Brunei has celebrated a royal wedding as Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s daughter got married in a lavish ceremony.
Princess Fadzillah Lubabul Bolkiah, 36, married Awang Abdullah Nabil Mahmoud Al-Hashimi with celebrations lasting from 16 January until 24 January.
The Princess, who is the capital of Brunei’s national netball team, had her wedding week kick off with the Majlis Istiadat Membuka Gendang Jaga-Jaga on 17 January, which is a royal ceremony where the dowry is presented and the couple are officially engaged. The groom’s family gave jewellery, clothing and other traditional items to Her Royal Highness. A 21-gun salute also took place to honour the wedding.
The religious ceremony for the wedding, called the akad nikah, took place on 20 January at Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Brunei’s capital of Bandar Seri Begawan.
The royal wedding reception, Majlis Bersanding Pengantin Diraja, took place on 23 January at Istana Nurul Iman. The royal banquet was held the following evening.
Her younger brother, Prince Abdul Mateen, congratulated his sister on his Instagram account, saying, “Congratulations to the newlyweds ? I’m so happy for the both of you. Big love to my beautiful sister.”
He posted several images over the royal wedding week, from the Majlis Istiadat Membuka Gendang Jaga-Jaga to the royal wedding ceremony to the royal banquet.
Prince Abdul Mateen and Princess Fadzillah Lubabul Bolkiah are both the children of the Sultan and his second wife, Hajah Mariam, whom he divorced in 2003.
The Sultan has had three wives: Queen Hajah Saleha (with whom he has six children, including the Crown Prince), Hajah Mariam (with whom he has four children, one of whom died in 2020), and Azrinaz Mazhar (with whom he has two children). He has been married to the Queen Consort since 1965. He was married to Hajah Mariam from 1982 to 2003; his marriage to Azrinaz Mazhar lasted from 2005 to 2010.
