at the airport, it seemed like those two were'nt very happy.
But these two pictures show Lalla Salma laughing with her two sisters-in-law.
It just goes to show how misleading some pictures can be sometimes.

Waw, that's something different, Meryem looks very warm with queen sofia, smiling and alive!
Thanks Humera for the picture. Where they were together?

You're welcome abir.
I edited my post and added the caption with the picture.
And you're right about Queen Sofia, she has such a friendly and warm personality, no matter who she is with. I always like looking at pictures of her.

 

[Moon]

Here's another pic of Lalla Salma at the exhibit

She looks pretty in this outfit

Queen Sophia and princess Salma will attend some kind of event (can't remember) in Tangier, a city in Northern Morocco. And so, we can see that Meryem and Salma are splitting tasks as Meryem already attended the event mentioned above with Queen Sophia in Rabat. Queen Sophia and King Juan Carlos were supposed to attend the inauguration of the first Spanish University in Tetuan (a city close to Tangier), but this was canceled as it was said the schedule was quite heavy...

 

[Moon]

• Another pic of the dinner
• Holding talks

Look how beautiful is the palace and how magnificient is the artisanal work.

 

[rosa]

I see what you mean rosa ... orange coat maybe too much for welcoming royals. A close picture of salma shows similar makeup she opted for before.
For the dinner, I love Meryem dress and her hair, just simple and wonderful. I post small pictures which can't be enlarged, from ibl.se

yes it is what I want to say
concerning salma's make up, I think she never change it
I agree with you Meryem was lovely at the dinner

 

[abir]

[size=-1]Spain's King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia during a visit to the Moroccan parliament Tuesday, Jan. 18 2005, in Rabat, the capital of Morocco. Pictures from Yahoo.France[/size]

Why salma wasn't there?

 

[rosa]

what does do salma on this photo?

everybody watch in the same direction except her, the brunette woman seems to be very astonished by the attitude of salma

 

[Humera]

another picture of Queen Sofia and Lalla Meryem

 

[abir]

From http://www.casareal.es/casareal/marru13.html

Their Majesty the Queen Mrs Sofía, accompanied by the Princess Lalla Meryem, sister of the King Mohamed VI, they visited the National Observatory of Rights of the child, an Institution that takes charge of sensitizing, to protect and to promote the rights of the children, as well as, of analyzing continuously the situation of the child in matter of protection and promotion of their rights. During the visit, Mrs Sofía and the Princess Lalla Meryem inaugurated "Internet of the neighborhood", a space that puts at the disposal of the children numerous computers with access to the network. (Rabat, January 18, 2005 )

 

[Guess Who]

The kings and queen sofia look nice in formal suits, to me salma's suit doesn't correspond well to the event.

I agree with you abir, the suit she wore could of been worn to a dinner party, or a more formal event.

 

[Guess Who]

Salma in Valentino couture.

 

[abir]

Salma in Valentino couture.

Great Guess Who. Thanks a lot for the pictures.
That's what I said, the suit and the orange coat look as they are made from similar material and have similar motif ... so they are from the same designer!

The way how the models wore the coat and the suit ... let me feel as they are made more for dinner/evening events than for official inauguration.

Look how beautiful is the palace and how magnificient is the artisanal work.

Moon, definitely it's wonderful, really. But do you know how much costed and still costs to maintain it?

 

[Elsa M.]

From Hellomagazine:

http://www.hellomagazine.com/travel/2005/01/18/moroccoroyals/

 

[Humble]

Talking about the 2 dresses Salma wore on the first day visit of their Majesties of Spain, Rosa and Abir did not find them suitable (no surprise here) for the occasion and thought they are for evening or something of the sort, let me tell you that in Morocco, the 2 dresses are suitable for the events Salma wore them (especially that there were few changes in Salma's dresses in comparison with the ones the 2 valentino models were wearing) and for evening or for other more formal events as you mentioned, Moroccans (including Salma) would wear Tak****as..And as such,
It would have been ridiculous if Salma went to the airport with a Takchita...

Dressing is cultural and of course is a matter of taste...

As for Salma and her relationship with her sisters in law, Rosa meant to say (IMO)that they are happy because Salma is of no strong personality, that she is not competing with them, blah, blah.....blah...

I personally can't be so sure of the kind of relationship they are holding..Even pictures can be misleading.....And therefore, i choose to think positively about this relationship and give it the benefit of the doubt...

 

[abir]

Talking about the 2 dresses Salma wore on the first day visit of their Majesties of Spain, Rosa and Abir did not find them suitable (no surprise here) for the occasion and thought they are for evening or something of the sort, let me tell you that in Morocco, the 2 dresses are suitable for the events Salma wore them (especially that there were few changes in Salma's dresses in comparison with the ones the 2 valentino models were wearing) and for evening or for other more formal events as you mentioned, Moroccans (including Salma) would wear Tak****as..And as such,
It would have been ridiculous if Salma went to the airport with a Takchita...

