Princess Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah: Difference between revisions

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Bruneian princess (born 1984)

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Hassanal Bolkiah is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, ‘Azemah Ni’matul. The word “bin”/”ibn” or “binti”/”binte” means ‘son of’ or ‘daughter of’, respectively.

Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah (Jawi: عظيمة نعمة البلقية; born 26 September 1984) is a member of the royal family of Brunei. She is the eighth child of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei by his former second wife, Mariam Abdul Aziz.

Princess Azemah was born on 26 September 1984 to Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei and his second wife, Mariam Abdul Aziz.[1] She has three full siblings: Prince Azim, Princess Fadzilah, and Prince Mateen along with eight half siblings from her father’s other marriages.[2]

Her parents divorced in February 2003.[3] Shortly after, Princess Azemah wrote into the BruDirect Have Your Say section criticizing people online spreading rumors about the reason for the divorce. “We can take your views but those cruel and heartless comments are tearing me and my brother apart because you are talking about our parents.”[4]

Azemah was raised and continues to reside at Istana Nurul Izzah in Kampong Jerudong, Brunei.[5] The palace was built in the mid-1980s for the then Princess Consort Mariam and her children.[6]

Princess Azemah studied at St. Andrew’s School in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.[7] In July 2008, she graduated from the University of Warwick in Coventry, United Kingdom with a Bachelor of Laws degree with honors.[8]

Azemah also has two master’s degrees. In July 2011, she received a Master of Arts degree in Global Media and Post-national Communications from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London[9] and in January 2014, she received a Master of Arts degree in Geopolitics, Territory, and Security from King’s College London.[10]

On 4 November 2022, the royal court announced the engagement of Princess Azemah and her first cousin, Prince Bahar ibni Jefri Bolkiah.[11] The couple had been dating for several years and in 2018 they opened an indoor cycling gym called Shine Cycle together.[12]

In January 2023, Azemah and Bahar married in a ten day celebration from the 8th to the 17th.[13] The Majlis Istiadat Berbedak Pengantin Diraja or powdering ceremony was held on the 11th at Istana Nurul Iman. Azemah and Bahar wore traditional red outfits and their families applied scented powder and oils to their hands to bless them.[14] The next day was the Majlis Istiadat Akad Nikah Diraja or solemnisation ceremony at Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque where they were officially married.[1] The Majlis Bersanding Pengantin Diraja was on the 15th.[15] The last big event was the Majlis Persantapan Diraja which was a large banquet at Istana Nurul Iman on the 16th.[16] All of the couple’s wedding outfits were designed by Bernard Chandran and Princess Azemah wore jewelry including two diamond tiaras loaned from Queen Saleha.[17]

Azemah playing a charity polo exhibition match in 2024

She made a name for herself in 2017 when she was one of only two female polo players from Brunei in Kuala Lumpur at the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. As one of the ten ASEAN Women in Sports ambassadors in 2021, Princess Azemah was chosen to represent Brunei as part of the ASEAN #WeScore campaign, which is sponsored by Japan.[18][19]

Known to be the Sultan’s athletic daughter, she shares her father’s passion for polo. She tells Tatler Malaysia that she participated in after-school athletic team competitions throughout her early school years, and that she started riding and show jumping at the age of four. She didn’t start playing polo until she was a law student at the University of Warwick.[18]

Azemah made up for her lack of expertise at first by her unwavering dedication to her training and discipline. This occurred during a period when men dominated the polo field, particularly in Brunei where there weren’t many female participants. Thus, Castagnola Marianela became her coach. In the end, she was selected for the Brunei National Polo Team. At the 45′ Torneo Internacional de Polo Sotogrande in Spain in 2016, Princess Azemah made her debut representing Brunei on a distinguished platform. Her team’s victory in the Silver Cup cemented Brunei’s renown as a leading international polo player.[18]

Princess Azemah made her national polo team debut during the 2017 SEA Games at the Putrajaya Equestrian Centre, on 22 August 2017.[20] Her team concluded the tournament with bronze and alongside her team received cash incentive through the government’s Sports Excellence Incentive Scheme.[21][22] On 30 August 2017, she attended the 29th SEA Games awards ceremony held at the Putrajaya Equestrian Park in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, during which she received a bronze medal, after her polo team won against Singapore.[23]

