Princess Zariah, Sister-in-Law of Sultan of Brunei, Dies Aged After Family Announcement
Princess Zariah, the wife of Prince Mohamed Bolkiah and sister of Queen Saleha of Brunei, died on Tuesday, 6 October at 5.43pm.
Her full name was Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Zariah binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam. The style Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak, a formal title used in Brunei for a royal wife of high birth, was carried in the announcement of her death. She left behind ten children, according to Hello! Magazine.
The date was given as 24 Rabiulakhir 1448 Hijrah in the Islamic calendar, corresponding to 6 October 2026. Her funeral service was held the next day, in line with Islamic tradition, which calls for burial as soon as possible after death.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Queen Saleha attended the farewell at the Royal Mausoleum. There, the couple poured air asah-asahan, scented ceremonial water poured over the tomb as a final act of respect, over her grave.
The Sultan commanded that Brunei's national flag be lowered from full mast following her death. The lowering of a national flag is the formal public mark of royal mourning.
The death comes two months after a separate announcement from the palace. On 7 August, the Office of the Grand Chamberlain, the palace office that administers Brunei's royal ceremonies and titles, confirmed that Pengiran Raabi'atul Adawiyyah had been stripped of her royal titles.
Pengiran Raabi'atul Adawiyyah is married to Prince Abdul Malik of Brunei, the Sultan's son and fourth in line to the throne. The palace said the titles were removed for conduct described as unbecoming of a spouse of a royal family member, tarnishing the monarchy's good name and showing lack of respect toward the Sultan.
No divorce between Pengiran Raabi'atul Adawiyyah and Prince Abdul Malik had been announced at the time of that reporting, according to The Times of India.
