Brunei Sultan strips daughter-in-law of royal titles

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei has stripped his daughter-in-law, Pengiran Raabi'atul Adawiyyah, of her royal titles and expelled her from the Royal Household. The revocation of her title, ‘Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri’, was issued via a direct royal command.

According to the Office of the Grand Chamberlain, the decision followed conduct deemed ‘unbecoming of a spouse of a member of the Royal Family’. The palace stated that her actions tarnished the monarchy’s good name and demonstrated a ‘lack of respect’ toward the Sultan. While the specific nature of the behavior was not disclosed, some reports suggest rumors of a potential divorce.

Pengiran Raabi'atul Adawiyyah, 33, married Prince Abdul Malik in 2015. Prince Abdul Malik is the Sultan’s son and currently stands fourth in the line of succession to the throne. The couple has four children, all of whom retain their royal titles despite their mother's expulsion.