Sultan of Brunei strips daughter-in-law of her royal titles for ‘unbecoming’ behaviour
Updated . First published at
The Sultan of Brunei has stripped his daughter-in-law of her royal titles effective immediately, the Royal Court has announced.
In a statement shared with media outlets, the Office of the Grand Chamberlain confirmed the removal for behaviour or actions “unbecoming of a spouse of a member of the royal family”.
The wife of Prince Abdul Malik has lost her princess title and the use of Her Royal Highness styling in a decree issued by the Sultan of Brunei. Olivia Harris/Reuters
The change affects Pengiran Raabi’atul Adawiyyah Pengiran Haji Bolkiah, 33, who is the wife of Prince Abdul Malik Hassanal Bolkiah.
Prince Abdul Malik, 42, is the youngest son of the sultan to his first wife Queen Saleha. He is fourth-in-line to the throne.
The revoked titles − Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri − are the equivalent of princess and Her Royal Highness.
The Acting Grand Chamberlain of the Royal Court said the matter was a royal command issued by the sultan, according to Royal Television Brunei (RTB News) and Malaysian newspaper the New Straits Times.
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According to the reports, the removal of the titles came after conduct from the former princess that was “deemed unbecoming of a spouse of a member of the royal family”.
Her actions had “tarnished the monarchy’s good name and demonstrated a lack of respect towards Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah”, the reports added.
The announcement from the Royal Court did not specify the behaviour or actions in question, nor did it provide further details about the incident.
However, there are rumours a divorce is imminent. The couple have four children.
The couple married in a 10-day wedding festival in 2015 that took place in Brunei’s royal palace attended by 5000 guests. Olivia Harris/Reuters
The 80-year-old sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah, is the world’s longest-reigning monarch and is one of the world’s wealthiest heads of state with an estimated fortune of between $28-$45 billion. He ascended the throne in 1967.
He rules the absolute Islamic monarchy of Brunei − a small nation on the island of Borneo near Malaysia − which earns most of its wealth from oil and gas after gaining independence from the UK in 1984.
The Sultan of Brunei, pictured in 2017, is the world’s longest-reigning monarch and one of the wealthiest heads of state. EPA/AAP
Prince Abdul Malik and his wife married in a lavish wedding that spanned 10 days in 2015 in Brunei’s capital, Bandar Seri Begawan.
The former princess was believed to be a data analyst before she married the sultan’s son inside the throne room of the 1,788-room royal palace, Istana Nurul Iman.
The couple wore matching gold outfits, with the bride’s dress studded with diamonds and emeralds. She wore a diamond and emerald six-pronged tiara and a large necklace with diamonds and emeralds.
The bride further accessorised with an emerald brooch and bracelets and rings featuring large diamonds and emeralds. Instead of flowers, she carried a bouquet of gems. Her Christian Louboutin heels were studded with Swarovski crystals.
The bride later changed into a purple gown and wore a diamond and ruby tiara and matching jewels for the evening banquet.
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