| Aziz Idris |
NEARLY 34,000 well-wishers flocked to the Istana Nurul Iman yesterday to personally convey their Hari Raya 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, on the second day of the palace open house held in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.
The morning session of the palace open house saw 17,641 people reaching the Istana, while 16,273 visited in the afternoon session.
Well-wishers, including uniformed personnel, foreign expatriates and tourists, gathered for the open house from as early as 7am although Their Majesties were scheduled to exchange greetings with guests from 10am.
Accompanying His Majesty to receive the male visitors yesterday at the Baitur Rahmah Hall were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; 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; and other members of the royal family.
Meanwhile in an adjacent hall, accompanying Her Majesty to grant audience to female well-wishers 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 Fadzilah Lubabul 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.
Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim ibni Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah 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 also made a brief appearance at the Baitur Rahmah Hall.
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 Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah and members of the royal family being greeted by uniformed personnel
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 Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah; and members of the royal family being greeted by members of the public. – PHOTOS: DEAN KASSIM
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 during the palace open house. – INFOFOTO
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 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, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah and Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah being greeted by members of the public
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 Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam during the palace open house
Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim ibni Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah 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 palace open house
A total of 33,914 people, young and old, donning new Raya outfits and some in national costumes, thronged the palace yesterday.
Similar to previous years, a shuttle bus service was provided to ferry visitors to the Istana’s entrance where police and health personnel were stationed to conduct security checks.
Prior to entering, the visitors were advised to follow the proper dress code illustrated on several signboards due to strict protocol.
Those who failed to comply with it were politely excused from greeting the royalty but welcomed to enjoy refreshments at the public dining hall.
After getting clearance, well-wishers followed a lane, segregated for males and females, to collect individual coupons for the Hari Raya souvenir – a yellow-coloured box containing savouries, to be collected only at the exit.
Well-wishers then followed a pathway leading to the spacious dining hall with several food-stalls lined up either side serving an array of mouth-watering dishes and assorted Hari Raya cakes that were offered with a glass of teh tarik.
The sound of clicking silverware dominated the hall which was also abuzz with chattering and laughter coupled with Hari Raya melodies in the background – all further enlivened the joy of the festivities.
Istana officials were on hand to usher well-wishers to join in the lingering queue that snaked its way to the Baitur Rahmah Hall, where His Majesty and members of the royal family waited to receive greetings, while Her Majesty and the female members of the royal family waited in an adjacent hall to receive female well-wishers.
Well-wishers were advised to follow instructions given by officers and staff from the Istana to avoid any disappointment while waiting in the queue. The estimated waiting time in queue was between 30-45 minutes with ample seating provided.
The Istana open house is a unique tradition to Brunei and is considered the best time for the public to get closer, shake hands with and extend their Hari Raya greetings to the benevolent ruler, Her Majesty and other members of the royal family.
A total of 38,437 well-wishers visited the Istana and greeted Their Majesties and members of royal family on Tuesday, the first day of the palace open house.
The Istana open house will conclude today.
ABOVE & BELOW: Well-wishers during the palace open house
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