Together with her brother, Prince Mateen, she played in the 2019 SEA Games in Calatagan.[24] They finished Bronze in that tournament.[25] At both SEA Games, she became the first female competitor from Brunei to earn a medal.[26]

In an announcement made by ASEAN on 1 December 2021, Princess ‘Azemah was among the ten sports ambassadors selected to promote gender equality prior to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.[27]

The Brunei polo team defeated Malaysia 7–4 to win the gold medal in the 0-2 handicap division at the 30th SEA Games in the Philippines. Princess Azemah, the team captain, guided the Brunei polo team to triumph once more at the first Agong’s Cup in October 2023 at the Putrajaya Equestrian Park. Her team defeated the Jogo Polo team 7–5.[18]

Princess Azemah played in the 2024 Charity Polo Tournament on 23 June 2024, at the Royal Brunei Polo and Riding Club, in Jerudong. On the same team as her was her brother, Prince Abdul Mateen. Their team, the LIONS, was crowned champion.[28] On 13 July 2024, Princess Azemah competed in the finals of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s Polo Cup 2024 at the Royal Brunei Polo and Riding Club. Although the team she captained (the Brunei Polo Team) lost to the team led by her brother Prince Abdul Mateen (the MB Polo Team), she still received an award from the Sultan.[29][30]

Azemah at the wedding procession of Prince Abdul Mateen; January 2024

Princess Azemah regularly attended Royal weddings, charities,[31] and national events such as the Silver Jubilee celebrations,[32] Golden Jubilee celebrations,[33] and Brunei National Day’s celebrations. Moreover, the Princess also promote health related activities.[34] Her siblings included Prince Azim, Princess Fadzilah and Prince Mateen.[35] In 2009, she and Fadzilah played for the Ivy League during the Setia Motors Netball Open Championship at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex.[36]

On 13 March 2010, she attended the “Noble Gift Gala” in London, United Kingdom, hosted by Eva Longoria.[37]

On 17 April 2016, Princess Azemah presented the awards after the 2016 Brunei Women’s Run at the Jerudong Park, congratulating the women on the podium.[38]

On 19 June 2017, Princess Azemah represented her father Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah in delivering gifts to the population of the Belait District; the Princess gave the gifts to those present and congratulated them.[39] On 28 October 2017, she attended the launch of the Ehsan Center charity sale and visited the exhibitions and sales of the bazaars present in the headquarters of the center, in Bandar Seri Begawan.[40]

On 24 February 2018, she attended the 34th National Day Parade in Bandar Seri Begawan, leading the population during the parade.[citation needed] On 27 February 2018, she attended the opening ceremony of the Shine Cycle Studio, a one-stop fitness center that caters to all ages, located in Bandar Seri Begawan, as her owner.[41] On 19 March 2018, she attended and presented the Brunei Ladies Open Champion Trophy to Hong Ran from South Korea.[42] In May 2018, she launched “Shine Cycle”, the country’s first indoor fitness and cycling boutique: Princess Azemah is eager to help Bruneans adopt a healthy lifestyle.[43] On 19 June 2018, Princess Azemah welcomed women at Istana Nurul Iman who had come on pilgrimage to greet the Royal Family.[44]

On 28 May 2019, Azemah handed over the proceeds of the Charity Polo Day 2019 to the Brunei Darussalam Polo Team during a ceremony held at Istana Nurul Izzah, Kampong Jerudong.[45] On 30 May 2019, she and her half-sister Princess Hafizah attended the ceremony of delivering personal gifts to deserving people in the Brunei–Muara District; the two Princesses presented the gifts and congratulated the people who received them.[46]

On 25 July 2022, she handed proceeds from the special screening of the documentary “Prince Azim: Son of the Arts” (about her late brother Prince Abdul Azim, who died in 2020) to four charity bodies at Istana Nurul Izzah in Jerudong; Princess Fadzilah and Prince Abdul Mateen, her sister and brother, also attended the event.[47] On 18 October 2022, she attended the ceremony for the delivery of the proceeds of the Charity Polo Day 2022 ($135,819) to the Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam Center at Istana Nurul Izzah.[48]

