Sultan of Brunei Strips Daughter-in-Law of Royal Titles Over ‘Lack of Respect’
[BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN] The 80-year-old Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, ordered the removal of his daughter-in-law’s royal titles. Therefore, 33-year-old Pengiran Raabi’atul Adawiyyah is no longer a royal family member.
The Sultan of Brunei revoked her “Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri” title for showing a “lack of respect.” However, the palace shared no specific details. Furthermore, they did not announce a divorce from Prince Abdul Malik.
The Sultan of Brunei Revokes Titles with Immediate Effect
The Office of the Grand Chamberlain announced the decree on August 8. Acting Grand Chamberlain Pengiran Haji Raffizanna confirmed it was a direct royal command. Thus, Raabi’atul lost her royal status immediately.
As a result, she is no longer recognized as part of the royal household. The palace stated her actions were “unbecoming of a spouse of a member of the Royal Family.”
Why Did the Sultan of Brunei Strip Her Titles?
The national broadcaster RTB News reported two main reasons for this unprecedented move:
The palace stated her actions were inappropriate for a royal spouse. However, they withheld the exact details of her behavior.
Officials claimed she damaged the monarchy’s good name and disrespected the Sultan of Brunei. Yet, the specific incidents remain a mystery.
Notably, the royal household did not explain what actually happened. Multiple media outlets contacted palace representatives for comments, but they received no response.
Prince Abdul Malik: Fourth in Line to the Throne
Raabi’atul’s husband is 43-year-old Prince Abdul Malik. He is the second son of the Sultan of Brunei and his first wife, Queen Saleha. Therefore, he sits fourth in the line of succession.
The couple married in 2015 at Istana Nurul Iman. The lavish 10-day celebration hosted thousands of guests. They share four daughters:
- 👧 Princess Muthee’ah (10 years old)
- 👧 Princess Fathiyyah (8 years old)
- 👧 Princess Khaalishah (6 years old)
- 👧 Princess Nabeelah (16 months old)
Importantly, the daughters keep their royal titles. Furthermore, the palace has not announced a divorce. Thus, their marital status remains a major question.
A History of Revoking Royal Titles
The Sultan of Brunei has stripped titles from family members before. Here is a timeline of past revocations:
👑 Past Title Revocations
- 2003: Stripped his second wife, Mariam Abdul Aziz, of her titles after their divorce.
- 2010: Removed the titles of his third wife, Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim, following their divorce.
- Aug 8, 2026: Revoked his daughter-in-law’s titles without announcing a divorce.
This latest case stands out. Unlike the past divorces, the Prince remains married to Raabi’atul. Thus, this is a highly unusual public move for the royal family.
Background: Absolute Monarchy and Sharia Law
Brunei is an oil-rich nation on the island of Borneo. As an absolute monarchy, the Sultan of Brunei holds supreme executive power. Moreover, he is one of the world’s wealthiest individuals, with an estimated net worth of $50 billion.
Brunei introduced Islamic penal codes, drawing intense global scrutiny and human rights debates.
New laws made adultery and same-sex relations punishable by stoning or amputation. This sparked massive international outrage.
Facing backlash, the Sultan paused the death penalty for homosexuality and signed the UN Convention Against Torture.
At the time, he publicly stated: “I want to see Islamic teachings in this country grow stronger.”
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Frequently Asked Questions
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What do you think about the Sultan’s decision to strip his daughter-in-law’s titles without announcing a divorce? Share your perspective in the comments below.
※ This article compiles reports from The Star, Times of India, New Straits Times, SCMP, and Hola. The Brunei royal household has not responded to media inquiries, and specific incident details remain undisclosed.
