The award was presented to the famous US garden designer, who has worked in the United States, Europe and North Africa at a ceremony held Wednesday at the US Embassy in Rabat, which was attended by US Ambassador to Morocco David T. Fischer, according to a statement by Jardin Majorelle Foundation.

On this occasion, Ambassador Fischer highlighted Cox's unwavering support to the US-Moroccan relationship through the promotion of cultural and educational exchange.

Cox's continued work and preservation of the American Legation in Tangier is a symbol of the longstanding respect and appreciation the United States feels towards the Kingdom of Morocco, the diplomat said.

The Friendship Award, established in 1996, is part of a longstanding tradition of recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing U.S.-Morocco relations. Previous winners include HH Princess Lalla Zineb, chairwoman of the Moroccan Child Protection League, and Hassan Mekouar of the Moroccan-American Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange (MACECE).

Born in 1958 in San Francisco, Madison Fox is responsible for the Majorelle Garden in Marrakech. He is director of the Saint Laurent Museums in Paris and in Marrakech, and president of the Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent Foundation since the death of Pierre Bergé in September 2017.