Brunei's Prince Haji 'Abdul 'Azim was one of world's most eligible bachelors, threw lavish parties with A-list celebs
Prince Azim, the second born of Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, died on October 24, 2020, at the age of 38 after a long illness. Fourth in line to take over the throne of Brunei, Haji ‘Abdul ‘Azim was often listed as one of the world's most eligible bachelors and was known for his generosity and lavish parties.
Prince Azim was the elder brother of Prince Mateen, and had no shortage of celebrity friends. Thanks to his foray into Hollywood as a producer with London-based film company Daryl Prince Productions which produced 'You're Not You', Azim was no stranger to mingling with the rich and famous. Furthermore, his charitable endeavors and net worth that ran inti billions made him only more popular with the ladies. For several years, the young royal would feature in several most-eligible-bachelors lists curated by major outlets like Elle, Insider, and Entertainment Online.
Azim's star-studded parties also grabbed international headlines time and again. The guest list for his 30th birthday celebration held at London's Dorchester Hotel in 2012 read like a roster of famous faces such as Mariah Carey, Pamela Anderson, and Raquel Welch. Meanwhile, his 2009 birthday party was dubbed the 'Party of the Year' after reports that he shelled out a staggering £70,000 ($91,318) just for flowers to deck out the event and invited Mariah, Janet Jackson, and Sophia Loren to indulge in the extravaganza.
The prince reportedly shared a close relationship with Mariah, and once presented the songstress with $6 million worth of jewels. Azim also stuck up a friendship with British reality TV star Jade Goody, before her death in 2009, and the unlikely pair became so close that he showered the former reality star with a string of lavish gifts, including a diamond ring worth nearly $4 million.
In February 2014, 'Breaking Bad' star Aaron Paul told Details magazine how he attended the prince's 2007 birthday bash in a castle outside London. Paul remembered how he chased a herd of sheep with Azim, rode a hovercraft, and even struck a conversation with the legendary Michael Jackson.
That said, not all of the prince's gold bricks were spent on fancy-dress or luxurious parties. Azim was a zealous charity activist, being one of the patrons of UK charity Make A Wish Foundation and a guest of honor at the "Seeing is Believing" fundraiser and the Sounds of Hope charity concert, both in Brunei.
In fact, the prince also lent his support for the autistic at Smarter Brunei's musical charity gala night in 2011 where 31 autistic performers showcased their talent. "Treat them with respect, as you would to any of your family members, and as you would to any other person," he said in an exclusive interview with The Brunei Times at the time. "I think the children are excited about what they are doing and I feel this is the right way for people to view them, as people who are capable and it is a wonderful show. I think it is important for me to be here and show my support. I think you have to look after what is at home before you do anything else."
"You have to do what you can with what you have," he added.