The Sultan of Brunei stripped his daughter-in-law of her royal titles after she allegedly displayed behaviour “unbecoming’ of the royal family.
The long-time ruler issued a decree earlier this week revoking the title of “Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri” from Pengiran Raabi’atul Adawiyyah, 33. Raabi’atul is married to the Prince Abul Malik, the Sultan's second son from his first and only remaining wife, Queen Saleha.
Prince Abdul Malik is currently fourth in line to the throne.
He married Raabi’atul in 2015, and they have four daughters together.
Their children’s titles will reportedly not be affected: four children, Princess Muthee'ah, ten, Princess Fathiyyah, eight, Princess Khaalishah, six, and Princess Nabeelah, 16 months.
The Office of the Grand Chamberlain confirmed the move was carried out on August 7, RTB, the national public broadcaster of Brunei reported. A statement said that she 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.
It was clarified what behaviour prompted the move.
The former princess married Prince Abdul Malik in a ten-day ceremony held between 5 April and 16 April in 2015.
It is not the first time a royal title has been stripped from a family member in recent years. Several European countries have also removed the titles of royals who weren't born as heirs to the throne.
In the UK, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson were stripped of their titles following revelations of their relations with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
