Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, left Senai International Airport on the morning of May 23, 2026, for a special three-day visit to Turkiye [1, 2, 3]. She was accompanied by the Tunku Temenggong of Johor, Tunku Idris Iskandar Al-Haj Ibni Sultan Ibrahim; the Tunku Panglima of Johor, Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj Ibni Sultan Ibrahim; and the Tunku Putera of Johor, Tunku Abu Bakar Al-Haj Ibni Sultan Ibrahim [1, 2, 4, 3]. The royal party arrived at Istanbul Airport at 6:10 pm local time (11:10 pm Malaysian time) that same day [2, 3].
Upon arrival, they were received by Turkiye's Deputy Director of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mehmet Zahid Uzun, and the Istanbul Deputy Governor Mustafa Kaya [2, 3]. Malaysia's Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Consul General Ahmad Amiri Abu Bakar, Istana Negara Grand Chamberlain Datuk Azuan Effendy Zairakithnaini, and Johor's Royal Household Comptroller Colonel (Rtd) Datuk Mohamed Perang Musa were also present [2, 3].
On May 24, the Queen participated in the naming and launching ceremony of a Royal Malaysian Navy ship at Istanbul Shipyard [1, 2, 3]. The same day, she visited the historic Dolmabahce Palace Museum in Istanbul, where she was welcomed by the museum's Head of Protocol, Tangül Erol [4].
During her visit to Dolmabahce Palace, the Queen toured the main rooms for about an hour, taking photographs and reflecting on previous visits there in the 1970s [4]. She was accompanied by the Johor princes who had traveled with her, maintaining their presence throughout the official engagements [4].
The Queen’s visit combines diplomatic, cultural, and military engagements over a three-day period in Turkiye, highlighting bilateral ties. The royal party is expected to continue official activities until the visit concludes.
