Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco Biography: Age, Children, Net Worth, Career, Humanitarian Work, Husband

Salma Bennani, known as Princess Lalla Salma, is a former computer engineer and humanitarian activist who gained prominence as the first publicly acknowledged wife of a Moroccan ruler, King Mohammed VI, with the title Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Salma.

In 2002, she broke tradition with her public role, championing cancer and HIV/AIDS prevention and women’s empowerment through the Lalla Salma Foundation and as a WHO Goodwill Ambassador.

Profile

• Full Name: Salma Bennani
• Stage Name: Princess Lalla Salma
• Born: 10, May 1978
• Age: 47 years old
• Birthplace: Fez, Morocco
• Nationality: Moroccan
• Occupation: Former Computer Engineer, Princess, Humanitarian Activist
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Abdelhamid Bennani, Naïma Bensouda
• Siblings: Meriem Bennani
• Spouse: King Mohammed VI (m. 2002-2018)
• Children: Crown Prince Moulay Hassan, Princess Lalla Khadija
• Relationship: Divorced
• Net Worth: $5 million

Early Life and Education

Salma Bennani was born on May 10, 1978, in Fez, Morocco, to Abdelhamid Bennani, a university professor at l’École Normale Supérieure de Fès, and Naïma Bensouda, who sadly passed away in 1981 when Salma was just three years old.

Following her mother’s death, she was raised in Rabat by her maternal grandmother, Fatma Abdellaoui Maâne, alongside her sister Meriem and half-cousin Saira.

Demonstrating remarkable academic talent from an early age, she pursued her studies at Lycée Hassan II and Lycée Moulay Youssef, where she obtained a baccalaureate in mathematics.

She later attended l’École Nationale Supérieure d’Informatique et d’Analyse des Systèmes, graduating in 2000 as valedictorian with a degree in computer engineering.

Salma Bennani is of Moroccan Arab-Berber ethnicity and practices Islam.

Career

Salma Bennani began her professional career as a computer engineer, working briefly at ONA Group in the year 2000.

In 2002, she married King Mohammed VI of Morocco, becoming the first Moroccan royal wife to receive a public title, Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Salma.

Unlike previous royal consorts, she adopted a visible and active public role, representing Morocco at significant international events such as the 2011 wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, the 2012 wedding of Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and the 2013 inauguration of King Willem-Alexander.

From 2004 to 2018, Princess Lalla Salma presided over the Fez Sacred Music Festival, a prestigious event under royal patronage that celebrated Morocco’s rich cultural heritage.

Her most notable contribution to public health was the establishment of the Lalla Salma Foundation for Cancer Prevention and Treatment in 2005, where she served as president until 2019.

As a World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Care, Promotion, and Prevention starting in 2006, she championed several impactful initiatives, including the “Tobacco-Free Colleges and High Schools” program and the support of HIV/AIDS prevention efforts across Africa.

In addition to her healthcare advocacy, Princess Lalla Salma was a strong advocate for women’s empowerment, earning international recognition such as the Gold Medal of the WHO in 2017 and the Sharjah Voluntary Work Award.

Her public appearances ceased following her reported divorce in 2018, with her final official engagement at the Mohammed VI Museum in Rabat in December 2017.

Although her public visibility diminished, she has been seen occasionally since then, including visits to oncology centers and private engagements, with reports indicating she continues to support her foundation’s mission privately.

Social Media

Salma Bennani does not have a verified social media handle.

Personal Life

Salma Bennani met King Mohammed VI at a private party in 1999, leading to their engagement in 2001 and marriage in 2002 with ceremonies at Dar al-Makhzen in Rabat.

They have two children: Crown Prince Moulay Hassan and Princess Lalla Khadija.

Their marriage was historic, as King Mohammed VI vowed monogamy, a departure from tradition.

Reports of their divorce surfaced in 2018, confirmed unofficially by the king’s lawyer, Éric Dupond-Moretti, in 2019, with Spanish and Italian media noting Salma requested the divorce.

She moved from Dar Es Salam palace to a residential area in Rabat, prioritizing proximity to her children.

A 2025 report indicates she now holds custody and has returned to Dar Es Salam.

Net Worth

Salma Bennani, as Princess Lalla Salma, has an estimated net worth of $5 million, primarily tied to her association with the Moroccan royal family and settlements following her divorce.

Her brief engineering career and humanitarian work, including the Lalla Salma Foundation, contributed modestly, though specific financial details remain undisclosed due to the private nature of royal finances.