HEADLINE-ROYAL WEDDING | BRUNEI- Prince Mateen of Brunei’s Bride Anisha Brings the Glamour amid 10-Day Royal Wedding:
Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei and Anisha Isa Kalebic smile in a shot he shared to Instagram on Dec. 31, 2023.
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The Sultan of Brunei’s son has tied the knot in the first major royal wedding of the year
Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei and Anisha Isa Kalebic are tying the knot in epic fashion!
It’s been a busy week for the couple, who are in the thick of a 10-day royal wedding running from Jan. 7 to Jan. 16, and Anisha is making a fashion statement. Fans got the first glimpse of her channeling bridal vibes last weekend when designer Teh Firdaus revealed her first look in photos by Muash Rosman.
“Honored to play a role in the Brunei royal wedding,” the Malaysian bridal designer captioned the Instagram images on Jan. 6. “Witness the grace of Yang Mulia Dayang Anisha Rosnah Adam Isa Kalebic in our custom-made baju kurung in intricately woven tenunan Brunei, as she embraces elegance during her Khatam Quran event.”
The bride was all smiles in the traditional dress, which featured a shimmering print plus embellished sleeves and skirt line. She completed the look with a white hijab and dazzling diamond ring on her left ring finger.
On Wednesday, Anisha made a statement in lace for the Berbedak Mandi ceremony at Istana Nurul Iman. Prince Mateen’s sweetheart was bright in a white long-sleeve dress overlaid with lace and pulled her hair back under a coordinating veil, adding a hint of glimmer with diamond and pearl statment earrings. Royal photographer Rosman identified the outfit as another Teh Firdaus creation, and shared a bit about the ceremony on Instagram.
“HRH Prince ‘Abdul Mateen and YM Dayang Anisha Rosnah binti Adam were bathed in blessings by their nearest and dearest. Parents, siblings, and venerable elders graced this momentous occasion, enveloping the soon-to-be-wedded pair in an aura of glamour and tradition,” the photographer captioned an Instagram carousel.
On Thursday, the Sultan of Brunei’s son participated in a solemnization ceremony on the fifth day of a 10-day royal wedding, the Associated Press reported. The male-only Islamic marriage was held at the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei, and saw Mateen affirm the acceptance of the Akad Nikah, according to UAE newspaper The National.
The groom wore wedding white and sat surrounded by candles, and signed documents after the proceedings were complete. Prince Mateen then left the mosque in a luxury car, where he gave a wave to well-wishers who lined the streets to see him.
While Anisha wasn’t spotted, she was front and center at a royal powdering ceremony on Wednesday. According to The National, the ritual traditionally known as Istiadat Berbedak calls for close family members to bless the bride and groom by applying a powder paste to their hands for fertility and wealth.
The event was held at Istana Nurul Iman, the official palace of Prince Mateen’s father, the Sultan of Brunei. Powdering ceremonies have been popular in Malaysia and Brunei for hundreds of years, and Mateen and Anisha’s celebrations were held separately.
“Majlis Istiadat Berbedak, ‘The Powdering Ceremony’ 10.01.24,” Prince Mateen, 32, captioned a carousel featuring photos of the event for his 2.5 million Instagram followers.
The bride and groom both wore traditional red wedding attire for the ceremonies, and Mateen offered a slight smile as his father poured scented oil on his palms.
Prince Mateen is the fourth son and 10th child of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and often accompanies his father on official royal engagements. He was long considered among the most eligible royal bachelors — until now! The Sultan of Brunei announced Mateen’s engagement to Anisha in October 2023, reportedly after a few years of dating.
Anisha is the granddaughter of the Sultan’s special advisor, Pehin Dato Isa, and the AP reported that she owns a fashion brand and tourism business. The groom is a helicopter pilot major in the Royal Brunei Air Force — and the wedding isn’t over just yet.
The festivities will continue Sunday with a royal wedding banquet, with guests invited from across the globe. On that same day, a parade is set to be held around Brunei’s capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. The first major royal wedding of the year is due to conclude on Jan. 16.
While the guest list for Sunday’s royal banquet remains under wraps, Prince Mateen and his father attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth in September 2022 and returned to London for the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla in May 2023. The following month, they traveled to Jordan for the royal wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa, which Prince William and Kate Middleton also attended. The Sultan was also a guest at the Prince and Princess of Wales’ royal wedding at Westminster Abbey in 2011, sparking speculation that the couple might be at his son’s banquet on Sunday.
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On New Year’s Eve, Prince Mateen posted the first portrait with Anisha on social media, revealing her dazzling diamond ring one week before their royal wedding began on Jan. 7.
“Wishing you all the best for 2024 💫,” he captioned the snap.
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