Azim was a film producer known for his extravagant birthday parties and celebrity friends. Brunei’s government has confirmed that he died on Saturday after suffering from a long illness. The late prince, who spent a lot of time in his family’s mansion in Kensington Palace Gardens, rubbed shoulders with numerous A-listers over the years including Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Pamela Anderson and Naomi Campbell.
However, he took a particular shine to reality TV star Jade Goody.
According to The Times, Azim said he was “intrigued” by Jade and showered her with gifts.
One of these gifts was said to be a ring Jade claimed to be worth £3million, but later turned out to be worth around £30,000.
The pair were pictured partying together in 2007 and Jade described Azim as a “brilliant mate” and said the two “got on like a house on fire”.
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Prince Azim had an unlikely friendship with Jade Goody (Image: GETTY)
Jade Goody with copies of her book (Image: GETTY)
Jade rose to prominence after featuring in Channel 4’s Big Brother in 2002 and went on to have her own TV show.
However, she was a controversial figure, after being accused of racially bullying a fellow contestant during Celebrity Big Brother in 2007.
Jade sadly died from cervical cancer in 2007 aged just 27.
Before her death, Jade dubbed Azim “my prince charming” and described him as “wicked”.
Azim’s father is the Sultan of Brunei (Image: GETTY)
Azim also tried to win the affections of Mariah Carey by delivering a $5.7million necklace to her by private jet just before she went on stage at Madison Square Garden in New York.
He was also generous in his gifts to American R&B singer Usher when he came to London.
Azim reserved 20 rows of seats for his closet associates and sent Usher a pair of diamond-encrusted Nike trainers.
Azim was known for founding his own film production company Daryl Prince Productions, into which he poured an estimated £4million of his own personal fortune.
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Prince Azim on the catwalk with Naomi Campbell (Image: GETTY)
The company produced the 2014 drama You’re Not You starring Hillary Swank, the 2017 film The Times of Their Lives starring Joan Collins and his most successful production The Happy Prince.
The 2018 film The Happy Prince, starring Rupert Everett, Colin Firth and Emily Watson, was about the latter days of the life of Oscar Wilde.
Azim was also known for his charity work ‒ he designed a set of unisex weekend bags for the fashion label MCM, the proceeds of which went to Make-A-Wish Foundation, which makes dreams a reality for critically ill children.
He spoke out in support of people with autism and took part in the Peace One Day concert at the Royal Albert Hall in 2007 with Jude Law, Linford Christie and Annie Lennox.
He gave interviews to Brunei television about the importance of harnessing the creativity of young people and appeared in Fashion for Relief, a catwalk show organised by Naomi Campbell during London Fashion Week to raise money for humanitarian causes.
Prince Azim was known to throw lavish parties attended by big names.
For example, his 30th birthday party in 2012 was held at Stapleford Park in Leicestershire and was attended by Faye Dunaway, Marisa Tomei and Raquel Welch.
At another birthday party held with three of his siblings three years before, Stapleford Park was said to have been filled with 6,000 white roses at an estimated cost of £70,000. Although this figure was disputed by aides to the Brunei royal family.
Guests at his parties also included Joan Collins, Sophie Loren and Michael Jackson.
At one, guests received party bags worth around £20,000 each and contained a voucher for a safari holiday in Kenya, a new mobile phone, a satnav, an original oil painting and a full dental makeover by a private dentist.
The prince’s full name was Al Marhum Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Duli Pengiran Muda Haji “Abdul” Azim Ibni Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah.
His father, the Sultan of Brunei is the world’s second longest-reigning living monarch after Queen Elizabeth II.
He is also one of the world’s last absolute monarchs, presiding over a country whose legal system combines English common law and Sharia Law.
