The Sultan of Brunei has revoked the royal titles of his daughter-in-law, Pengiran Raabi’atul Adawiyyah, following allegations of “unbecoming behaviour.”
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the world’s longest-serving monarch, made the decision after the 33-year-old was accused of bringing disrepute to the monarchy, according to an official statement.
Pengiran became part of the Brunei royal family in 2015, when she married Prince Abdul Malik, who is fourth in line to the throne, during an elaborate ten-day royal wedding celebration.
The couple share four children, and their royal status has not been affected by the decree: Princess Muthee’ah, 10, Princess Fathiyyah, eight, Princess Khaalishah, six, and 16-month-old Princess Nabeelah.
Prince Abdul Malik is the Sultan’s second son from his first marriage to Queen Saleha. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has 12 children from three marriages.
The palace has not publicly detailed the conduct that led to Pengiran losing her titles. However, according to Malaysia’s New Straits Times, the Office of the Grand Chamberlain confirmed that she is no longer considered a member of the royal family and said:
“The revocation was carried out following conduct by Pengiran Raabi’atul Adawiyyah that was deemed unbecoming of a spouse of a member of the royal family.
“Her actions were also found to have tarnished the monarchy’s good name and demonstrated a lack of respect towards Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.”
Pengiran Raabi’atul Adawiyyah has been stripped of her royal titles (pictured with her husband, Prince Abdul Malik)
In addition to being the country’s Sultan and absolute monarch, 80-year-old Hassanal Bolkiah has also been the Prime Minister of Brunei since the country gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1984.
His reign has also been mired in controversy, and he’s faced criticism of his country’s human rights record.
Despite this, Bolkiah appeared to have enjoyed a close relationship with the late Queen Elizabeth.
Like his father before him, he was knighted by Her Majesty, and the pair met on several occasions during their reigns – in both London and Bandar Seri Begawan.
Unlike the United Kingdom’s head of state, Bolkiah enjoys absolute power in Brunei. Under the country’s 1959 constitution, the head has full executive authority – including emergency powers.
In 2006, he was reported to have amended the country’s constitution to make himself infallible.
As Prime Minister, he is also the head of government – and currently holds the positions of Minister of Defence, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Finance. He also controls the country’s police force.
He is also Head of Religion, and Islam is the country’s official religion. In 2014, he advocated for the adoption of Islamic sharia penalties, which include death by stoning, the severing of limbs and flogging for some crimes.
The world’s longest-reigning living monarch, Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, during his 80th birthday celebrations in last month
Such crimes include abortions, adultery and same-sex sexual acts.
His push in 2014 raised alarm bells among human rights advocates, and celebrities – including George Clooney and Elton John – called for a boycott of hotels associated with the Sultan, notably the Dorchester Collection, which has hotels in the US and Europe.
Educational institutions with connections to the Sultan, such as Oxford and King’s College London, were also urged to strip his honorary degrees.
As Prime Minister, the Sultan has spearheaded anti-LGBT legislation. As of April 2019, homosexuality and adultery are punishable by death by stoning.
The rule outlawed gay sex, which had to be independently witnessed in order to secure a conviction.
