Mateen, 32, wore a ceremonial uniform whereas his 29-year-old bride was in a protracted white costume and glowing jewels for the occasion on the sprawling Istana Nurul Iman palace.
They made their first public look as a married couple in a procession by way of the usually sleepy capital Bandar Seri Begawan in entrance of 1000’s of onlookers.
The favored prince was certainly one of Asia’s most eligible bachelors till he tied the knot with Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Anisha Rosnah, who’s from a outstanding household in Brunei.
Mateen’s father is Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the world’s longest-reigning monarch and as soon as the richest man on the planet.
There was a festive environment within the metropolis with free ice cream on supply and delicate drinks on the market as folks started to take positions alongside the parade route hours earlier than it started.
Carrying a conventional formal outfit and matching songkok hat, retired banker Haji Suhaimin Abas, 66, was among the many elite Bruneians to obtain an invite to the marriage ceremony.
“It is a very massive celebration,” he informed AFP as he ate breakfast earlier than going to the palace.
Royalty from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Bhutan have been listed among the many reported 5,000 company.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos have been amongst authorities leaders in attendance.
Prince Abdul Mateen and his spouse Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Anisha Rosnah make their first public look as a married couple in a procession by way of Brunei’s capital Bandar Seri Begawan in entrance of 1000’s of onlookers, Jan. 14, 2024. Video by AFP
‘As soon as-in-a-lifetime second’
Sunday’s celebration is the spotlight of 10 days of pomp and pageantry within the tiny nation, whose excessive wealth is derived virtually fully from its huge oil and gasoline reserves.
Mateen, a British-trained army officer in Brunei’s armed forces and a helicopter pilot, held court docket along with his spouse on the elaborate ceremony earlier than invited company.
The ceremony was steeped in custom drawn from Brunei’s centuries-old historical past as an Islamic monarchy.
The couple stood behind an open-top Rolls-Royce waving to onlookers as they weaved by way of the capital, the place their photographs have been displayed on road arches and constructing facades for days.
Most of the sultan’s topics lined the streets beneath a scorching solar to catch a glimpse of the couple.
Hajah Aminah Abd Morsidee, 91, who has seen 5 royal weddings in her lifetime, stated she was “comfortable to see Prince Mateen marrying the gorgeous Anisha.”
Schoolteacher Norliha Mohamad Din, 37, stated it was a “once-in-a-lifetime second.”
“I’ve seen Prince Mateen since he was small,” she stated. “I am very comfortable for him. That is a method of displaying appreciation to the royal household.”
Because the tenth little one and fourth son of the sultan, Mateen is unlikely to ever ascend the throne.
However he seems to have taken on the unofficial function of presenting a contemporary face for the royal household in a bid to attach with a youthful era of Bruneians raised on social media.
Mateen’s matinee idol seems to be and well-chiseled physique have earned him an enormous following on Instagram, the place fastidiously curated pictures and movies present him taking part in polo, dabbling in pictures and posing in army uniform.