Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has made a rare and dramatic change within Brunei’s Royal Family. His daughter-in-law, Pengiran Raabi'atul Adawiyyah, has been stripped of her royal title and honors following conduct the Palace described as “inappropriate” for the wife of a royal. The decision affects the wife of Prince Abdul Malik, who is fourth in line to the Bruneian throne.
© Gamma-Rapho via Getty ImagesThe move comes more than a decade after the couple’s lavish 2015 wedding, when Raabi'atul was formally welcomed into the royal dynasty. While the Palace has said the decision followed conduct considered disrespectful toward the Sultan and other members of the Royal Family, it has not disclosed what specifically led to the unprecedented action.
© Getty ImagesWhy Brunei’s Sultan Stripped His Daughter-in-Law of Her Royal Titles
In a decree announced on state television, Brunei’s acting grand chamberlain confirmed the immediate revocation of all titles and honors held by Princess Pengiran Raabi'atul Adawiyyah, wife of Prince Abdul Malik, who is currently fourth in line to the Bruneian throne. The order took effect immediately.
© UK Press via Getty ImagesWhile the Palace did not disclose specific details about what prompted the move, a statement from Brunei’s Royal Court said the decision followed conduct considered inappropriate for the wife of a member of the Royal Family.
According to local media, the statement said her actions had tarnished “the good name and demonstrated a lack of respect toward His Majesty, Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha (the Sultan’s wife and the country’s queen), and the Royal Family.”
© Gamma-Rapho via Getty ImagesLocal outlets have reported no further details about the circumstances surrounding the decision. The extraordinary move appears to have caught the country by surprise.
Who Is Princess Pengiran Raabi'atul Adawiyyah?
Pengiran Raabi'atul Adawiyyah is the wife of Prince Abdul Malik, one of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s sons and currently fourth in line to Brunei’s throne.
© AFP via Getty ImagesBefore marrying into the Royal Family, she was known as Dayangku Raabiatul Adawiyyah Pengiran Haji Bolkiah and worked as a data analyst. She was 22 when she married the prince in 2015 and subsequently received her royal title.
For more than a decade, she held the title of Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri, roughly equivalent to the rank of princess and royal consort.
Inside Prince Abdul Malik and Raabi'atul Adawiyyah’s Lavish Royal Wedding
In April 2015, Istana Nurul Iman, the sprawling royal palace regarded as the largest residential palace in the world, provided the setting for one of the grandest celebrations in Brunei’s recent history.
Prince Abdul Malik married Dayangku Raabiatul Adawiyyah Pengiran Haji Bolkiah in an elaborate royal wedding that unfolded over roughly 10 days and ranked among the most lavish in the world.
© Sygma via Getty ImagesAt the time, the ceremony appeared to mark the beginning of a fairy-tale chapter for the couple. During the wedding, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah took his son’s hand and placed it on the bride’s head in a solemn gesture of blessing, symbolically sealing their union.
How Raabi'atul Adawiyyah Became a Brunei Princess
During the wedding celebrations, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah formally bestowed on his daughter-in-law the title of Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri, roughly equivalent to princess and royal consort.
The title formally brought her into the royal dynasty and established her status within Brunei’s Royal Family.
© Gamma-Rapho via Getty ImagesMore than a decade later, the Sultan himself has abruptly revoked that title, along with the other honors and privileges associated with her royal status.
What the Palace Has Said About the Unprecedented Decision
Despite the significance of the move, the Royal Court has released few details about the circumstances that led to it.
The Palace has pointed to conduct it as considered inappropriate and disrespectful toward the Sultan, his wife and the wider Royal Family, but it has not publicly specified the actions in question.
© Gamma-Rapho via Getty ImagesWith no further explanation released, the exact circumstances behind the decision remain unclear. The unusual move has nevertheless brought renewed attention to the inner workings of one of the world’s wealthiest royal families.
The Royal Shake-Up Comes as Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Turns 80
The decision comes as Brunei marks Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s 80th birthday, putting an unexpected royal controversy in the spotlight during a milestone year for the monarch.
© AFP via Getty ImagesIt also follows heightened attention to the Sultan’s health. In January, Hassanal Bolkiah successfully underwent total knee replacement surgery on his right knee.
The latest development adds another unexpected chapter to an already significant year for the Sultan, with his daughter-in-law now stripped of the titles and honors she had held for more than a decade.
