Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has stripped his daughter-in-law, Pengiran Raabi’atul Adawiyyah, of her royal titles, with the palace citing conduct it considered unbecoming of a member of the royal family.
The 33-year-old is no longer recognised as part of the Brunei royal family following a decree issued by the Sultan.
Officials said her conduct had damaged the reputation of the monarchy and reflected a lack of respect towards the country’s ruler.
The palace has not publicly detailed the specific behaviour that prompted the decision.
Palace Gives Reason for the Decision
According to a statement attributed to the Office of the Grand Chamberlain and reported by Malaysia’s New Straits Times, the decision followed behaviour deemed inappropriate for the spouse of a member of the royal family.
The statement said her actions were considered to have “tarnished the monarchy’s good name” and demonstrated “a lack of respect” towards Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
The absence of further details has left the circumstances surrounding the royal decree unclear.
Marriage Brought Her Into the Royal Family
Pengiran became part of Brunei’s ruling household when she married Prince Abdul Malik, the Sultan’s second son from his first marriage to Queen Saleha.
Their wedding in 2015 was marked by a lavish 10-day celebration, reflecting the prominence of the couple within Brunei’s royal establishment.
Prince Abdul Malik is fourth in line to the throne and is one of the Sultan’s 12 children from three marriages.
Her Children Keep Their Royal Titles
Despite their mother’s removal from the royal family, the couple’s four children have not been affected by the decision.
Their daughters are Princess Muthee’ah, 10, Princess Fathiyyah, eight, Princess Khaalishah, six, and Princess Nabeelah, who is 16 months old.
The continued status of the children distinguishes the decision from a wider removal of royal privileges within the family.
Sultan Holds Extraordinary Power
The controversy surrounding the royal decree comes against the backdrop of the Sultan’s unusually powerful position within Brunei.
Hassanal Bolkiah, who is 80, became Brunei’s Prime Minister when the country gained independence from Britain in 1984.
He is also the nation’s absolute monarch and holds several major government portfolios, including defence, foreign affairs and finance.
Under Brunei’s constitutional system, the Sultan exercises extensive executive authority and retains emergency powers.
He also oversees the country’s police force and serves as Head of Religion, with Islam designated as the official religion.
A Reign Marked by Human Rights Controversies
The Sultan has faced international criticism over Brunei’s human rights record, particularly because of the country’s implementation of Islamic criminal laws.
In 2014, he advocated the introduction of sharia penalties, including punishments such as flogging, amputation and stoning to death for certain offences.
The measures attracted widespread criticism from human rights organisations and international figures.
Same-Sex Acts and Adultery Under Sharia Law
Brunei’s sharia-based criminal code includes severe penalties for offences including adultery and certain same-sex sexual acts.
The full implementation of the revised penal code in 2019 triggered renewed international condemnation, particularly over provisions allowing the death penalty by stoning for certain offences.
The law requires a particularly stringent evidentiary standard for convictions involving some sexual offences, including testimony from multiple witnesses.
Celebrity Boycott Campaign
The Sultan’s support for the legislation also prompted a high-profile boycott campaign.
Actors and entertainers including George Clooney and Elton John called for consumers to boycott luxury hotels connected to the Brunei royal family, including properties operated under the Dorchester Collection in the United States and Europe.
Calls were also made for educational institutions with ties to the Sultan to reconsider honorary distinctions associated with him.
Relationship With the British Royal Family
Despite the controversy surrounding his domestic policies, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has maintained longstanding links with the British royal establishment.
He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, as his father had been before him, and met the late monarch on several occasions during visits between London and Bandar Seri Begawan.
His position differs sharply from that of the British monarch, however, because Brunei’s Sultan retains direct executive and governmental authority.
The Palace Maintains Silence on Specific Conduct
For now, the royal household has offered no detailed account of what Pengiran Raabi’atul Adawiyyah allegedly did to warrant the removal of her titles.
The official explanation instead focuses on the broader assessment that her conduct was inappropriate, damaging to the monarchy’s reputation and disrespectful towards the Sultan.
Her husband remains a member of the royal family, while their four children continue to retain their royal titles.
