Princess Lalla Hasna of Morocco

HRH Princess Lalla Hasna, daughter of the late King Hassan II and sister of HM King Mohammed VI, was born on November 19, 1967. Her mother is Lalla Latifa Hammou, of the Zainane tribe.

The press and other sources often refer to her as "Princess Lalla Hasna," though this appears to be incorrect as well as redundant. "Lalla" is often translated as Lady or Princess, so she and other similarly titled female members of the Moroccan royal family should be described as either Princess X or Lalla X, not a combination of the two honorifics.

Since her childhood, Princess Hasna has been interested in social and cultural activities, with special emphasis to environmental issues in Morocco. In 1999 she launched the national campaign for the protection of the environment and incepted the prize for the most beautiful and cleanest beach in Morocco.

To shore up her work, the Mohammed VI Foundation for the protection of the environment was created in 2001 and chaired by Princess Hasna. She presides over the governing board of the foundation and regularly pays on the terrain visits to sensitise the population over environmental issues.

In 2002, Princess Hasna set up the prize of young reporters for the environment and in 2003 the prize for photography annually awarded on the international environment day.

Princess Hasna and her husband, Khalid Benharbit, a doctor and public official, have two daughters:

• Lalla Oumaïma, born on 22 December 1995
• Lalla Oulaya, born 20 October 1997.