Consort: | yes |
Damit | |
Succession: | Queen consort of Brunei |
Reign: | 4 June 1950 – 5 October 1967 |
Coronation: | 31 May 1951 |
Cor-Type: | Installation |
Predecessor: | Tengku Raihani |
Successor: | Pengiran Anak Saleha |
Regnal Name: | Pengiran Anak Damit binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Bendahara Pengiran Anak Abdul Rahman |
House: | Bolkiah |
Religion: | Sunni Islam |
Father: | Pengiran Anak Abdul Rahman |
Mother: | Pengiran Fatimah |
Birth Date: | 1924 |
Birth Place: | Masjid Lama, Brunei Town, Brunei |
Death Place: | Istana Darussalam, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei |
Date Of Burial: | 14 September 1979 |
Place Of Burial: | Kubah Makam Di Raja |
Pengiran Anak Damit (1924 – 13 September 1979) was the Queen of Brunei as the wife of the 28th Sultan of Brunei, Omar Ali Saifuddien III.[1]
Pengiran Anak Damit was born in 1924, in Kampong Masjid Lama, Brunei Town, Brunei.[2] She was the oldest child of Pengiran Hajah Fatimah binti Radin Haji Hassan and Pengiran Bendahara Sri Maharaja Permasuara Pengiran Anak Abdul Rahman ibni Pengiran Bendahara Pengiran Muda Omar Ali Junied. His father was Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin's grandson. She received a private education in the palace.
Pengiran Anak Damit was married to her cousin, then Sultan Omar Ali Saiduddien III. The wedding ceremony took place at Istana Banderung Kayangan on 6 September 1941.[3] The Japanese Army would land in Kuala Belait six months later, resulting in the Japanese occupation of Brunei. Throughout her position, she had raised awareness on issues faced by the community and residents of the country. Her public image was well received among the general public, especially women, after she tagged alongside her husband to several state visits as a government official.
On 15 July 1947, Damit's husband became a wazir which put more responsibilities on her. On 6 June 1951, she was given the title Paduka Seri Baginda Raja Isteri following her husband's accession to the throne of Brunei. On 15 May 1958, she officially opened the Raja Isteri Fatimah Malay School. In February 1965, her husband alongside her visited HMS Puncheston (M1174). In conjunction to the visit of Earl Mountbatten later that month, she attended the celebration at Istana Darul Hana. Pengiran Anak Damit became Paduka Seri Suri Begawan Raja Pengiran Anak Hajah Damit on 1 August 1968, following the abdication of her spouse in 1967. In 1972, Pengiran Anak Damit alongside her husband greeted the Duke of Edinburgh at Istana Darul Hana, while he was on a visit to Brunei.[4] Three years later, she was present during Duchess of Kent's state visit to the country.
At 13:20 13 September 1979, Pengiran Anak Damit passed away, aged 55 years old, in Bandar Seri Begawan's Kampong Sumbiling Lama at the Istana Darussalam. The Pehin Ismail-led funeral was held at Istana Darul Hana which would last from the day she died to the following day. The death was first reported and announced in the evening by her brother, Pengiran Anak Mohammad Alam. At 11:30 on the 14th, her body was carried by three princes and her son-in-law into a hearse, which would depart for Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque. Under the drizzling rain, the casket was carried into the mosque while waiting for the obligatory Friday prayer and funeral prayer.[5]
There were live television broadcasting for the people, with some listening at home. Following this, all television and radio were cancelled to make way for a day of mourning. Prince Mohamed Bolkiah leading his two sisters and brothers-in-law in carrying her casket onto a unique stretcher, which would be pulled by Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) officers and Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (RBMR) soldiers. Through Batu Satu, her body was interred at the Kubah Makam Di Raja.[6] Maghrib prayer continued to be held until the 22nd. In addition, flags must be flown at half-mast for a total of 30 days since the day of her death.
Foreign leaders and government officials who had sent their condolences or in attendance were:
Pengiran Anak Damit is born in 1924, to Pengiran Anak Abdul Rahman and Pengiran Fatimah. A vizier's daughter. Her father served as Pengiran Bendahara for 25 years, starting in 1918 and ending in his death during the Japanese occupation.[7] Additionally, she is the sister of Pengiran Anak Mohamed Alam, Pengiran Anak Omar Ali, Pengiran Anak Siti Kula,[8] Pengiran Anak Mohammad,[9] and Pengiran Muda Hashim. She is the great-granddaughter of Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin.
Pengiran Anak Damit and Omar Ali Saifuddien had ten children together (4 princes and 6 princesses);
Royal Name: | Queen of Brunei |
Dipstyle: | Her Majesty |
Offstyle: | Your Majesty |
Altstyle: | Duli Raja Isteri |
See main article: Orders, decorations, and medals of Brunei.