Pengiran Anak Saleha (born 7 October 1946) is a member of the royal family as the wife of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. She is the daughter of Pengiran Anak Mohamed Alam and Pengiran Anak Besar. After her husband was crowned as the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei, she succeeded her mother-in-law, Pengiran Anak Damit, as Raja Isteri (queen consort). She is the mother of Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah.

Early life and education

Pengiran Anak Saleha was born at Kampong Sumbiling, Jalan Istana Darussalam in Brunei Town (now Bandar Seri Begawan), Brunei on 7 October 1946. She is the eldest daughter of Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam and Pengiran Anak Besar. In an interview, Abdul Ghani bin Jamil disclosed that Prince Hassanal Bolkiah, Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Princess Masna Bolkiah, Princess Nor'ain, Pengiran Anak Saleha, Pengiran Muda Abdul Rahman, Pengiran Anak Yusof, Pengiran Anak Puteh, Pengiran Anak Ja'afar, and Pengiran Muda Apong were students at the Istana Darul Hana Surau. She traveled to London to finish her studies, and attended the Raja Isteri Girls' High School (STPRI) in Brunei Town until 1965. She also studied at the Cygnets School, and improved her English language skills, while her husband and his brother, Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, were at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Marriage and family life

At age 16 on 29 July 1965, Saleha married her paternal first cousin, Pengiran Muda Mahkota (Crown Prince) Hassanal Bolkiah, who later became the 29th Sultan of Brunei, at Istana Darul Hana. The sultan's mother Raja Isteri (Queen Consort) Pengiran Anak Damit and Saleha's father Pengiran Anak Mohamed Alam were siblings. The pair has seven girls and five boys together. She lives together with her children at Istana Nurul Iman. Saleha had to step aside after her husband married Dayang Hajjah Mariam in 1981, who then accompanied the monarch on most formal occasions and travels. One such instance occurred in October 1984, when he traveled to Oman, Egypt, and Jordan on official business before spending Christmas and New Year's Eve in London. Despite speculation that the sultan might name Dayang Hajjah Mariam's son, Prince Abdul Azim, as crown prince, Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah, Saleha's son, was declared the crown prince on 10 August 1998. The situation changed further when the sultan divorced Dayang Hajjah Mariam on 2 February 2003.

Social contributions

Saleha serves as the patron of several organisations, such as the Brunei Darussalam Women's Council, Brunei Shell Women Association (PWBS), the Women Graduates' Association (PSW), the Women's Institute (WI), PERTIWI, PEKERTI, the Girl Guides Association of Brunei Darussalam, the Brunei Government Senior Officers Wives Welfare Association (BISTARI).

Hobbies and interests

Saleha has a fish pond, a bird park, and a fruit garden because she enjoys the outdoors. Reading is one of her pastimes, in addition to playing traditional Bruneian games like pasang and congkak in addition to badminton.

Titles and honours

Full title

Saleha's full title is: "Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam."

Honours

She has been awarded:

National

Foreign

Issue

Ancestry

Citations