In September 2023, Princess Azemah attended the audience ceremony and banquet that followed at Istana Nurul Iman, on the occasion of a visit to Brunei by then-Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah of Pahang and then-Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah.[49] On 14 November 2023, she attended the handover ceremony for the proceeds from the Charity Polo 2023, accompanied by Prince Abdul Mateen and Pengiran Muda Bahar, in a ceremony at Istana Nurul Izzah.[50]

On 12 June 2024, Azemah received the honorary medal of the State of Brunei on the occasion of her father’s birthday, in a ceremony held at Istana Nurul Iman.[51] On 28 June 2024, she attended a Charity Football Match aimed at supporting children with disabilities at the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium in Berakas.[52] On 4 July 2024, she attended the inauguration ceremony of the Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam school, the first school dedicated to students with special needs in Brunei, accompanied by her husband Pengiran Muda Bahar, Prince Abdul Mateen, and Anisha Rosnah.[53] She was among the Royal guests at the Installation of Yang di-Pertuan Agong XVII, Sultan Ibrahim of Johor, on 20 July 2024, in a ceremony held in Istana Negara.[54]

Titles, styles, and honours

[edit]

Her full title and style is Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Puteri ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah binti Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Wad’daulah[55] It is usually translated in English as Her Royal Highness Princess Azemah of Brunei.

