Here's What You Missed From The Brunei Royal Wedding
The 10-day wedding celebrations kicked off on January 7.
2024 has begun with a lavish royal wedding that may very well be the royal moment of the year. This past Sunday saw the official holy matrimony of Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei—sixth in line to the crown and once dubbed Asia's most eligible bachelor—and Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah, granddaughter of the Sultan’s special advisor, Pehin Dato Isa, owner of fashion label Silk collective and co-founder of tourism company Authentirary.
The couple, who were engaged in October 2023, have known each other since childhood. The 32-year-old prince shared his engagement photo with 29-year-old Anisha Rosnah as a New Year's greeting, signalling the start of the wedding festivities.
Featuring traditional ceremonies, music performances and a star-studded guest list, the royal wedding was a 10-day affair that kicked off on January 7 and wrapped on January 16.
Ahead, what you might have missed from the royal nuptials.
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The ceremonies were steeped in traditions
The celebrations began with the ceremony of the proposal of the marriage to receive the Royal Command, which was followed by performances by royal court musicians.
The groom and bride-to-be were blessed by family members, who applied a paste on the couples’ hands during the customary Istiadat Berbedak or 'The Powdering Ceremony' on January 10. Mateen shared several photos of this intimate event on his Instagram.
The pair exchanged their vows in an Islamic solemnisation ceremony on January 11 in the capital’s gold-domed Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque.
The lavish royal reception
The couple celebrated their wedding reception with a lavish ceremony, which took place in the sultanate palace Istana Nurul Iman on January 14. Mateen wore a ceremonial uniform while his bride stunned in a long white gown with jewels as well as a diamond tiara previously worn by Princess Azemah (Prince Mateen's sister) over a veil that covered her hair.
The star-studded guest list
The reception was followed by a royal banquet that saw a lavish spread as well as musical performances. Guests from all over the world, including foreign dignitaries and world leaders such as Malaysia’s King Abdullah and Queen Azizah, Bhutan’s King Jigme and Queen Jetsun Pema, as well as Jordan’s Princess Noor Asem and her husband Amr Fareed Zaidan. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. were in attendance. While Prince William and Kate Middleton were initially rumoured to be attending the royal wedding, Kensington Palace later updated that they wouldn’t.
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The royal parade
After the reception, the newlyweds embarked on a parade through the streets of the capital, Bandar Seri Bagawan. Mateen and his wife stood in the back of an open-top Rolls-Royce, waving to thousands of Bruneians who stood under the hot sun to catch a glimpse of the pair.
The photographer
The couple engaged photographer German Larkin to capture moments from the monumental royal wedding. He's previously shot A-listers like Blackpink's Lisa, Michelle Yeoh, Angelina Jolie and Kim Kardashian, as well lensed the wedding of Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz.
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