Selangor welcomes new princess

The royal couple attending the People’s Sports Programme in Shah Alam in November. — Photos from the Selangor Royal Office Facebook page

WHEN it was announced that Raja Muda Selangor Tengku Amir Shah was getting married, Selangorians were curious about who his intended bride was.

This curiosity persisted even after the akad nikah, as the palace had decided to release the bride’s biodata only after the bersanding ceremony.

When Datin Paduka Seri Afzaa Fadini Datuk Abdul Aziz Mat’s biodata was finally released, people were impressed and happy that their Crown Prince had found a very compatible match.

The newest member of the Selangor royal family was born on April 11, 1993, at Pantai Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. She is the third child and only daughter of Datuk Abdul Aziz Mat and Datin Rosmawati Ismail.

Afzaa Fadini received her primary and secondary schooling at the Garden International School in Kuala Lumpur and went on to pursue her A Levels at St George’s, Ascot in the United Kingdom.

Afzaa Fadini addressing the audience during an event at Tsinghua University in the same month. — Photos from the Selangor Royal Office Facebook page

She then went on to obtain an undergraduate degree in Development Studies & Economics from University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).

Later, she pursued a postgraduate degree in Sustainable Cities at King’s College London which was propelled by her keen interest in urban resilience and sustainability.

As a student, she was actively involved in student leadership and community initiatives, and served as president of the SOAS Malaysian Society.

Tengku Amir Shah and Afzaa Fadini posing for a group photo with other participants after playing batu seremban during the People’s Sports Programme in Shah Alam in November.

An ISA-certified arborist, Afzaa Fadini’s work covers ecology, urban design and community engagement within both non-profit and private sector spheres.

She has also contributed articles to The Star on rainforest conservation and sustainability.

Afzaa Fadini has supported food security efforts for indigenous communities through her volunteer work with the Free Food Society, and has also advocated human rights through her involvement with Amnesty International.

An avid tennis player and a Formula 1 fan, Afzaa Fadini is a Professional Association of Diving Instructors advanced diver and an enthusiastic hiker, in addition to completing both the Bath and Cardiff Half Marathons.