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Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has revoked all royal titles held by his daughter-in-law over what authorities described as “inappropriate conduct” as a member of the royal family.
The decision concerning 33-year-old Pengiran Rabiatul Adawiyah, wife of Prince Abdul Malik, took immediate effect on the Sultan’s orders, according to a statement issued by the Office of the Grand Chamberlain earlier this month.
The statement accused Rabiatul of showing disrespect towards Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and behaving inappropriately as the wife of a member of the royal family. It also said her conduct had damaged the reputation of the royal family.
However, neither the Grand Chamberlain’s office nor Brunei’s state broadcaster RTB News provided details of what she allegedly did.
Her royal title, “Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri,” has consequently been revoked.
Rabiatul remains married to Prince Abdul Malik, 43, who is fourth in line to the Bruneian throne. There has been no official announcement suggesting that the couple have divorced.
Married in a lavish royal ceremony
Prince Abdul Malik and Rabiatul married in 2015 in a lavish ceremony at the Istana Nurul Iman, the Sultan’s official residence in the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. The wedding celebrations continued for 10 days and were attended by thousands of guests.
The couple have four daughters: 10-year-old Princess Muthia, eight-year-old Fatiyyah, six-year-old Khalishah and 16-month-old Nabilah.
The removal of their mother’s royal title has not affected the titles of the four children, according to the information available.
Prince Abdul Malik is the son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and his first wife, Queen Saleha. The Sultan has 12 children from his three marriages.
Sultan has stripped titles before
The latest decision is not the first time Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has removed royal titles from members of his family.
His second wife, Mariam Abdul Aziz, lost her royal titles following their divorce in 2003. In 2010, the Sultan also revoked the titles of his third wife, Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim.
The case involving Rabiatul is different because she remains the wife of the Sultan’s son and continues to be part of the royal family. No official explanation has been given beyond the allegations concerning her conduct.
Brunei’s long-serving ruler
Hassanal Bolkiah, 80, has ruled Brunei since ascending the throne as the country’s 29th Sultan in 1968. He is among the world’s longest-serving monarchs.
The oil-rich Southeast Asian country occupies a small area on the island of Borneo and is surrounded by Malaysian territory.
The Sultan’s official residence, Istana Nurul Iman, is one of the world’s largest residential palaces, with 1,788 rooms.
The absence of details about the alleged misconduct has left the circumstances behind the unprecedented decision concerning Rabiatul unclear. The palace has not publicly elaborated on the nature of the conduct that allegedly brought the Sultan’s displeasure or how it affected the reputation of the royal family.