  • Proclamation of Independence Medal (1 January 1984)
  • Sultan of Brunei Silver Jubilee Medal (5 October 1992)
  • Sultan of Brunei Golden Jubilee Medal (5 October 2017)
  • National Day Silver Jubilee Medal (23 February 2009)
  1. ^ a b “Keluaran Khas: Istiadat Perkahwinan Diraja” (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). Ministry of Information. 21 January 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  2. ^ Sunio, Patti (25 January 2022). “Meet Brunei’s crazy rich royal siblings: Princess Fadzilah is sister to dashing SEA Games star Mateen, polo playing Azemah and the late Prince Azim”. South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  3. ^ “Sultan divorces wife No 2”. The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 February 2003. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  4. ^ “Sultan Bolkiah’s daughter hits out at critics”. The Star. 8 February 2003. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  5. ^ “Brunei Darussalam Newsletter” (PDF). Department of Information – Prime Minister’s Office. 15 March 1995. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  6. ^ Singh, Ranjit; Sidhu, Jatswan (1997). Historical Dictionary of Brunei Darussalam. Scarecrow Press. pp. 85–86. ISBN 0-8108-3276-3.
  7. ^ Iskandar, Rano (3 August 2017). “SAS revisited :D”. Rano360. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  8. ^ “HRH Princess ‘Azemah graduates”. Sultanate News. 19 July 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  9. ^ “Royalty at Convocation”. Sultanate News. 23 July 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  10. ^ “Princess ‘Azemah receives Masters of Arts degree in London”. Sultanate News. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  11. ^ “January 8 marks start of royal wedding ceremony”. Borneo Bulletin. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  12. ^ Cracknell, Kate (1 September 2022). “Shine Brunei”. Ride High Magazine. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  13. ^ Bridger-Linning, Stephanie (24 January 2023). “First royal wedding of the year! Sultan of Brunei’s daughter, Princess Azemah, ties the knot in spectacular fashion”. Tatler. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  14. ^ Mohamd, Lyna; Noor, Adib (12 January 2023). “Istiadat Berbedak Pengantin Diraja highlights royal wedding celebration”. Borneo Bulletin. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  15. ^ Mahmud, Rokiah (16 January 2023). “Royal tradition on full display”. Borneo Bulletin. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  16. ^ Azahari, Izah (17 January 2023). “Grand banquet celebrates royal union”. Borneo Bulletin. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  17. ^ Burack, Emily (25 January 2023). “Brunei’s Princess Azemah Ties the Knot”. Town and Country Magazine. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  18. ^ a b c d Jayatilaka, Tania. ““When our voices join, we become impossible to ignore”: Princess Azemah Bolkiah’s message for women in polo”. Tatler Asia. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  19. ^ “ASEAN appoints ten sports ambassadors to promote gender equality”. asean.org. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  20. ^ “Puteri Azemah, Putera Abdul Mateen jadi tumpuan peminat polo” (in Malay). 22 August 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  21. ^ “Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council”. www.bruneiolympic.org. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  22. ^ Bakar, Rasidah Hj Abu (17 February 2020). “SEA Games medallists receive cash payouts”. The Scoop. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  23. ^ “National polo team awarded bronze”. Bruneiolympic.org. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  24. ^ “Brunei beat Indonesia 8-1 in SEA Games polo » Borneo Bulletin Online”. Brunei beat Indonesia 8-1 in SEA Games polo. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  25. ^ “2019 contingent produce best away SEA Games record » Borneo Bulletin Online”. 2019 contingent produce best away SEA Games record. 10 December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  26. ^ “Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah”. sites.ungeneva.org. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  27. ^ “ASEAN appoints ten sports ambassadors to promote gender equality”. asean.org. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  28. ^ “Charity Polo Tournament”. Prime Minister’s Office. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  29. ^ “Royalty grace polo finals”. The Star. 14 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  30. ^ “Royals grace polo finals”. Borneo Bulletin. 13 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  31. ^ “His Majesty’s Personal Gifts Bring Cheers to Belait Residents | Brunei’s No.1 News Website”. brudirect.com. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  32. ^ “Sultanate – News | Negara Brunei Darussalam | 25 years of sovereignty”. www.sultanate.com. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  33. ^ “News – Golden Jubilee Procession”. www.hmjubliemas.gov.bn. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  34. ^ “HRH Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah Joined ‘Let’s Walk/Run Ladies 2016’ | Brunei’s No.1 News Website”. brudirect.com. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  35. ^ Times, Vietnam (2 November 2020). “Sultan of Brunei: All things about the four famous children with his second wife”. Vietnam Times. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  36. ^ “Her Royal Highness Princess Azeemah Ni’matul Bolkiah”. Gavin Goh Photography. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  37. ^ “Princess Azemah of Brunei at the 2010 Noble Gift Gala honoring Eva Longoria Parker at the Dorchester Hotel in London”. Alamy. 13 March 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  38. ^ “YTM PS PAP AZEMAH NIMATUL BOLKIAH BERKENAN MENYERTAI LARIAN WANITA 2016”. Infofoto Gallery Brunei Darussalam (in Malay). 17 April 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  39. ^ “DAERAH KUALA BELAIT (PUSAT INSANI)”. Infofoto Gallery Brunei Darussalam (in Malay). 19 June 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  40. ^ “YANG Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Puteri ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah binti Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah berkenan menyempurnakan Pelancaran Jualan Amal Pusat Ehsan tersebut”. Pelita Brunei (in Malay). 28 October 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  41. ^ “Shine Cycle Studio opens”. Rano360.com. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  42. ^ “Brunei Ladies Open Golf Tournament Prize Presentation” (PDF). Brunei Darussalam Newsletter. Vol. 33, no. 3. Department of Information, Prime Minister’s Office. 19 March 2022. p. 22.
  43. ^ “Indoor Cycle Design announces opening of Shine Cycle for Brunei’s royal family”. Markets Insider. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  44. ^ “Kunjungan wanita di Istana Nurul Iman”. Media Permata (in Malay). 19 June 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  45. ^ “Berkenan serah sumbangan”. Media Permata (in Malay). 29 May 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  46. ^ “MAJLIS PENYAMPAIAN KURNIA PERIBADI KDYMM HARI KEDUA”. Infofoto Gallery Brunei Darussalam (in Malay). 30 May 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  47. ^ “The Screening of “Prince Azim: Son of the Arts” Raises $100,000 for Charity”. Progresif.com. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  48. ^ “Lebih $100,000 diserahkan kepada Pusat Ehsan”. Media Permata (in Malay). 19 October 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  49. ^ “Red carpet welcome for Malaysian Agong, entourage”. Borneo Bulletin. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  50. ^ “Over BND140,000 raised in Charity Polo 2023”. Borneo Bulletin. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  51. ^ “664 receive state honorary medals”. Borneo Bulletin. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  52. ^ “Berkenan menyaksikan perlawanan amal”. Media Permata (in Malay). 29 June 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  53. ^ “Royalty launch Brunei’s first special needs school”. The Star. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  54. ^ “Royal welcome for Their Majesties”. Borneo Bulletin. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  55. ^ Al-Sufri, Jamil (2002). Adat Istiadat Diraja Brunei (in Malay). Jabatan Adat Istiadat Negara. p. 8. ISBN 9991734228.
  56. ^ “664 receive state honorary medals”. borneobulletin.com.bn. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.

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