| Hakim Hayat |
AN ANNUAL tradition on the occasion of the birth anniversary of 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, the Royal Banquet hosted in honour of the monarch’s 72nd birthday yesterday night saw thousands of invited guests at the Banquet Hall of Istana Nurul Iman.
Close to 4,000 guests, comprising members of the royal family, state dignitaries, Cabinet Ministers, diplomats from friendly nations, high-ranking government officials and specially invited people attended the event hosted by His Majesty and Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam.
Accompanying Their Majesties at the event were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Raabi’atul ‘Adawiyyah binti Pengiran Haji Bolkiah; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel; His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah and Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Bini Hajah Faizah binti Dato Haji Nasir; and His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Norhayati binti Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahman.
Also part of the royal entourage were 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; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam and other members of the royal family.
Meanwhile, among the special foreign guests attending the banquet were Sarawak Governor Tun Dato Seri Paduka Pehin Sri Dr Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud and spouse Puan Sri Raghad Kurdi Taib.
Prior to the event, Brunei Darussalam’s national anthem was sung, followed by a Doa Selamat read by State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned.
Guests, all seen regally dressed in their white traditional Malay dress and formal banquet attire were treated to a variety of sumptuous delicacies, specially prepared by the Istana’s kitchen staff.
While enjoying the food spread, guests were also entertained by a blend of soothing and celebratory music played by the musical band from the Royal Brunei Police Force and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
A fireworks display in the vicinity of Istana Nurul Iman towards the end of the banquet also lifted up the atmosphere of the night, marking the beginning of the two-week-long nationwide celebration of His Majesty’s 72nd birthday.