Royal stripped of official titles after demonstrating 'lack of respect'
Royal stripped of official titles after demonstrating 'lack of respect'
Ben McCaffrey Thu, August 13, 2026 at 5:26 PM UTC
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Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah | Source: GETTY
A senior member of the Brunei Royal Family has been stripped of her royal titles after behaving in a manner "unbecoming".
Hassanal Bolkiah, the controversial Sultan of Brunei, expelled his daughter-in-law, Pengiran Raabi'atul Adawiyyah, from the Royal Household after she demonstrated a "lack of respect," according to a statement.
Pengiran married the Sultan's second son from his marriage with Queen Saleha, Prince Abdul Malik - fourth in line for the throne - in 2015.
The couple now share four children together: Princess Muthee'ah, 10, Princess Fathiyyah, eight, Princess Khaalishah, six, and Princess Nabeelah, 16 months.
All four princesses retain their titles despite Pengiran's expulsion.
The Office of the Grand Chamberlain, as reported by Malaysia's New Straits Times, confirmed that Pengiran is no longer considered part of the Royal Family in an extraordinary statement.
It read: "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."
Beyond this, however, the Palace has offered no further detail.
The Sultan, who has fathered 12 children across three marriages, is the world's longest-reigning monarch, after ascending to the throne in 1967 - some 59 years ago.
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Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, King Charles | Source: GETTY
In addition to his role as Sultan, Bolkiah has served as Brunei's Prime Minister ever since it gained independence from the UK in 1984.
He simultaneously occupies the posts of Defence Minister, Foreign Affairs Minister and Finance Minister, while also commanding the country's police force.
In 2006, he reportedly altered Brunei's constitution to render himself legally infallible.
The Sultan's record on human rights has drawn sustained international criticism. In 2014, he championed the introduction of Islamic sharia punishments, encompassing death by stoning, amputation of limbs and flogging for offences including abortion, adultery and same-sex relations.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Sir Keir Starmer | Source: GETTY
George Clooney and Elton John were among prominent figures who urged a boycott of the Sultan's Dorchester Collection hotel chain, which operates properties across Europe and the United States.
But by April 2019, the legislation was enacted in full, making homosexuality and adultery offences punishable by death through stoning.
Convictions for gay sex did require independent witness testimony, however.
Despite presiding over such an unrestrained system of governance, Bolkiah is said to have maintained a warm relationship with the late Queen Elizabeth II, and received a knighthood from Her Majesty in 1992 - following in the footsteps of his father.
He also visited Sir Keir Starmer at Downing Street and King Charles in 2024.
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