Modern Royals

While raising a family can be difficult on its own, Puteri Badrinise and Tunku Mohamed Alauddin Naquiyuddin give us a peek into their household to discover what it’s like to live and raise children as royalty in this contemporary day and age

- Lily Ong

In February, Puteri Badrinise and Tunku Mohamed Alauddin Naquiyuddin celebrated their thirteenth anniversary as a married couple. “When we started dating 18 years ago, my girlfriends all thought Tunku and I would barely last two weeks. Here we are, after all this time— 18 years on and still together, with two children,” she confides with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. Nonetheless, Puteri Badrinise admits she can’t blame her friends for their assessment of the relationship, revealing that Tunku Alauddin and her were polar opposites in temperament.

“I am a realist, I don’t mince my words and I prefer saying things as it is. On the other hand, my husband is the kindest soul, he is gentle and diplomatic, always sensitive to how his words and actions affect other people. The world needs more people like him. Me? I am nothing like him,” Puteri Badrinise expressed. Just then, Tunku Alauddin interrupted our conversation to enquire about their driver arrangement for the night, after which he hovered around—no doubt trying to eavesdrop.

True to Puteri Badrinise’s feisty nature, she called him out on it. “Can you go away? I am trying to say nice things about you and you are making me conscious about what to say,” she said in mock exasperation.

In response, he beamed down affectionately at her, “I want to know what nice things you have to say about me!”

But as a subscriber to the “happy wife, happy life” mantra, he cheerfully complied with his wife’s request. Once Tunku Alauddin was out of her line of sight, Puteri Badrinise broke into a laugh at her husband’s antics. Quite evidently, their marriage is built upon a strong foundation of love, trust and a good sense of humour.