Have a right royal stay in Marrakech

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are sure to feel at home in Morocco’s grand palaces and riads, says Benjamin Parker

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive in Morocco today for their first official visit to the country as a married couple. The country’s bestknown destination is, of course, Marrakech, the ochre city famed for its vibrant souks, tempered by hidden spaces of calm. The city is fortunate in having plenty of hideaways – hotels, riads and resorts – that are fit for royalty (whether or not they choose to visit). We take a look at what’s on offer for those in need of luxurious indulgence…

LA MAMOUNIA

This one-time home of royalty has hosted a glittering array of VIPs in its storied rooms and remains big, bold and unapologetically brash. The former palace is a stunning blend of art deco and orientalist decor; the ornate Moroccan tilework, intricate stucco and carved woodwork perfectly complement the geometric forms, exotic floral styles and bright fauvist colours of the art deco period. Ever since Winston Churchill adopted La Mamounia as his winter home, the hotel has been renowned for its impeccable service – but best is the 17 acres of princely gardens that cushion guests from the outside hubbub. Rooms from £550; telegraph.co.uk/ tt-lamamounia

ROYAL MANSOUR MARRAKECH

The magnificent Royal Mansour is the gold standard of luxury hotels in the city. Designed by King Mohammed

VI, it was conceived as a “medina within a medina”, with just 53 private riads set within 12 acres of fragrant Moorish gardens. While vast, it also has an intimate feeling – much of that is down to the incredible craftsmanship (more than 1,500 of the country’s best artisans worked to produce the acres of refined zellij (geometric mosaic), carved cedarwood and intricate stuccowork. Rooms from £900; telegraph.co.uk/ tt-royalmansour

LA SULTANA MARRAKECH

Luxury and a sense of history are hallmarks of La Sultana, located in the kasbah’s “Golden Triangle” between the Royal Palace and the Saadian Tombs. It’s made up of 28 rooms and suites across five riads all decorated in a different style signifying various historic periods, from the Saadian era to the time of the Almohad dynasty. Enter the bathroom and find yourself in a mini Roman temple complete with arched ceilings, columns and high-sheen marble finishes. Dining throws up tough choices: eat in the lantern-lit courtyard or up on the terrace? Pick from the French menu or the “Moroccan Discovery” option? Rooms from £295; telegraph.co.uk/ tt-lasultanamarrakech

RIAD 72

Italian photographer Giovanna Cinel has brought a dash of Milanese moda to Riad 72, a traditional nal medina mansion complete with two secluded courtyards, a hammam am and a well-regarded Italian-Moroccan n-Moroccan restaurant. The Elle Decor dream continues upstairs in n the 13 bedrooms, all of them m decorated with high-quality -quality artworks, luxurious fabrics and super-comfortable ble beds; two of the suites also have rather rooftop whirlpool pool baths. Everything works orks superbly making for an overall impression of f artful, effortless elegance. The souks, Djemaa el-Fna, a, Jardin Majorelle and Medersa rsa Ben Youssef are all within na a 20-minute walk. Rooms from £140; telegraph.co.uk/ tt-riad72 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, below, are heading to Marrakech and will have plenty of luxurious places to stay; clockwise from main, La Sultana, La Mamounia, Riad Kniza, Riad 72, Royal Mansour, Amanjena and the Riyad El Cadi

RIAD KNIZA

An utterly authentic riad home, with one of Marrakech’s most renowned antique dealers at the helm. The house, which has been in the Bouskri family for almost 200 years, is set around three intricately stuccoed and tiled patios – one of which features a large pool. The soaring salons, richly decorated seating alcoves and tranquil patios make no apology for their decorative excess. Rooms are furnished with incredible pieces, such as wedding chests, canopies, carved cedarwood screens, silk and woollen rugs, and Berber wedding blankets. Rooms from £155; telegraph.co.uk/ tt-riadkniza

RIAD ADORE

The riad retains all the charm of a medina mansion while offering thoroughly modern comforts. Two courtyards merge seamlessly via an open-sided salon set with fireside armchairs and sofas. Unusually for a riad, all of the bedrooms are lovely and light, decorated with creamy Berber rugs underfoot, antique kaftans on the whitewashed walls and beautifully embroidered cushions and coverlets. Opt for the Victoria Suite and you’ll even have your own Juliet balcony. Rooms from £130; telegraph.co.uk/ tt-riadadore

AMANJENA AMANJEN

Epic is the only word to describe architect Ed Tu Tuttle’s pared-down vision of a mon monumental Moorish palace, which is modelled on Ahmad al-Mansur’s n now ruined El Badi. Enter throug through a lobby of soaring pink column columns, past scalloped marble fountains and in the courtyard a jade basin. Am Amanjena feels in the middle o of nowhere – but guests like it th that way.

Rooms from £707; telegraph. co.uk/t co.uk/tt-amanjena

RIYAD RIY EL CADI

This former ambassador’s retr retreat offers peace and se seclusion around the c corner from the brouhaha of Djemaa el-Fna. The original riad, complete with its four-quartered garden planted with fruit trees, sits at the heart of the complex with smaller dars (houses with unplanted patios) radiating around it. All of the rooms are huge and could easily be confused for galleries, given the lofty architecture and museum-worthy framed textiles and antiques. Languorous breakfasts easily turn into afternoon teas and sunset cocktail hours on the sprawling roof terrace. Rooms from £105; telegraph.co.uk/ tt-riyadelcadi

ES SAADI MARRAKECH RESORT

More-is-more is the maxim of the resort’s owners, the Bauchet-Bouhlal family, whose patriarch, Jean Bauchet, owned the Moulin Rouge and opened Marrakech’s first casino in 1952. Wander through Assyrian lounges with velvet sofas past rose-filled fountains down long, arched corridors to exit into the lush 20-acre garden – it harbours one of the largest lagoon pools in Marrakech. The Palace suites are the choice for accommodation, offering balconied rooms with Moroccan decor, while families can opt for the ksars – mini, two-bedroom castles with direct pool access.

Rooms from £93; telegraph.co.uk/ tt-essaadiresort

DAR LES CIGOGNES

The late, great Tunisian-born architect Charles Boccara renovated this elegant house, sensitively updating it while retaining its ornate Andalo-Moorish character. The finish is particularly fine: intricated zellij tiling rings the patios and zigzags up staircases, while lacy stuccowork frames the scalloped edges of tall arches. The king’s palace stands opposite. You can expect great things from the kitchen (the cookery school was previously named country’s best), which shows off Moroccan specialities such as monkfish tagine. Everywhere there are lovely vases of roses and the faintest scent of musk incense.

Rooms from £123; telegraph.co.uk/ tt-darlescigognes

For more of the best hotels in Marrakech, see: telegraph.co.uk/ tt-marrkechhotels.