Mariam Abdul Aziz

Datin Paduka Seri Dayang Hajah Mariam binti Abdul Aziz (Jawi: مریم; born 29 January 1956), also referred to as Mariam Aziz, is the former wife of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, married to him from 1981 to 2003.

Early life
As the third child of Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, formerly known as James Bell, and Pengiran Hajah Rashida (his second wife), Mariam was born on 28 January 1956. She attended Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien College for her education. Her father's ancestry is both English and Japanese. She served as a flight attendant for Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA). Later, she was transferred to the Sultan's flight. She is also the sister of Pehin Dato Mohd Jaafar and Dato Mohd Samid.

Marriage
On 28 October 1981, in Bandar Seri Begawan, Mariam married Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who made her his second wife. She was bestowed the title of Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Isteri. Together they have four children who are Prince Abdul Azim, Princess Azemah, Princess Fadzilah and Prince Abdul Mateen. It was also known that she has an adopted daughter, Afifa Abdullah.

Mariam was the Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (RBMR) Women's Company (Kompeni Askar Wanita), which was founded in 1981.

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.

Jewellery lawsuit
Mariam accused Fatimah Kumin Lim of stealing jewelry in two lawsuits in London. 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.

Social contributions
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. The center was founded by the patron with the intention of improving the lives of people with impairments.

Together with Princess Masna on 8 May 2002, participated in tai chi during a mass charity exercise hosted by the Brunei Business Women's Association at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium.

Namesakes

 * Pengiran Isteri Hajjah Mariam Hospital (PIHM Hospital), home to the fourth-largest district hospital in the nation. It is located at Temburong District's Bangar town.
 * Pengiran Isteri Hajjah Mariam Secondary School (SMPIHM), a school in Kampong Serasa.
 * Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam Mosque, a place of worship in Kampong Jerudong.

Honours
Mariam had her national awards revoked upon her divorce in 2003, despite this she still holds the title of Datin Paduka Seri as of 2022. She has been awarded the following awards:

National Foreign
 * BRU Royal Family Order of the Crown of Brunei.svg Royal Family Order of the Crown of Brunei (DKMB; 11 April 1987)
 * BRU Order of Famous Valour.svg Most Exalted Order of Famous Valour First Class (DPKT; 29 November 1996) – Datin Paduka Seri
 * Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal.gif Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal (PHBS; 1 August 1968)
 * 🇯🇴 Jordan:
 * JOR Order of the Renaissance GC.SVG Supreme Order of the Renaissance Grand Cordon (19 December 1984)
 * 🇲🇾 Malaysia:
 * Pingat Jasa Malaysia ribbon.png Malaysian Service Medal (PJM; 11 April 1987)
 * MY-KEL Royal Family Order - Star of Yunus - DK.svg Royal Family Order of Kelantan (DK; 7 March 1999)
 * Most Esteemed Royal Family Order of Johor - ribbon bar.svg Royal Family Order of Johor First Class (DK I; 6 March 1997)
 * Most Honourable Order of the Crown of Johor - ribbon bar.png Order of the Crown of Johor Knight Grand Commander (SPMJ; 11 April 1987) – Datin Paduka
 * [[File:MY-SAR Order of the Star of the Hornbill (Bintang Kenyalang) - 2. Knight Commander (DA).svg|50x50px]] Order of the Star of the Hornbill of Sarawak Knight Commander (DA) – Datuk Amar
 * 🇰🇷 South Korea:
 * Grand Order of Mugunghwa (South Korea) - ribbon bar.gif Grand Order of Mugunghwa (6 April 1984)
 * 🇪🇬 Egypt:
 * EGY - Order of the Virtues - Supreme and first classes.svg Order of the Virtues Supreme Class (17 December 1984)
 * 🇹🇭 Thailand:
 * Order of Chula Chom Klao - 1st Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao (DGC; 26 August 2002)