| Hakim Hayat |
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 Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam yesterday graced the Bersanding ceremony of Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Dr Abdul Fattaah and Dayangku Elina Zuraidah binti Pengiran Kamaluddin.
Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Dr Abdul Fattaah is Their Majesties’ nephew, and the second son of His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah and Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah.
Upon arrival at Balai Penghadapan Bukit Kayangan, Their Majesties were greeted by His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah and Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah.
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; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik; 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 Haji Sufri Bolkiah; Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Bini Hajah Faizah binti Dato Haji Nasir; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah; and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Norhayati binti Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahman were also present.
Also in attendance were Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul 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; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Nor’ain; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Rakiah; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Nasibah; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Jefriah; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Noor Ehsani binti Al-Marhum Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Akhazul Khairi Waddien; and other members of the royal family.
Among the special guests at the ceremony were Sultan Iskandar Mahmud Badaruddin, the Sultan of Palembang Darussalam, and Permaisuri Ratu Anita Soviah.
The Bersanding ceremony was conducted in regal splendour, in accordance with Royal Malay customs, with the bridal couple resplendent in matching traditional attire.
The ceremony began with the entrance of the bride to take her seat on the wedding dais in the hall.
Prior the arrival of the bridegroom, four Awang-Awang entered the hall to light up the ceremonial candles called the Dian Empat.
Later, two Awang-Awang entered the hall to place the royal regalia Kasur and Namat before the wedding dais.
The beating of the hadrah announced the arrival of Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Dr Abdul Fattaah, who was accompanied by his brother, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Omar Ali and Chief Syari’e Judge Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar.
Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Dr Abdul Fattaah’s entrance was led by an Awang-Awang carrying the Dian Tunggal, followed by a group of Awang-Awang and several others bearing various royal regalia to the wedding dais.
Afterwards, His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah placed Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Dr Abdul Fattaah’s hands on the head of the bride, in a customary ritual to signify a blessing.
A Selawat, or salutations upon Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), was recited by Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Salim, who also read a Doa Selamat to bless the newly-wedded couple.
Towards the end of the ceremony, Their Majesties received a Junjung Ziarah from the newly-wedded couple.
Also receiving the Junjung Ziarah were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah, followed by the members of the royal family, including His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah and Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah.
Thousands of guests were invited to the bersanding ceremony, including Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran-Pengiran Cheteria, Pengiran-Pengiran Peranakan, state dignitaries and senior government officials.