Princess Masna Bolkiah

Masna Bolkiah binti Omar Ali Saifuddien III (born 6 September 1948) is the sister of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. Princess Masna Bolkiah is considered the third most important living woman in Brunei Darussalam after Queen Saleha and Crown Princess Sarah.

Early life and education

Pengiran Anak Puteri (Princess) Masna Bolkiah was born at Istana Darussalam, Brunei Town on 6 September 1948. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Prince Sufri Bolkiah, and Prince Jefri Bolkiah are her four brothers, while Princess Nor'ain Bolkiah, Princess Umi Kalthum Al-Islam Bolkiah, Princess Amal Rakiah Bolkiah, Princess Amal Nasibah Bolkiah, and Princess Amal Jefriah Bolkiah are his five sisters.

In an interview, Abdul Ghani bin Jamil disclosed that Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Princess Masna Bolkiah, Princess Nor'ain, Pengiran Anak Saleha, Pengiran Muda Abdul Rahman, Pengiran Anak Yusof, Pengiran Anak Puteh, Pengiran Anak Ja'afar, and Pengiran Muda Apong were students at the Istana Darul Hana Surau.Template:Sfn

Masna Bolkiah graduated from Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) with first class honours in BA (Hons) in Public Policy and Administration and a has a Masters in Public Policy also from the UBD. In 1995, she was appointed as the Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where she led a number of delegations abroad both as Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as Ambassador-at-large. She is also active in other areas including being the Patron for the Girl Guides Association as well as being Commander of the Women's Police Corps.

Diplomatic career

Timeline of her career as a diplomat:

• 1995: Ambassador-at-Large and Second in Command of the Foreign Affairs
• 1997: Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs
• 1998: (March–April) Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs
• 1999: Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs
• 2000: (November) Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs (Head of the APEC Summit)
• 2001: Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs (Head of Delegation to ASEM Summit)
• 2002: (January) Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs
• 2003: (June) Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs (Head of Delegation to ASEAN Summit)
• 2004: (June/July) Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs (Head of Delegation to ASEAN Summit)
• 2010: Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Marriage and children

Princess Masna was first married to Pengiran Muda (Prince) Abdul Rahman ibni Pengiran Anak Muhammad Hashim in 1965 but would later be divorced in an unknown date. She would be married for the second time with Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Aziz bin Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar at Istana Darul Hana in October 1969, of whom she had five children with:

• Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Wadood Bolkiah married Y.M. Pengiran Seti Aminah binti Pengiran Othman
• Pengiran Anak Haji Mohammed Al-Mokhtar
• Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul 'Ali Yil-Kabier, married Pengiran Anak Hamidah Jamalul Bulqiah
• Pengiran Anak Hajah Ameenah Bushral Bulqiah
• Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Quddus, married Y.M. Pengiran Ratna Siti Nooraishah binti Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Hamzah.

On 26 September 2011, Abdul Rahman Hashim passed away at the age of 65, approximately 11am at the RIPAS Hospital and would be buried at the Royal Mausoleum.

Legacy

Namesakes

• Sekolah Ugama Pengiran Anak Puteri Masna Bolkiah, in religious school, Kampong Beribi

Honours

She has been awarded :

National

• File:Family Order of Laila Utama with rosette.svg Family Order of Laila Utama (DK; 28 October 1970)
• File:Royal Family Order of the Crown of Brunei (DKMB).svg Royal Family Order of the Crown of Brunei (DKMB)
• File:Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal.svg Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal (PHBS; 1 August 1968)
• File:Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Silver Jubilee Medal.svg Sultan of Brunei Silver Jubilee Medal (5 October 1992)
• File:Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Golden Jubilee Medal.svg Sultan of Brunei Golden Jubilee Medal (5 October 2017)
• File:Proclamation of Independence Medal (Brunei).svg Proclamation of Independence Medal (1 January 1984)
• File:Pingat Laila Tugas (Brunei Police).svg General Service Medal (Police)
• File:Pingat Jubli Intan Polis 75 Tahun (Brunei).svg Police 75 Years Medal (1996)
• File:Pingat Polis 100 Tahun (Brunei).svg Police 100 Years Medal (2021)

Foreign

• Thailand :
  • File:Order of the White Elephant - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the White Elephant (MPCh (GCE); 26 August 2002)