Queen Damit of Brunei


Damit binti Abdul Rahman was Queen of Brunei as the wife of Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei.

Early life

Queen Damit was born in 1924 in Kampong Masjid Lama, Brunei Town to Pengiran Bendahara Sri Maharaja Permasuara Pengiran Anak Abdul Rahman ibni Pengiran Bendahara Pengiran Muda Omar Ali Junied and Pengiran Fatimah binti Radin Hassan. She was the great-granddaughter of Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin.
Her father was a Vizier and served as Pengiran Bendahara for 25 years from 1918 until his death during the Japanese occupation.
Damit was educated privately with other royal children at the palace. She was the oldest child and her siblings include Pengiran Anak Mohamed Alam, Pengiran Anak Omar Ali, Pengiran Anak Siti Kula, Pengiran Anak Mohammad, and Pengiran Muda Hashim.

Marriage and issue

In September 1941, Damit married her cousin, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III at Istana Banderung Kayangan. They had ten children.

Royal duties

The Japanese Army would land in Kuala Belait six months after her wedding, 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 is 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. Three years later, she was present during Duchess of Kent's state visit to the country.

Death and funeral

At 13:20 13 September 1979, Pengiran Anak Damit died, 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.
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 officers and Royal Brunei Malay Regiment soldiers. Through Batu Satu, her body was interred at the Royal Mausoleum. 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:

Titles, styles, and honours

Titles and styles

  • 1924 – 6 June 1951: Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Damit binti Pengiran Anak Abdul Rahman
  • 6 June 1951 – 5 October 1967: Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit binti Pengiran Anak Abdul Rahman
  • 5 October 1967 – 13 September 1979: Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Suri Seri Begawan Raja Pengiran Anak Damit binti Pengiran Anak Abdul Rahman

Honours

National
Foreign

Things named after her