OTR: Brunei's 10-Day Royal Wedding Celebration

This week, Brunei came to a standstill to witness the 10-day lavish royal wedding of Prince Abdul Mateen and Anisha Isa Kalebic.

The prince, once dubbed Asia’s most eligible bachelor, is now officially off the market. Prince Mateen, 32, tied the knot with Anisha Isa Kalebic (also known as Anisha Rosnah binti Adam), 29.

The wedding was attended by over 5,000 guests, including celebrities, dignitaries, and royal figures from nations like Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Malaysia, and Bhutan. Contrary to initial talks, the Prince and Princess of Wales skipped Brunei’s royal wedding due to Kate Middleton’s ongoing recovery from abdominal surgery, according to the statement released by Kensington Palace.

Apart from royalty, Southeast Asian nation leaders also attended the wedding, including Indonesia's President Joko Widodo, Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Royalty and world leaders were present at Prince Mateen and Yang Mulia Dayang Anisha's wedding. Below left photo, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long. Below right photo, Indonesian President Joko Widodo with Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. Photos: Bongbong Marcos' Facebook account (https://www.facebook.com/BongbongMarcos) and Ministry of Communications and Information Singapore (https://www.mfa.gov.sg/Newsroom/Press-Statements-Transcripts-and-Photos/2024/01/Visit-of-Prime-Minister-Lee-Hsien-Loong-to-Brunei-Darussalam-13-to-15-January-2024) .

The festivities, which commenced on January 7 and concluded on January 16, were a blend a traditional and customary practices, termed ‘Musim Istiadat Diraja’ (the season of royal festivity) by the Brunei Media Secretariat.

The first day featured the Rital Bersuruh ceremony, wherein the groom’s party formally announced their matrimonial intentions, which were reciprocated by the bride’s side.

The next day was the opening of the Gendang Jaga-Jaga, a vigil with traditional music by the Royal Court Musicians.

The third day included the presentation of the Royal Token and the Royal Engagement Ceremony, where the groom’s representatives brought gifts to the bride’s home, formalizing the engagement.

The fourth day’s highlight was the separate Berbedak ceremonies for the bride and groom, involving close relatives applying a powder paste to their hands.

Prince Mateen, who boasts nearly three million Instagram followers, shared photos of the event, showing him and Anisha in studding red and gold attire.

Brunei's royal couple Berbedak Ceremony. Photos: Prince Mateen's IG account.

The fifth day featured the Royal Akad Nikah, a solemnisation of the marriage.

After a two-day break from grand ceremonies, as outlined by the Media Secretariat, the main wedding event took place on the eight day, January 14, 2024.

At the grand Istana Nurul Iman palace, Prince Mateen donned a ceremonial uniform, while his bride, Anisha, captivated in a sparkling, long ivory wedding gown. The highlight of Anisha’s attire was the diamond flower tiara, a borrowed piece from her sister-in-law, Princess Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah, Prince Mateen’s sister. This same tiara was commissioned for Princess Azemah’s wedding last year to Prince Bahar ibni Jefri Bolkiah, her first cousin.

The exquisite tiara, crafted in 18K white gold and diamonds by a Singaporean jeweller, is valued at over 20 million NZD. During the ceremony, the royal pair were seated on a dais, where it concluded with prayers led by religious officials. This was followed by a procession through Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei’s capital, allowing the public to catch a glimpse of the newly married couple.

The subsequent day, a Royal Banquet was hosted for the royal family, senior officials, and VIPs. The festivities officially concluded with the Doa Selamat recital, marking the end of the royal wedding ceremony.

The Royal Wedding of His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen and Yang Mulia Dayang Anisha Rosnah binti Adam. Photos: Prince Mateen's IG account.

The engagement of Prince Mateen and Anisha was officially announced in October 2023, following years of dating.

Prince Mateen, the fourth son and tenth child of Sultan Bolkiah from his previous second wife, Puan Hajah Mariam binti Haji Abdul Aziz, is currently sixth in the line of succession to his father's throne. Educated in the United Kingdom and serving as a military officer in the Brunei Royal Armed Forces, Prince Mateen is often seen as the contemporary face of the Brunei Darussalam's royal family.

The independent Islamic sultanate might be the smallest country in Southeast Asia (SEA), in terms of area and population, but it is rich with oil and gas reserves. Brunei has the ninth-largest Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) reserve in the world, and the fourth-largest oil producer in the SEA region. 

In recent times, the Bruneian Prince has risen to prominence by joining his father in various diplomatic missions. This includes attending the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla last year, as well as being present at the royal wedding of Prince Hussein and Rajwa Al Saif of Jordan.  

Anisha, though perceived by many as a 'commoner', has established herself as a successful entrepreneur, managing both a tourism company and a silk clothing brand. She is also the granddaughter of Isa bin Ibrahim, a former minister and special adviser to the Sultan during the 1960s and 1970s.

Childhood picture of Prince Mateen of Brunei (L) and his wife, Anisha Rosnah Isa-Kalebic. Photo: Prince Mateen's IG account.

The couple has shared a long-standing connection, having known each other since childhood. Prince Mateen once shared a childhood photo where he is seen sitting next to Anisha, who is holding a milk bottle, highlighting their long-time acquaintance. Their relationship, blossoming from childhood friends to life partners, indeed narrates a story of growing up together and finding love.

 **Banner: The Royal Wedding of His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen and Yang Mulia Dayang Anisha Rosnah binti Adam. Photo: Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr's Facebook account. 

-Asia Media Centre