She grew up together with her half-brother Abdul Hamid II, who was also adopted by Perestu, in the same household and spent their childhoods with one another.

The cost of the ceremony was bitterly criticized, because the Ottoman army had just suffered heavy defeats in Montenegro and Crete was in revolt.

[10] At her marriage, her mother-in-law presented Mediha Nazikeda Kadın, who would later become first consort of Sultan Abdul Hamid II, Cemile's adoptive brother.

Among her ladies in attendance was Aliye Nazikeda Hanim, who became the third wife of Şehzade Yusuf Izzeddin, eldest son of Abdülaziz.

[15] In 1877, the two of them used every incident to stir the sultan against the then grand vizier Midhat Pasha, in particular his attachment to the Young Ottomans, attributing all their statements to his influence.

Finally, holding Midhat responsible for the failure of the conference, Abdul Hanid decided to send him on an extended trip to Europe.

[16] Abdul Hamid's mistrust of Mahmud Celaleddin Pasha led to the latter's exile to Arabia in 1881, where he was strangled in 1884.

Princess Cemile withdrew from society for some twenty years, afterwards reconciling with her brother and paying calls again at the palace.

On ceremonial occasions, Cemile Sultan took precedence as she was the eldest, and always took her place at Abdul Hamid's right.

Everyone in the palace felt great respect and fondness for Princess Cemile, holding her in affectionate esteem.