The Sultan of Brunei is known for his
lavish lifestyle. But he has also faced issues in his marriages, having divorced not
just once, but twice.
His second marriage, which lasted 21 years, ended with whispers
of scandal, while his third marriage came to an end after just five years under mysterious
circumstances.
What really happened behind the palace walls to lead to these splits?
What are
the shocking secrets that pushed the Sultan to end his marriages?
Stay with us as we uncover
these answers.
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Meet the Sultan of Brunei,
Hassanal Bolkiah. He was born on July 15, 1946 and was the eldest son in a family built on
centuries of royal tradition.
From an early age, he was prepared for leadership which included
going to some of the finest institutions.
He attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
in the UK, where he trained to sharpen his leadership and military skills.
From his early
days as a young prince, he was all about sports, especially polo, which he still plays as Sultan.
He also started loving cars early on.
Now, he owns an impressive collection of luxury and sports
cars.
Even with all his royal responsibilities, he made sure to enjoy life, keeping his
hobbies and personal time private and fun.
Becoming the Sultan in 1967 at just 21
years old, he entered his role with a mix of youthful energy and a deep respect for his
heritage.
Over the years, his personal life, including his marriages and family, has been both
celebrated and scrutinized.
The Sultan of Brunei s first marriage was to his cousin, Saleha Mohamed
Alam.
They tied the knot back in 1965 when the Sultan was just 19 years old.
Yes, you heard that
right married at 19 to his cousin!
Saleha has been by his side through all the ups and downs of
his long reign.
Together, they have six children, and their marriage has been one of the stable
foundations in the Sultan's life.
But just because it s stable doesn t mean there hasn t
been any drama around it.
Many wonder how the couple keeps their marriage strong despite the
Sultan's other marriage.
The Sultan of Brunei s second marriage had its fair share of drama
and headlines!
The Sultan married Mariam Aziz, a former flight attendant, in 1982.
This
wasn't just any wedding; it was a lavish affair, fitting for a Sultan with a taste for luxury.
Mariam transitioned from the skies to the palace, becoming a royal overnight.
Together, they had
four children, and for a while, it seemed like they were living the ultimate fairy tale.
But
as the years rolled on, the fairy tale started to show cracks.
Rumors spread about disagreements
and troubles behind the palace walls.
Mariam, now a royal, was thrust into a life of intense
public scrutiny and high expectations.
The drama hit its peak when reports of a huge scandal
broke out. It was said that Mariam was involved in some seriously extravagant spending sprees.
Rumors like these shook the foundations of their marriage and the royal image.
In 2003,
after 21 years together, the Sultan and Mariam s marriage came to an end.
The divorce was
as high-profile as you d expect. Officially, the palace didn t say much about why they split,
keeping the details under wraps.
However, the streets were buzzing with gossip.
People
talked about the alleged financial misdeeds and the strain it put on their relationship.
Mariam
received a significant financial settlement, rumored to be in the millions, allowing
her to live comfortably post-divorce.
Yet, the divorce left a stain on her public image, and
she chose to step back from the royal spotlight, living a quieter life.
Under Brunei law, there
are three types of divorces and like in many other Muslim countries, men can have up to four wives.
The first type of divorce lets the husband change his mind within 100 days without needing to marry
again.
The second type doesn't have this waiting time.
With the third type, if a couple divorces,
they can only marry each other again if the woman marries someone else first and then gets divorced
from him. For the Sultan and Mariam, it was the second type.
The Sultan could remarry Mariam
without renewing vows within 100 days. However, they never reunited. The emotional toll on
Mariam was enormous.
Adding to her troubles, she was duped by a fortune teller and a so-called
lover.
She was conned into giving 2 million to her lover over a few months, and she showered
him with countless gifts. Upon realizing it wasn t a real love story, Mariam was devastated.
Just two years after his divorce from Mariam, the Sultan of Brunei, found love again with
Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim, a former Malaysian TV journalist.
Their union was very notable due to
the 32-year age gap between the two and Azrinaz's media background.
They married quietly in the
capital, a stark contrast to the usual extravagant royal weddings, and the union was announced
later.
Azrinaz quickly adapted to her royal role, appearing at public events and performing her
duties.
However, the fairy tale was short-lived; he divorced her just as discreetly in 2010,
after only five years, and the separation was announced shortly thereafter.
The plot
thickens with whispers of palace intrigue and royal rivalries.
Sultan Hassanal was reportedly
pleased with Azrinaz and even considered elevating her to Queen not once, but twice.
However, this
proposal met strong opposition, particularly from Queen Saleha and other influential nobles, who
viewed Azrinaz as too modern and independent for the traditional royal setup.
The palace
became a stage for intense political maneuvering, and Azrinaz found herself at a disadvantage.
To ease tensions, the Sultan decided against naming her Queen, opting instead for the title of
princess consort.
However, the issue resurfaced when Azrinaz bore two children, Prince Abdul
Wakeel and Princess Ameerah, prompting the Sultan to reconsider her elevation.
The pushback
from the aristocracy intensified, supporting Queen Saleha.
During this period, damaging rumors began
to circulate about Azrinaz, including allegations of an affair with palace guards.
Allegations of
her being a gold digger and maintaining contact with an ex-boyfriend surfaced. More damaging were
accusations of her stealing the Queen's tiara, which only added fuel to the fire of controversy
surrounding her.
Queen Saleha s influence was undeniable, and many believed she played
a significant role in preventing Azrinaz from becoming Queen.
The situation within the
palace reached a tipping point, and during these tensions, Azrinaz was not only divorced but
also stripped of her royal titles and banned from the palace, a stark contrast to Mariam's
post-divorce circumstances, who remained in touch with her children and attended significant family
events.
Azrinaz's access to her children became non-existent, a decision rumored to be influenced
by the need to keep the royal children away from her alleged questionable influences.
She moved
back to Malaysia and received a substantial financial settlement.
She hasn't been able to
see her children since they were 2 and 4 years old. She posted a photo of her daughter online,
highlighting her continued separation from her children.
The whispers didn't stop there. Some
gossiped that the Sultan s first wife, Saleha, played a role in this arrangement.
According to
rumors, she wanted to make sure that the children were brought up close to her, maintaining the
traditional royal influence rather than having any modern or external influences that Azrinaz
might bring from her background in media and a more liberal Malaysian society.
From lavish
weddings to sensational divorces, the Sultan's personal life has been anything but ordinary.
Would you want to trade places with a sultan, even just for a day, knowing the intense scrutiny
and personal trials involved?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
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