Mohamed Bolkiah, Prince of Brunei


Mohamed Bolkiah is a member of the royal family of Brunei. He is the second son of Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei, and Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit. He is the Head of the Brunei’s Viziers. After Brunei’s independence in 1984, he became the country’s first foreign minister, serving from 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.

Early life

Prince Mohamed Bolkiah was born on 27 August 1948 at Istana Darussalam, 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.

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.

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

Marriage and children

In August 1970, Mohamed Bolkiah married his first cousin, Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam, the sister of Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha, the Raja Isteri.
Together they have 10 children.

Selected works

Titles and style

The style and title of Mohamed Bolkiah in English is:
His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien.
In Malay: Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Perdana Wazir Sahibul Himmah Wal-Waqar Pengiran Muda Mohamed Bolkiah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien

Honours

He has been awarded:

National

Ancestry