Royalty of Brunei 1: January 2004-February 2005

[Zina]

Originally Posted by charlottestreasures

ABUJA, NIGERIA: Brunei Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Royal Highness Haji Mohammed Bolkiah, accompanied by his wife arrives in Abuja 04 December, 2003 to attend the Commonwealth summit. (Photo credit should read PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images)

I read somewhere that Prince Mohammed has only one wife and is suppose to being very much in love - true ??

Prince Mohammed married his cousin, who is the Sultan's Wife's sister. So the Sultan and his brother both married their cousins, who are sisters .

[kinneret5764]

Originally Posted by Zina

Prince Mohammed married his cousin, who is the Sultan's Wife's sister. So the Sultan and his brother both married their cousins, who are sisters .

P. Mohammed's is very much in love with his wife. He calls her his "life-long love and friend."

[Zina]

Originally Posted by ~*~Humera~*~

Thanx so much Zina.
I saw some more pictures of Princess Rashidah's daughters. I think they're absolutely adorable. The eldest one looks just like her mother. Do you know the name of her son? She has only three kids right?

Btw....I've noticed that Princess Rashidah kept her father's name. Is that the traditon in the Bruneian royal family? It would make sense because thats the Islamic way to do it. Her daughters' last name, as you mentioned, is also Bolkiah. Is that because their father is also from the Sultan's family?

Princess Rashidah's son is called: Abdul Raqiib, when you take away all the titles. He's the third and youngest child.

Regarding the name issue, you are right, P. Rashidah would keep her father's name and not take the husband's according to Muslim tradition. The childrens' names have "Bolkiah" in it - but they also take their father's name "Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Rahim". E.g. the full name of the eldest daughter (minus titles) would be "Raheemah Sanaul Bolkiah binti Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Rahim". Binti - meaning - "daughter of". I imagine they keep the name Bolkiah to show that they are part of the Brunei Royal Family. Their father doesn't have that name, even though he is a relative, as he is not an immediate part of the family. At formal banquets, he is not allowed to sit with his wife and the other royals even!

[Humera]

Originally Posted by Zina

Princess Rashidah's son is called: Abdul Raqiib, when you take away all the titles. He's the third and youngest child.

Regarding the name issue, you are right, P. Rashidah would keep her father's name and not take the husband's according to Muslim tradition. The childrens' names have "Bolkiah" in it - but they also take their father's name "Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Rahim". E.g. the full name of the eldest daughter (minus titles) would be "Raheemah Sanaul Bolkiah binti Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Rahim". Binti - meaning - "daughter of". I imagine they keep the name Bolkiah to show that they are part of the Brunei Royal Family. Their father doesn't have that name, even though he is a relative, as he is not an immediate part of the family. At formal banquets, he is not allowed to sit with his wife and the other royals even!

thanks so much for that info Zina, you're a treasure!

[pdas1201]

Thought I'd post the new pics from December 12, 2004

The caption said:
Junjung Ziarah Bakal-Bakal Haji 2004, Istana Nurul Iman (can someone please translate)

By the way, Queen Saleha looks wonderful as always and so does Sarah, especially in Pic #4. I have noticed that QS always wears bright clothing and heavy makeup not usually worn by women her age. Good for her!!!

I believe that is Princess Hafizah with Queen Saleha and Sarah.

[Humera]

great pictures!
While I dont know anything about the Bruneian language, I believe the event might have something to do with people leaving for Hajj....i could be wrong

[Humera]

btw..that's Princess Rashidah with the Queen and Princess Sarah

[pdas1201]

Originally Posted by ~*~Humera~*~

btw..that's Princess Rashidah with the Queen and Princess Sarah

Thanks for the correction, Humera. Princess Rashidah and Hafizah look alike, is all I can say for my excuse.

[Zina]

Originally Posted by ~*~Humera~*~

Here's another royal couple from Brunei I'd like to know about.

Humera, Wadood's wife's name is Pengiran Siti Aminah, formerly known as Dayangku Siti Aminah.

