Tengku Budriah binti Tengku Ismal was born in Kota Bharu, Kelantan in 1924. Her family ruled Patani in Thailand until it was overthrown by King Chulalongkorn in his effort to consolidate his hold on the southern part of that country. Tengku Budriah's grandfather, the former Sultan Abdul Aziz of Patani, withdrew to Kelantan. The ruling family of Kelantan was distantly related to that of Patani.

Tengku Budriah married Tuanku Syed Putra ibni Almarhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail, heir apparent of Perlis in 1941. When he was exiled by the Japanese occupying forces, she helped him run a small cake and sundry goods shop in Kota Bharu. Tuanku Syed Putra became Raja of Perlis in 1945 and Tengku Budriah was installed Raja Perempuan or Queen of that state.

Tuanku Syed Putra was elected third Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 1960 and Tengku Budriah accordingly became Raja Permaisuri Agong.

When her husband died in 2000, he was the world's longest reigning monarch. Her eldest son Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin is the current Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia.

Tengku Budriah lives in quiet retirement in Perlis, though active in charitable organisations such as the Tengku Budriah Home for Orphans and the Syed Putra Foundation for Kidney Disease.