Mohamed Bolkiah, Prince of Brunei

Prince Mohamed Bolkiah (born 27 August 1948) is a member of the royal family of Brunei. He was the former foreign minister of that country, serving from 1984, when it gained complete independence in 1984 until 22 October 2015. He served in the cabinet as the Minister of the Brunei's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade alongside the second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Lim Jock Seng.

Background

Mohamed Bolkiah was born in 1948 at Istana Darussalam in Brunei Town. He is the second son of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, the 28th Sultan of Brunei, and his wife, the late Suri Seri Begawan Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit. Among his siblings are the current Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Prince Sufri Bolkiah, Prince Jefri Bolkiah, Princess Masna, Princess Norain, Princess Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam, Princess Amal Rakiah, Princess Amal Nasibah and Princess Amal Jefriah.

Early education

Along with his siblings, Mohamed Bolkiah had his early education at the Lapau (the Royal ceremonial building).

New titles

On 29 September 1967, Mohamed Bolkiah was appointed by his father, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, as Pengiran Temenggong, one of Brunei's traditional wazirs.

In 1970, Mohamed Bolkiah was given by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah the new title of Perdana Wazir, head of the traditional Brunei wazirs, the "eyes and ears" of the ruler.

Titles, styles and honours

Titles and style

English language style

The style and title of Mohamed Bolkiah in full is:
His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Sir Omar Ali Saiffudin.

Malay language style

Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Perdana Wazir Sahibul Himmah Wal-Waqar Pengiran Muda Mohamed Bolkiah

Marriage and children

In August 1970, Mohamed Bolkiah married his cousin, Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri ( HRH The Princess Consort) Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam, the sister of Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha, the Raja Isteri (Queen).

Together they have 10 children:

• YAM Pengiran Anak Hajah Taiyibah Qalbul Bolqiah (HH Princess Taiyibah)
• YAM HH (Prince) Pengiran Muda Abdul Qawi (HH Prince Abdul Qawi)
• YAM Pengiran Anak Hajah Ruqiyah Mataul Bulqiah (HH Princess Ruqiyah)
• YAM HH (Prince) Pengiran Muda Dr. Abdul Fattaah ( HH Prince Dr. Abdul Fattaah)
• YAM HH (Prince) Pengiran Muda Abdul Mu'min (HH Prince Abdul Mu'min)
• YAM Pengiran Anak Mansurah izzul Bolqiah (HH Princess Mansurah )
• YAM HH (Prince) Pengiran Muda Omar Ali (HH Prince Omar Ali)
• YAM Pengiran Anak Khaliilah Khalilatul Bolqiah (HH Princess Khalilah )
• YAM Pengiran Anak Naafi'ah Khairul Bulqiah ( HH Princess Naafi'ah )
• YAM HH (Prince) Pengiran Muda Abdul Muqtadir ( HH Prince Abdul Muqtadir)

Daughter In Law

• YAM - HH (Princess) Tengku Amalin Aishah Putri binti DYMM Sultan Ismail Petra (HH Princess of Kelantan, Malaysia. - princess consort to YAM HH (Prince) Pengiran Muda Abdul Qawi)

Son In Law

• YM Pengiran Hj Mohd Hakimmuddin bin YM Pengiran Hashim ( husband of YAM Pengiran Anak Hajah Taiyibah Qalbul Bolqiah - HH Princess Taiyibah)

They have one grandson and two granddaughter:

• YAM HH (Lady) Pengiran Anak Tengku Afeefah Musyafaah Bolkiah Puteri binti YAM HH ( Prince )Pengiran Muda Abdul Qawi (born on (2014-04-13)13 April 2014) (age &&&&&&&&&&&011643 years) at Singapore) (daughter of YAM HH (Prince) Pengiran Muda Abdul Qawi)

• YM Pengiran Wajeeh Al-Bolkiah bin YM Pengiran Hj Mohd Hakimmuddin ( son of YAM HH ( Princess ) Pengiran Anak Hajah Taiyibah Qalbul Bolqiah )
• YM Pengiran Qaiyimah Nurul Bolkiah binti YM Pengiran Haji Mohd Hakimmudin (daughter of YAM HH ( Princess ) Pengiran Anak Hajah Taiyibah Qalbul Bolqiah )

Independence

Immediately following the independence of Brunei Darussalam in 1984, Mohamed Bolkiah was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and has held the office since then. He also holds the title of the Chief Vizier (Perdana Wazir) in the Royal Court.

During the cabinet reshuffle on 22 October 2015, he was replaced by his brother, the Sultan himself.

Selected works

• Time and the River
• Remember, Remember... The 8th of December

Honors

He has been awarded:

National Honors

• Royal Family Order of the Crown of Brunei - Darjah Kerabat Mahkota Brunei (DKMB)
• Royal Family Order of Brunei, First Class - Darjah Kerabat Laila Utama (DK, 1963)
• Pingat Hassanal Bolkiah Sultan Darjah Pertama (Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal - PHBS, 1.8.1968)
• Pingat Bakti Laila Ikhlas (Armed Forced Service Medal - PBLI, 1975)
• Pingat Jasa Kebaktian (Meritorius Service Medal - PJK, 1954)

Malaysian Honours

 Johor :

• Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor (SPMJ - Dato' Sri Paduka)

 Pahang :

• Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP - Datuk Sri)

 Perak

• Grand Knight (Dato' Seri) of the Order of Cura Si Manja Kini (the Perak Sword of State, SPCM) with title Dato' Sri

 Selangor :

• Companion of the Order of Sultan Salah ud-din 'Abdu'l Aziz Shah (SSA, Setia)

Foreign Honors

•  Germany : Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (16.11.1985)
•  Japan : Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (2009)
•  Philippines : Grand Cross of the Order of the Golden Heart (31.7.2007)
•  South Korea : Grand Cross of the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit of Korea
•  Thailand : Grand Cross of the Order of the White Elephant
•  United Kingdom : Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG - 17.9.1998)
•  United Kingdom : Honorary Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO - 29.2.1972)

Ancestry