Diary of a Banished Prince: Tomorrow, Morocco, Moulay Hicham el Alaoui

The "Red Prince" sets the palace ablaze! For the first time, a member of Morocco's ruling family describes the monarchy from the inside. King Mohammed VI's first cousin, Moulay Hicham el Alaoui, reveals the reverse side of the "exemplary kingdom" in a frank and profoundly human language. He already paid the price for his convictions upon Hassan II's death in 1999: having then called for a true constitutional monarchy – a kingdom for all – instead of the makhzen, the traditional, arbitrary, and predatory power, he was banished from the palace. Harassed and threatened in his country, he has lived with his family in the United States since 2002.

This "diary" is much more than a political manifesto. A guiding thread through the palace's labyrinthine corridors, a fabulous tale of a thousand and one anecdotes, a Shakespearean tragedy full of fury, passions, jealousy, and calculations, it recounts the princes' shared youth, their education at the Royal College, and the intricacies of the seraglio that would ultimately break their bond. It paints a stunningly truthful portrait of Hassan II, of undeniable grandeur and perverse cruelty. This sovereign, ready to "hang his enemies by their eyelashes," has no successor equal to him. Hailed as "the king of the poor," Mohammed VI proves to be a distant king.

Let's tear down the palace if it imprisons democracy in Morocco! For the first time, an Alawite prince recounts the kingdom as seen from the seraglio in a lively, human, and uncompromising language. King Mohammed VI's first cousin, Moulay Hicham, was banished from the palace for having demanded, upon Hassan II's death in 1999, a true constitutional monarchy – a kingdom for all – instead of the makhzen, the traditional, arbitrary, and predatory power. Harassed and threatened in his country, he has lived with his family in the United States since 2002.
This "diary" is far more than a political manifesto. A guiding thread through the palace's labyrinthine corridors, an oriental tale of a thousand and one anecdotes, it portrays Hassan II with stunning undeniable grandeur and perverse cruelty. However, this excessive sovereign, ready to "hang his enemies by their eyelashes," has no successor equal to him. Shy, crushed by his father, the crown prince does not enjoy the business of power. His cousin, on the other hand, kicks against the pricks to grow by opposing Hassan II, who was both mentor and anathema. The rest reads like a Shakespearean tragedy.