Queen Saleha is the primary, and currently the only wife of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. Between 1982 and 2003 and then again from 2005-2010 her husband had a second wife, he has divorced them both. The Queen was born on 7th October 1946. She attended school as well as religious classes as a young girl. Queen Saleha grew up alongside her younger sister Damit who passed away in 2007.
On July 28th 1965, a few months before her 19th birthday Saleha married Crown Prince Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei. Two years later at the age of 21 she became queen when her husband ascended to the throne upon the death of his uncle.
Queen Saleha has two sons and four daughters with the Sultan;
1). Princess Rashidah (26th July 1969)
2). Princess Muta-Wakkilah (12th October 1971)
3). Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah (17th February 1974)
4). Princess Majeedah (16th March 1976)
5). Princess Hafizah (12th March 1980)
6). Prince Abdul Malik (30th June 1983)
She also has 11 grandchildren:
Rashidah's Children: Princess Raheemah, Princess Hariisah, Prince Raqiib, Prince Haseeb and Princess Raqeeqah
Al-Muhtadee's Children: Prince Abdul Muntaqim, Princess Muneerah & Prince Muhammad Aiman
Majeedah's Children: Prince Hafeez and Princess Raihaanah
Hafizah's Children: Prince Muhammad Za'eem
Saleha is somewhat of a 'people's queen.' She is a patron of many organisations and in 2010 donated thousands of dollars to women living in Brunei. The Queen enjoys nature and owns a fruit garden, fish pond and bird park. The Queen likes to play Badminton and read in her spare time. The public see her as being intelligent and as being well informed of how the locals live. Queen Saleha is praised for her choice of sending her children to local schools and universities and encouraging them to have non-royal friends. The Queen of Brunei can often be seen being driven through the city, taking note of the needs in rural and urban parts of Brunei.
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