[Zina]

Originally Posted by ~*~Humera~*~

great pictures!
While I dont know anything about the Bruneian language, I believe the event might have something to do with people leaving for Hajj....i could be wrong

That's right Humera, the Sultan and his wife were granting an audience to all the people intending to go on the Haj next year. It's an annual tradition.

[Humera]

Originally Posted by Zina

Humera, Wadood's wife's name is Pengiran Siti Aminah, formerly known as Dayangku Siti Aminah.

Thanx again Zina.
I love the name Aminah, its so pretty.
btw..what do "pengiran" and "dayangku" mean?

[Humera]

And one more thing Zina, I know that one of the Sultan's daughters from his ex-wife is named Princess Azemah, she is, I believe, the older one and is standing right next to Prince Azem in this picture, am I right?. What's the name of the other sister?

[Zina]

Originally Posted by ~*~Humera~*~

And one more thing Zina, I know that one of the Sultan's daughters from his ex-wife is named Princess Azemah, she is, I believe, the older one and is standing right next to Prince Azem in this picture, am I right?. What's the name of the other sister?

That's right, Azemah is the pretty one, the other daughter is Fadzillah Lubabul Bolkiah.

[kinneret5764]

What is P. Abdul-Azim up to these days? I know resides in the UK. Is he studying there or has he moved there to live permanently?

[Humera]

Originally Posted by Zina

I think Lady would be as close a term as you get, as far as it comes to an English equivalent for Datin Hjh Faezah.

"Datins" are usually ladies who are married to "Datuks" or "Datos". They are not nobility, according to the website.

It seems that Brunei royal court titles are numerous, so it's difficult to find English equivalents to all of them.

ah..okay
Have Prince Sufri's previous wives also had the same title? I recall you saying that he has had many wives and it seemed easier for the royal court to not give his wives the title of "HRH" since the title is usually taken away after a divorce.
How many wives exactly has Prince Sufri had? Have he and Faezah been married for long?

[Humera]

Originally Posted by kinneret5764

What is P. Abdul-Azim up to these days? I know resides in the UK. Is he studying there or has he moved there to live permanently?

He and his sisters and brother live in London with their mother for most of the time. But from what I've noticed, they are also in Brunei often.
Prince Azim, and his sisters to a lesser extent, seem to be very at home in London. They mix with the local celebrities very often and go to premiers etc.

[Humera]

Sep 26, 2004- Joint birthday party for Prince Azim and his sisters
Guests included Diana Ross, Eva Herzigova, Sharon and Jack Osbourne, Lennox Lewis.

[kinneret5764]

I think P. Abdul-Mateen still resides in Brunei. He's been making appearances at the Sultan, Crown Prince, and P. Abdul-Malik at recent events in Brunei, including at the funeral of Q. Saleha's brother on Wednesday.

[Humera]

Originally Posted by kinneret5764

I think P. Abdul-Mateen still resides in Brunei. He's been making appearances at the Sultan, Crown Prince, and P. Abdul-Malik at recent events in Brunei, including at the funeral of Q. Saleha's brother on Wednesday.

yeah you're right. I've seen him make more appearances in Brunei than any his other siblings. He also seems to be close to Prince Abdul Malik.
Perhaps he is a favourite of the Sultan, youngest children often are.

[Zina]

Originally Posted by ~*~Humera~*~

ah..okay
Have Prince Sufri's previous wives also had the same title? I recall you saying that he has had many wives and it seemed easier for the royal court to not give his wives the title of "HRH" since the title is usually taken away after a divorce.
How many wives exactly has Prince Sufri had? Have he and Faezah been married for long?

I think he's had at least 4 wives. His previous wife, the Malaysian ex-pop singer, Mazuin, had a royal title of Pengiran Bini - Bini is a commonly used word for "wife" - not very prestigious. She only recently had the title taken away, though they had been divorced for a long time.

Yang Mulia Datin Faezah has been married to P. Sufri about 5 years. Datin is a very common title, lots of ladies in Brunei possess it, so it's not exclusively a royal title.