Your Royal Highness, your Prince AndrewRoyal Highness, your Excellencies, my Lords, ladies and gentlemen.
First may we extend to you, sir, a very warm welcome to no. 10 Downing Street on the occasion of your official visit to Britain—the first ever official visit here by a Crown Prince of Morocco.
It is perhaps strange that there has not been such a visit before, because our knowledge of each other and our friendship go back a very long way. Queen Elizabeth I was in correspondence with your ancestor Sultan Abdul Malik some four hundred years ago. The first treaty between Britain and Morocco was signed in 1714, and I was able to present his Majesty, King Hassan IIyour father, with a bound facsimile of that treaty when I visited Morocco last year. It is very important to keep alive the history and the traditional friendship which there is between us. [end p1]
We have the warmest memories of the state visit of the king in 1987. It was indeed a great event and everyone who had the honour to meet him was deeply impressed—as I was—by his great historical perspective and ability to take a world view. I think my talk with him then was one of the most interesting which I have ever had, covering all the historical and religious background to the present problems of the Middle East. I am sure that everyone here would wish you, sir, to take back to His Majesty our respectful greetings and good wishes.
I also remember with very great pleasure my own visit to Morocco last year and how very kindly I was treated by her highness your mother. We also had a most splendid dinner in the Royal palace in Marrakesh, far more colourful and entrancing than anything we can offer here. I remember learning then that my visit was only the second by a British Prime Minister, the first being by Churchill in 1943—but the king had been present for both, [end p2] even though they were almost half a century apart. Nothing brings home to us better the unrivalled service which he has given to Morocco.
But my greatest triumph in Morocco was in my role as rainmaker. It poured almost non-stop throughout my stay, which did wonders for my reputation. And that continued when I went on to Zimbabwe and Malawi. Unfortunately my magical powers for making rain seem rather to have deserted me at home this year.
Your Royal Highness, we hope you will feel in this house some of the history which draws Britain and Morocco together. It was for many years the home of Sir Winston Churchill, who knew Morocco so well and spent so much time there, from his time in the political wilderness in the 1930s right through until his years of retirement. [end p3]
That special relationship is also underlined by the presence here this evening of hrh the Prince AndrewDuke of York. You are both members of families whose history is the history of our respective nations, and who command the loyalty and affection of our two peoples. It is very good that such close links exist between our two Royal families.
We hope, sir, that you have enjoyed your brief visit. We hope it has taught you more about our country and the tremendous good will which there is towards Morocco. We hope that it will encourage you to return many times, and always to look upon us as friends: friends to you and friends to your country. We have a great reputation as a nation of being true and loyal to our friends and to our allies. And when you eventually assume your great responsibilities I am sure you will remember that and the warm feelings which there are for you in Britain. [end p4]
It is in that spirit that I ask you all to rise and join me in a toast to the health of: — King Hassan IIHis Majesty the King, who is such a remarkable leader — The health of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince — The success and prosperity of the people of Morocco — And the friendship between our two nations.