Sultan of Brunei Strips Prince's Wife of Royal Titles Over "Unbecoming" Conduct
The Sultan of Brunei has stripped Pengiran Raabi'atul Adawiyyah, wife of Prince Abdul Malik, of all her royal titles by decree, with the revocation taking effect immediately.
The Office of the Grand Chamberlain confirmed on 7 August that the decision had been carried out. The announcement appeared in Pelita Brunei, the official publication of Brunei's Department of Information, in its edition dated Saturday 8 August 2026 (Pelita Brunei).
The specific title withdrawn was "Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri" — a Malay style of address meaning "Most honoured princess by marriage," granted to a woman upon her wedding into the royal family.
The Grand Chamberlain's office said the revocation was due to conduct by Pengiran Raabi'atul Adawiyyah, who is 33, deemed unbecoming of a spouse of a member of the royal family. The statement said her conduct had tarnished the monarchy's good name and demonstrated a lack of respect towards Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. The specific actions that prompted the decree have not been revealed (Hello!).
Prince Abdul Malik is the Sultan's second son and fourth in line to the Brunei throne. He and Pengiran Raabi'atul Adawiyyah married in a ten-day ceremony held between 5 April and 16 April 2015. They have four children: Princess Muthee'ah, ten; Princess Fathiyyah, eight; Princess Khaalishah, six; and Princess Nabeelah, sixteen months. The royal children were not affected by the stripping of their mother's titles (Hello!).
What gives this decree an unusual edge is that it was issued without any announcement of divorce. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has previously stripped two of his own wives of their titles, but only following their formal separation. Neither Prince Abdul Malik nor Pengiran Raabi'atul Adawiyyah has announced seeking an end to their marriage, making this a title revocation that stands apart from a marital break (Hello!).
Brunei's monarchy operates under a system in which the Sultan holds absolute authority, including the power to grant and withdraw royal styles and titles by decree. There is no requirement for parliamentary or judicial approval of such a decision, and none was sought.
