H.M. Sultan Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram of Sulu

His Majesty Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram, the 35th Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo, was born on the 28th of August 1966, in Jolo, Sulu.

His Majesty is the oldest son of late Sultan Moh. Mahakuttah A. Kiram of Sulu (reigned 1974–1986) and his first wife Dayang-Dayang Farida Tan-Kiram.

stors of His Majesty Ampun Sultan Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram of Sulu and North Borneo are:
• Sultan Moh. Mahakuttah Kiram (father of His Majesty)
• Sultan Moh. Esmail E. Kiram (grandfather of His Majesty)
• Sultan Mawallil Wasit Kiram
• Sultan Jamalul A'Lam
• Sultan Moh. Polalun Kiram
• Sultan Jamalul Kiram I
• Sultan Alimud Din II
• Sultan Sharapud Din
• Sultan Alimud Din I 

The Royal House of Sulu Line of Succession

The Line of Succession from the Philippine Gazette

As a child of eight, on the 24th of May 1974, His Majesty Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram was officially crowned Raja Muda (Crown Prince, heir to the Throne) of the Sultanate of Sulu. He was crowned Raja Muda on the same day His Majesty’s father was officially crowned Sultan of Sulu.

These acts of coronation - of the Sultan and the Raja Muda - were endorsed by H.E. Ferdinand Marcos in his official capacity as President of Republic of the Philippines. In official Memorandum Order No. 427, issued at the time, the document affirms: “The Government has always recognised the Sultanate of Sulu as the legitimate claimant to the historical territories of the Republic of Philippines”. In this official document, Sultan Moh. Mahakuttah A. Kiram and (then) Crown Prince Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram were officially acknowledged by the Republic of the Philippines as the legitimate holder and the legitimate successor to the historic Sultanate of Sulu.

Official Memorandum Order No. 427

After his late Majesty Sultan Moh. Mahakuttah A. Kiram of Sulu and North Borneo passed away, His Majesty Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram, by fully acknowledged right of succession, became Head of the Royal House of Sulu and North Borneo (Kiram Dynasty) on the 16th of February 1986.

The late Sultan Moh. Mahakuttah Kiram in the middle, with his wife, and their sons, H.M. Sultan Muedzul on the left and Datu Yldon brother on the right, with two daughters behind

During his time as Raja Muda, His Majesty Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram studied at the Universidad de Zamboanga (Zamboanga City, Philippines), and was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Arts. His Majesty continued on to pursue higher studies in Lahore (Pakistan) during 1995 and 1996.

In 2011, His Majesty exercised his Head of House dynastic rights as a fons honorum (font of honour) to institute and establish the Royal and Hashemite Order of the Pearl of Sulu, becoming the first Grand Sayyid (Grand Master) of this Order of the Royal House.

His Majesty Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram was crowned as the 35th legitimate Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo on the 16th of September 2012. The Coronation events took place in Mainbung (Sulu), in the presence of dignitaries of the Sultanate, foreign guests, other dignitaries, and a large number of the people of Sulu. Subsequent to the coronation, His Majesty reaffirmed, as de jure Sultan, his earlier dynastic institution of the Royal Order of the Pearl, also reconfirming his position within the Order as Grand Sayyid.

His Majesty is married to Her Majesty Ampun Babai Mellany S. Kiram. Together they have seven children:
• H.R.H. Raja Muda (Crown Prince) Moh. Ehsan S. Kiram
• H.R.H. Datu Nizamuddin S. Kiram
• H.R.H. Dayang-Dayang Rahela S. Kiram
• H.R.H. Datu Jihad S. Kiram
• H.R.H. Datu Mujahid S. Kiram
• H.R.H. Dayang-Dayang Redha S. Kiram
• H.R.H. Datu Mahakuttah S. Kiram

His Majesty is a member of the highest ranks of many distinguished foreign orders of chivalry. Among the honours held are:
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Eagle of Georgia and the Seamless Tunic of Our Lord Jesus Christ
• Grand Cordon of the Imperial Order of the Dragon of Annam of Vietnam
• Grand Cordon of the Order of the Ethiopian Lion
• Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Crown of Rwanda• Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Crown of the Hawaiian Kingdom• Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Elephant of Godenu.