Sometimes when you’re an ambassador to a kingdom, you witness a coup attempt.

King Hassan II was hosting his birthday party at his summer palace on July 10, 1971 when 1000 soldiers stormed the party and fired on the guests, killing the Belgian ambassador. At the same time, rebels tried to take control of the radio in Rabat.

The U.S. Ambassador to Morocco at the time, Stuart M. Rockwell, recalls his experiences at that party at the link.