Mariam Abdul Aziz

As the third child of Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, formerly known as James Bell, and Pengiran Rashida, Mariam was born on 28 January 1956.[2] Her father ancestry is both English and Japanese.[3] She served as a flight attendant for Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA).[3] Later, she was transferred to the Sultan's flight.[4]

On 28 October 1981, in Bandar Seri Begawan, Mariam married Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who made her his second wife.[5] She was bestowed the title of Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Isteri. Together they have four children who are Prince Azim,[6] Princess Azemah,[7] Princess Fadzilah[8] and Prince Mateen.[9]

After meeting in 1980, the couple got divorced in February 2003. Prince Sufri, the brother of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, announced the information on official television on 2 February 2003, that she was getting a divorce in accordance with the country's Sharia Islamic law. In government and commercial establishments, several images of the sultan's ex-wife that were displayed alongside to pictures of him and his first wife were swiftly taken down after the royal announcement. The monarch has 100 days to change his mind without requiring new marriage vows, but no explanation for the divorce was given.[10]

Mariam accused Fatimah Kumin Lim of stealing jewelry in two lawsuits in London.[11] The judge concluded that the theft had illegally sold two diamonds and a diamond jewellery worth about £12.5 million. She lives in Singapore and is currently pursuing compensation for the theft. Mariam had previously testified in court that she had given a diamond bracelet to one of her bodyguards on a night out in 2008 for safekeeping and had not seen it since.[12] After going on a binge at several London casinos, she admits to selling pieces of jewellery to settle her debt of £1 million from gambling. She refuted charges that she had lost £3 million in a single binge, telling the Isleworth Crown Court that the mentality of gambling was "chasing the money, chasing the money." Jurors were informed that she encouraged her female Muslim bodyguards to gamble in contravention of their religious beliefs by offering to buy each of them £1,500 worth of gaming chips.[13]

Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to offering high-quality training, rehabilitation, and educational opportunities for people with special needs. Mariam serves as Pusat Ehsan's patron.[14] The center was founded by the patron with the intention of improving the lives of people with impairments.[15]

Together with Princess Masna on 8 May 2022, participated in tai chi during a mass charity exercise hosted by the Brunei Business Women's Association at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium.[16]