by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2014
photo: Wikipedia
Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei (full name: Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien) was born on July 15, 1946, in Brunei Town, now called Bandar Seri Begawan. He is the eldest son of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III of Brunei and Rani Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit.
Following his early education in Brunei, he attended the Victorian Institution in Kuala Lumpur and then the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom. On October 4, 1967, his father abdicated and Hassanal Bolkiah became the 29th Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan (Head of State) of Brunei. He is also Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of Finance. At the time, Brunei was a protectorate of the United Kingdom. However, the Sultan oversaw negotiations with Britain which led to Brunei’s independence in 1984.
The Sultan and Sultanah at the marriage ceremony of their daughter, 2012.
Photo: Daily Mail
The Sultan has had three wives and twelve children. On July 28, 1965, Hassanal Bolkiah married his paternal first cousin Saleha Mohamed Alam who was styled Her Majesty The Sultanah of Brunei after her husband became Sultan. Saleha and Hassanal Bolkiah had two sons and four daughters:
- Princess Rashidah (born 1969), married Prince Haji ‘Abdul Rahim, had five children
- Princess Muta-Wakkilah (born 1971), unmarried
- Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah (born 1974), married Princess Sarah binti Salleh Abdul Rahaman, had four children
- Princess Majeedah (born 1976), married Prince Khairul Khalil, had two children
- Princess Hafizah (born 1980), married Prince Haji Mohammad Ruzaini, had four children
- Prince Abdul Malik (born 1983), married Princess Raabi’atul A’dawiyyah Binti Pengiran Haji Bolkiah, had three children
In 1982, Hassanal Bolkiah married a second wife Mariam Abdul Aziz, a former flight attendant for Royal Brunei Airlines. The Sultan divorced her for nusyuz, disobeying or opposing the will of the husband in 2003, and stripped her of all her titles. Four children were born from the marriage:
- Prince Abdul Azim (1982 – 2020)
- Princess Azemah Ni’matul (born 1984), married her first cousin Bahar ibni Jefri Bolkiah
- Prince Fadzilah Lubabul (born 1985), married Abdullah Nabil Mahmoud Al-Hashim
- Prince Abdul Mateen (born 1991), married Anisha Rosnah binti Adam
In 2005, Hassanal Bolkiah married Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim, a former Malaysian TV3 presenter. The Sultan divorced her for nusyuz, disobeying or opposing the will of the husband in 2010 and stripped her of all her titles. Two children were born from the marriage:
- Prince Abdul Wakeel (born 2006)
- Princess Ameerah Wardatul (born 2008)
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Sultanah Saleha reside at Nurul Iman Palace, a massive place with nearly 1,800 rooms. According to Guinness World Records, it is the largest residential palace in the world, and the largest single-family residence ever built. As well as being the Sultan’s home and office, the palace also holds his immense car collection.
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