The Sultan's Third Divorce: Unraveling The Mystery

In 2010, the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, divorced his third wife, Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim, a former Malaysian television journalist. The divorce was announced on state television and radio, with all of Azrinaz's royal titles being revoked. The couple had been married for five years and had two children together. No official reason was given for the divorce, but it was granted based on special reasons. This was the second divorce for the Sultan, who remains married to his first wife, Anak Hajah Saleha, with their son being the current heir to the throne.

Characteristics	Values
Name of Sultan of Brunei	Hassanal Bolkiah
Date of divorce announcement	16 June 2010
Date of marriage	2005
Name of third wife	Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim
Age of Sultan at time of divorce	63
Age of third wife at time of divorce	30
Occupation of third wife	Former Malaysian television journalist
Number of children with third wife	2
Reason for divorce	"Special reasons"
Status of first wife	Still married
Status of second wife	Divorced

The Sultan's wealth

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei is one of the world's wealthiest royals, with a private fortune estimated to total at least $20 billion. His wealth is derived from the tiny nation's extensive oil and gas resources and investments made by its sovereign wealth fund.

The Sultan's free-spending brother, Prince Jefri, was accused of siphoning off £8 billion during his time as finance minister, a charge he denies. However, the Sultan's brother, Prince Jefri, bought him and other members of the royal family around 2,500 cars, ultimately landing the royal family in a financial crisis.

The Sultan's first wife, Anak Hajjah Saleh, is also known for her opulent taste. Michael Jackson was flown in to perform for the Sultan's 50th birthday, while a week of celebrations for the marriage of his eldest daughter included a concert by Stevie Wonder.

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The status of his ex-wife

In June 2010, the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, divorced his third wife, Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim, a former Malaysian television journalist. The Sultan's ex-wife had all her royal titles revoked, and the divorce was granted based on "special reasons", which were not disclosed to the public.

The Sultan's ex-wife, Azrinaz, was his third wife, whom he married in 2005. She gave birth to the Sultan's 11th child, a baby boy, less than a year after their wedding and a daughter in 2008.

Azrinaz was the second wife that the Sultan divorced. He broke up with his second wife, former airline stewardess Mariam Abdul Aziz, in 2003 after 21 years of marriage. The Sultan remains married to his first wife, Anak Hajah Saleha, whom he wed in 1967. Their son, Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah Bolkiah, is the heir to the throne.

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The Sultan's children

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has 12 children with his three wives. With his first wife, Anak Hajah Saleha, he has:

Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah Bolkiah, the current heir to the throne
Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah
Pengiran Anak Raheemah Sanaul Bolkiah
Pengiran Anak Hariisah Widadul Bolqiah
Pengiran Anak 'Abdul Raqiib
Pengiran Anak 'Abdul Haseeb
Pengiran Anak Raqeeqah Raayatul Bolqiah
Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Muta-Wakkilah Hayatul Bolkiah

With his second wife, Mariam Abdul Aziz, he has:

Pengiran Muda Haji 'Abdul 'Azim
Pengiran Anak Puteri 'Azemah Ni'matul Bolkiah
Pengiran Muda 'Abdul Mateen
Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah

With his third wife, Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim, he has:

Pengiran Muda 'Abdul Wakeel
Pengiran Anak Puteri 'Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah

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The Sultan's first marriage

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah married his first cousin and first wife, Pengiran Anak Saleha, on 29 July 1965. She later carried the title Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Raja Isteri (Her Royal Highness the Queen Consort).

The wedding took place in the palace, two years before Bolkiah ascended the throne. Their son, Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah Bolkiah, is heir to the throne.

The sultan and his first wife remain married, despite Bolkiah's two subsequent marriages and divorces.

The sultan took the throne in 1967 and remains the head of an absolute monarchy, whose power is based on the kingdom's extensive oil and gas resources and investments made by its sovereign wealth fund.

The sultan and his family have become symbols of lavish royal excess. The sultan's free-spending brother, Prince Jefri, was accused of siphoning off £8bn during his time as finance minister, a charge he denies.

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The Sultan's second divorce

The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, divorced his second wife, Mariam Abdul Aziz, in 2003 after 21 years of marriage. Aziz was a former airline stewardess of Bruneian, Japanese and Scottish ancestry.

The divorce was announced on state television by the Sultan's brother, Prince Sufri Bolkiah, who explained that the divorce was taking place under the country's Sharia Islamic law. As a result, Aziz was stripped of her royal title, HRH Pengiran Isteri Hajah Mariam.

Portraits of Aziz, which were hung next to photographs of the Sultan and his first wife in government and business offices, were removed soon after the announcement. No reason was given for the divorce, but the Sultan had 100 days to change his mind without requiring new marriage vows.

Aziz was the mother of four of the Sultan's children: two sons and two daughters. She met the Sultan in 1980 while working as a stewardess for Royal Brunei Airlines. The Sultan, who was already married to his cousin, took Aziz as his second wife, as allowed under the Bruneian Islamic faith.