Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay Hassan went viral in 2013 for rejecting the royal tradition of hand-kissing. Prince Moulay was only 10-years-old when he went viral all over the world for withdrawing his hand when men tried to kiss it. He went viral again in 2016 at age 13. The video was viewed over 2 million times on YouTube.
Part of young Moulay’s official duties is to greet dignitaries. But he despises hand-kissing. According to Moroccan tradition, dignitaries and royal subjects must attempt to kiss his hand. He withdraws his hand as a sign of respect.
Meet the 12-year-old Crown Prince of Morocco…who hates the tradition of royal hand kissing https://t.co/uegGyCWICQ pic.twitter.com/evn8vm9kg7
— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) January 7, 2016
Now 23, Moulay still snatches his hand away from dignitaries. A new generation of fans are in awe of his lightning fast reflexes. It is tradition for every dignitary to attempt to kiss the prince’s hand. And it’s tradition for him to withdraw his hand because he’s not king yet.
Prince Moulay is the eldest child of Moroccan King Mohammed VI and Princess Lalla Salma. Mohammad ascended to the throne following his father King Hassan II’s death in 1999. King Mohammad VI is praised for granting more rights to women in Morocco.
Prince Moulay has a sister, Princess Lalla Khadija, born in 2007.
Black dudes held it down pic.twitter.com/q16ZmBvDBy
— KUTT THROAT?? (@Gatsoxo) June 16, 2026
Morocco has a monarch system where the king is the supreme leader. If not the royal family but King’s successor receives as much respect as the king. It’s culture to bow to the king and even sacred to be touched by divinity.
— Mekumba (@42_Meks) June 17, 2026
If you made a lineup of only Moroccans they would all attempt to kiss his hand despite seeing a bunch before them get rejected.
It's tradition & respectful to even try, and because he's not King yet, it's tradition for him to withdraw.
— ?? (@azuri_xvi) June 17, 2026
That's the Prince of Morocco, they try kissing his hand out of respect and he pulls it away to also show respect back. Some of you are so uncultured and uneducated lmao..
— . (@yvngmoro) June 18, 2026