Humble, I see your point, but sorry if I say that it looks strange to wear inappropriate dress for a special event. If I took your example of not wearing a traditional dress to welcome the queen in the airport and if I follow the same reasoning you did, I will say also: the 2 dresses were redicoulous for inappropriate events ...

Valentino opt this year for orange ... evening dresses were a fully orange color, and it's indian models who made the show for that.
Orange coat with a fur in a hot country and shinning day, I think it's too much

About learning manners, I agree that salma is new to the moroccan royal house and it takes time to learn and apply them perfectly.
But What about simple manners which they are not related to any protocols or royalties? I saw other first ladies very warm with their guests. For example asma assad is not royal, and she was always walking near to queen sofia (not behind her), smiling and warm. Rania does the same. This has nothing to do with manners.

 

[Layla27]

Valentino opt this year for orange ... evening dresses were a fully orange color, and it's indian models who made the show for that.
Orange coat with a fur in a hot country and shinning day, I think it's too much

Abir, like most people who live in North America, you are assuming that Morocco is a hot country but that is not the case. The Sahara region might be warm but the atlantic coast and the inner parts of the country can be quite cold during winter and automn. Temperature these days range between 40° and 73° (early morning-middle of the day).
If you go on a visit to Morocco now, you will see most people wearing coats.
Of course the feeling of Cold in Morocco has nothing to do with feeling Cold in Canada .

 

[Lyonnaise]

Caption:
TANGIERS, MOROCCO: King Juan Carlos of Spain and his wife Queen Sofia arrive at Tangiers' airport, northern Morocco, 19 January 2005. The Spanish King is on the third and last day of his state visit to Morocco hailed on both sides of the Mediterranean as a major step in renewing links that had tarnished over recent years

 

[Moon]

Humble, I see your point, but sorry if I say that it looks strange to wear inappropriate dress for a special event. If I took your example of not wearing a traditional dress to welcome the queen in the airport and if I follow the same reasoning you did, I will say also: the 2 dresses were redicoulous for inappropriate events ...

Valentino opt this year for orange ... evening dresses were a fully orange color, and it's indian models who made the show for that.
Orange coat with a fur in a hot country and shinning day, I think it's too much

About learning manners, I agree that salma is new to the moroccan royal house and it takes time to learn and apply them perfectly.
But What about simple manners which they are not related to any protocols or royalties? I saw other first ladies very warm with their guests. For example asma assad is not royal, and she was always walking near to queen sofia (not behind her), smiling and warm. Rania does the same. This has nothing to do with manners.

Morocco has 4 seasons and it is winter time now over there. So, it is a bit cold although it should have been colder during the time their Majesties are visiting Morocco...

I see Humble point's view..S/he is especially right when she said dressing is cultural. for example: What you may wear during the day, i may wear it during the evening.

the 2 dresses Salma wore during certain times of the day look ridiculous only to you, rosa and maybe some others but not to everyone...

As for Salma walking besides her guests, i agree she has to work more on that.

Salma spent all her life in Morocco. She was not exposed to different cultures abroad before her marriage (i am not talking exposure through programs over satellites). her style and maybe her way of dressing would have been more sharpened had she had more experience and exposure in different settings local and international..(see, if she did her under/grad studies abroad and met different people, this would have affected her taste in some way)
but i am positive, she will improve over time.. I think this is quite normal and is part of her learning curve....

 

[abir]

Morocco has 4 seasons and it is winter time now over there. So, it is a bit cold although it should have been colder during the time their Majesties are visiting Morocco...

I see Humble point's view..S/he is especially right when she said dressing is cultural. for example: What you may wear during the day, i may wear it during the evening.

the 2 dresses Salma wore during certain times of the day look ridiculous only to you, rosa and maybe some others but not to everyone...

As for Salma walking besides her guests, i agree she has to work more on that.

Salma spent all her life in Morocco. She was not exposed to different cultures abroad before her marriage (i am not talking exposure through programs over satellites). her style and maybe her way of dressing would have been more sharpened had she had more experience and exposure in different settings local and international..(see, if she did her under/grad studies abroad and met different people, this would have affected her taste in some way)
but i am positive, she will improve over time.. I think this is quite normal and is part of her learning curve....

Right Moon, I used the word "rediculous" on reply to Humble' message as she used the same word. To me it's "inappropriate". Thanks for pointing as well the 4 seasons in Morocco, I was thinking they are only 2, since winter and spring are very short