| Izah Azahari & Syazwani Rosli |
THOUSANDS of people from all walks of life visited the Istana Nurul Iman yesterday to convey their greetings to His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam and other members of the royal family as the palace opened its doors to the public for the open house in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.
The auspicious three-day annual ‘open Istana’ event offers citizens, residents and visitors an occasion to meet Their Majesties and the royal family and convey their best wishes for the festive season.
People dressed in colourful attires were seen as early as 7am at the main gates of the Istana.
A total of 18,930 visitors stopped by the palace during the morning session of the event from 10am to noon, while the afternoon session witnessed a flow of some 19,507 people that also comprised officers and staff from the Prime Minister’s Office and departments under it as well as officers and personnel from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF).
Joining His Majesty during the morning session to receive male well wishers at the Baitur Rahmah Hall were His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, His Royal Highness Prince Haji ‘Abdul ‘Azim, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel as well as other members of the royal family.
Meanwhile, joining Her Majesty in the adjacent room in exchanging greetings with female visitors were Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman, Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Bini Hajah Faizah binti Dato Haji Nasir, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Raabi’atul ‘Adawiyyah binti Pengiran Haji Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Muta-Wakkilah Hayatul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam.
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam; Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman and Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Anak Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah binti Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah during the Hari Raya get-together at Istana Nurul Iman on Monday. – AZROL AZMI
His Majesty, His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, His Royal Highness Prince Haji ‘Abdul ‘Azim, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik and members of the royal family being greeted by uniformed personnel yesterday. – PHOTOS: BAHYIAH BAKIR
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah being greeted by uniformed personnel during the first day of the open house at the Istana Nurul Iman
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah and members of the royal family being greeted by uniformed personnel
His Royal Highness Prince Haji ‘Abdul ‘Azim, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel being greeted by members of the public yesterday
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, His Royal Highness Prince Haji ‘Abdul ‘Azim, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel at the event
Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman greeted by well-wishers during the first day of Istana Nurul Iman open
house
Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Muta-Wakkilah Hayatul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah greeted by well-wishers
Well-wishers waiting for their turn to personally greet members of the royal family
Visitors collecting their souvenirs. – PHOTOS: BAHYIAH BAKIR
In the afternoon, His Majesty consented to receive in audience Dr Mohamad Maliki bin Osman, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore, prior to receiving more well wishers at the Baitur Rahmah.
Also joining His Majesty were His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, His Royal Highness Prince Haji ‘Abdul ‘Azim, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel as well as other members of the royal family.
While in the adjacent room, Her Majesty was joined by Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah, Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Raabi’atul ‘Adawiyyah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam.
Brunei Darussalam is well-known for its annual tradition that is unique to the country where the public is given the opportunity to visit the Istana Nurul Iman’s open house within the span of three days to meet the royal family members to personally wish them Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri. The final day of the open house will be on June 29.
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