In Bandar Seri Begawan, Their Majesties Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha of Brunei hosted a formal reception at the Istana Nurul Iman on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr.
The reception marked the beginning of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations in the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam.
Among those in attendance were Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni Hassanal Bolkiah and Crown Princess Sarah of Brunei, His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Malik of Brunei, and Their Royal Highnesses Prince Abdul Mateen and Princess Anisha Rosnah of Brunei. Other members of the extended royal family were also present, along with senior government officials, dignitaries, and members of the diplomatic corps.
The reception forms part of Brunei’s established Hari Raya Aidilfitri observances, under which the royal palace receives invited guests at the outset of the celebrations. This is followed in subsequent days by public audiences, during which citizens are received at Istana Nurul Iman as part of the annual Junjung Ziarah.
The annual celebrations at Istana Nurul Iman remain among the most significant ceremonial events in the national calendar, reflecting the close relationship between the monarchy and the people of Brunei Darussalam.
Photos courtesy of the Jabatan Majlis-Majlis Mesyuarat Brunei
Photos courtesy of the Jabatan Majlis-Majlis Mesyuarat Brunei
Photos courtesy of the Jabatan Majlis-Majlis Mesyuarat Brunei
Photos courtesy of the Jabatan Majlis-Majlis Mesyuarat Brunei
On Thursday, in Bandar Seri Begawan, His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, accompanied by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah of Brunei and His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei, presided over the State Opening of the First Meeting of the 22nd Session of the Legislative Council.
The ceremony formally inaugurated the new parliamentary session and marked the beginning of debate on the National Budget for the Financial Year 2026–2027, one of the most important legislative processes in Brunei’s political calendar. The opening also marked the Sultan’s first public appearance since undergoing knee surgery earlier this year.
During the opening session, the Sultan delivered his titah, or royal address, outlining several national priorities. In his remarks, he called on authorities to strengthen road safety measures and improve infrastructure for road users, following a recent tragedy that claimed the lives of two cyclists. He expressed sympathy to the families affected and urged the relevant authorities to consider both legislative and infrastructure solutions to improve road safety across the country.
The Sultan also emphasized the importance of integrity and good governance, reiterating the government’s commitment to combating corruption and abuse of power in both the public and private sectors. He warned that corruption, if left unchecked, could undermine national stability and public trust.
Economic resilience was another central theme of the Sultan’s remarks. He encouraged continued efforts to diversify the national economy through strategic investment in new sectors and through stronger support for private enterprise and small and medium-sized businesses. These efforts form part of the long-term national development strategy known as Brunei Vision 2035, which aims to strengthen economic sustainability while maintaining high standards of social welfare and governance.
The Sultan also emphasized that the Legislative Council serves as an important platform for addressing national challenges and for developing practical solutions to issues affecting the people of Brunei Darussalam.
The State Opening of the Legislative Council remains one of the most significant constitutional ceremonies in the country, reflecting the Sultan’s central role in Brunei’s system of government and in shaping the nation’s long-term development policies.
Photo courtesy of His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei/Instagram
Her Royal Highness Princess Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Zahra Mariam Bolkiah of Brunei
In Bandar Seri Begawan, the Office of His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei has formally announced the name of the newborn daughter of Their Royal Highnesses Prince Abdul Mateen and Princess Anisha Rosnah of Brunei.
The Princess has been given the name Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Zahra Mariam Bolkiah of Brunei.
The Princess was born on February 8th in Brunei Darussalam and is the first child of Prince Abdul Mateen and Princess Anisha Rosnah.
Under Bruneian royal titulature, Yang Amat Mulia, meaning “The Most Noble,” corresponds in English usage to the style His or Her Royal Highness. The title Pengiran Anak denotes royal birth in the direct male line of the House of Bolkiah.
While the Sultan’s children are styled Yang Teramat Mulia, his grandchildren in the male line bear the designation Yang Amat Mulia, in accordance with longstanding Bruneian court tradition.
Princess Zahra Mariam Bolkiah is the sixth grandchild of His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
Portrait courtesy of H.R.H. Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei/Instagram
In Bandar Seri Begawan, the Office of His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei announced that Their Royal Highnesses Prince Abdul Mateen and Princess Anisha Rosnah of Brunei welcomed their first child, a daughter, earlier this morning.
According to the official statement, the Princess gave birth at 8:50 a.m. local time. Both mother and child were reported to be in good health. No further medical details were released.
To mark the occasion of the royal birth, His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei ordered a 17-gun salute to be fired from the grounds of Istana Nurul Iman, the Sultan’s official residence and the seat of the Bruneian monarchy.
His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei is the fourth son and tenth child of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and his second wife, Puan Hajah Mariam binti Abdul Aziz. He married Miss Anisha Rosnah binti Adam on January 11, 2024, following an Islamic marriage ceremony held in Bandar Seri Begawan. Their marriage was celebrated over ten days of formal ceremonies and state events.
The wedding brought together members of the Brunei royal family, foreign dignitaries, and representatives of the political and diplomatic corps.
On October 14, 2025, Prince Abdul Mateen announced that he and the Princess were expecting their first child, sharing the news on social media with the caption, “And then there were three.”
The Royal Correspondent 