Okay, i know i have this ‘thing’ about grand weddings. They piss me off :mad: But yeah, i know i know - if the bloke has worked hard to be a billionaire, he deserves to spend that moola on his daughter’s/son’s wedding. Although, this is the Sultan of Brunei we are talking about so i am not certain how hard he actually ‘worked’ to “earn” (???) this money. Or was it all inherited ? Long live Muslim dictatorships :rolleyes:
Anyways, blah. Enjoy the pics.
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The Crown Prince of Brunei became a married man on Thursday, in what has been described as Asia’s grandest wedding this year.
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Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah escorted his son - wearing a gold crown and a traditional dagger - into the Nurul Iman Palace.
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Prince Billah was then joined by his 17-year-old half-Swiss bride, who emerged from a stateroom clutching a bouquet made of gold and diamonds.
The Crown Prince of the tiny oil-rich Sultanate of Brunei has married his 17-year-old bride in what is being called Asia’s wedding of the year. The glittering traditional Malay ceremony was attended by royalty and politicians from around the world. Two-thousand guests saw the 30-year-old Crown Prince, Al-Muhtadee Billah Bolkiah, marry Sarah Salleh. Thousands more lined the streets outside the palace, waiting for a glimpse of the couple.
The groom’s father, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, escorted his son to a gold throne on a dais, where he was joined by his bride. Prince Al-Muhtadee wore a gold crown and a traditional snake-bladed Malay dagger tucked into his sash.
The “bersanding” ceremony is a remnant of Malay culture’s pre-Islamic roots, but Muslim marriage prayers were also recited in keeping with the Sultanate’s religion.
After the ceremony, the couple drove in a gold open-topped Rolls Royce across the capital, followed by family and guests in more than 100 limousines.
The enthusiasm of the crowd who turned out to line the streets was only slightly dampened by a tropical downpour during the parade. The ceremony was attended by the prime ministers of Malaysia and Singapore, the presidents of Indonesia and the Philippines and royalty from across Asia. The Duke of Gloucester represented Britain’s Queen Elizabeth.
Observers said the event was relatively low-key by Bruneian standards.
The Sultan, who was once the world’s richest man, has toned down royal pomp since his brother lost $16bn of state funds through financial mismanagement.
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*Originally posted by Nadia_H: *
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Prince Billah was then joined by his 17-year-old half-Swiss bride, who emerged from a stateroom clutching a bouquet made of gold and diamonds.
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How many Muslim Princes and Kings have married someone who is not part European? Hmmm, there is Queen Rania. Who else?
haha good point, Mehnaz. Even one of Osama bin Laden's brothers, Yeslam, married a lady (Carmen) who is Swiss. [This is irrelevant, but they are now separated or divorced, though].
Actually this wedding was quite low profile compare to other royal weddings that have taken place in Brunei before. I have lived there for 3 years and the other weddings (Sultan's daughters or neices) were celebrated for longer period of time with lot of more stuff going on.
The 100 limousines is no big deal :D On every Eid they have a open house in the Royal Palace. I got the chance to go in few times and shake hands with both Queens and their daughters(princesses). When you go near them you can't take ur eyes off their dresses and jeweleries. Everywhere you look its either gold or diamonds.
The bride is alright not as pretty as other girls in Brunei. But i think they certainly make a cute couple.
The royal Bruneian men are idiots and obssesed with foreigner women. Many of them have first wife a Malay women and 2nd wife a foreigner. Oh ya Pakistani women are not behind getting married with Bruneian men either.
oh wow, Jal_Pari, you actually lived in Brunei. That’s so cool. Thanks for sharing your comments in this thread, it was really interesting to read them.
i agree, they definitely make a cute couple. And you are also right, apparently this wedding was less grand than the usual ones. Thanks for uploading those pics… She looks so much nicer and humbler without all the gold ‘thoped’ on.
Khair… i hope they have a truly loving, peaceful, and Blessed married life Insha’Allah.
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*Originally posted by Nilu: *
What the hell she is only 17 yrs old and that prince is
30 yrs old my god what are the parents nuts or something
of that 17 yrs old princess??
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READ history :D
bahadur Shah was 80 PLUS while His Queen was Below 20 :)
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*Originally posted by Nadia_H: *
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The Sultan of Brunei is one of the world's richest men, but Sarah Salleh's parents are commoners.
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Why do her parents look, as they are sitting in a funeral, might be they are not happy with this marriage ?
