Queen Fauziah of Perlis

Tuanku Tengku Fauziah binti Almarhum Tengku Abdul Rashid (Jawi: توانكو تڠكو فوزية بنت المرحوم تڠكو عبدالرشيد; born 6 June 1946) is the current Raja Perempuan (queen consort) of Perlis. She also served as the Raja Permaisuri Agong (Queen of Malaysia) from 13 December 2001 to 12 December 2006.

Tuanku Fauziah is a princess of the royal houses of Terengganu on her father's side and Kelantan on her mother's side. Tuanku Fauziah is the daughter of Almarhum Tengku Temenggong Tengku Abdul Rashid ibni Almarhum Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah of Terengganu and Almarhumah Tengku Petri binti Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim of Kelantan. She was born on 6 June 1946, and spent her early years in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

Early years As a student at Zainab English School, Tuanku Fauziah enjoyed recreation and sports such as stage acting, netball and rounders.

At 17, she became engaged to Sirajuddin of Perlis, who at the time was still studying in the United Kingdom. To prepare her for her future role of consort to the heir and later to the ruler, she was invited to stay with her future husband's family while they lived at the Istana Negara, Kuala Lumpur as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong. During her stay with her future in-laws, she made trips back to Kelantan whenever necessary.

Marriage On 15 February 1967, Tuanku Fauziah married Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin who was then the Raja Muda of Perlis. In recognition of her new position, she was conferred the prestigious Seri Paduka Mahkota Perlis (SPMP) award by her father-in-law, Raja Putra of Perlis, eight months later. On 30 April 1968, Tuanku Fauziah was officially created "Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Raja Puan Muda Perlis".

As a young bride, Tuanku Fauziah accompanied her husband on all his postings as a junior military officer. However two years later, she returned to Perlis for good when Sirajuddin decided to take on his official role as crown prince of the state.

Becoming queen Tuanku Fauziah was officially declared "Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Perempuan Perlis" on 14 July 2000. On 13 December 2001, Tuanku Fauziah was officially declared as "Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong" when her husband Sirajuddin became the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia).

Family Tuanku Fauziah is the mother of a son and a daughter, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, Raja Muda, and Sharifah Fazira, Tengku Puteri Mahkota. She is close to her only daughter-in-law, Tuanku Lailatul Shahreen, Raja Puan Muda and only late son-in-law, Mohammad Yaakob.

She is also related to the Royal Pattani family in southern Thailand.

Awards and recognitions

Honours of Perlis

Honours of Malaysia

Foreign Honours

Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Cambodia (16 December 2002)

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (9 June 2003)

Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Crown (7 March 2005) Gold and Silver Star (Second class) of the Order of the Sacred Treasure (23 February 1970)

Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (13 May 2004)

Member Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star (14 September 2005)

Places named after her Tuanku Fauziah Hospital in Kangar, Perlis Muzium dan Galeri Tuanku Fauziah, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor, Penang SMK Raja Puan Muda Tengku Fauziah, a secondary school in Kaki Bukit, Perlis Taman Fauziah, a residential area in Kangar, Perlis Tuanku Tengku Fauziah Repository Centre in Kuala Perlis, Perlis