Thousands join royal birthday celebration

Hundreds of uniformed personnel gathered beneath one roof at Istana Nurul Iman yesterday for a banquet hosted by 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 for the monarch’s 77th birthday celebration.

Accompanying His Majesty have been Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister on the Prime Minister’s Workplace, and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel; 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.

Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Giant on the Ministry of International Affairs; and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam; in addition to members of the royal household have been additionally in attendance.

Different visitors included state dignitaries, Cupboard ministers, authorities officers and members of the Diplomatic Corps.

The banquet was preceded by the recitation of Doa Selamat by Chief Syar’ie Choose Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar.

The banquet was hosted for over 2,000 uniformed personnel from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), Royal Brunei Police Power (RBPF), Gurkha Reserve Unit, Immigration and Nationwide Registration Division (INRD), Royal Customs and Excise Division (RCED), Nationwide Service Programme (PKBN) and different enforcement businesses in addition to the youth associations together with Brunei Darussalam Scouts Affiliation (PPNBD), Lady Guides Affiliation of Brunei Darussalam (PPPBD), army and police cadets.

His Majesty later joined a Junjung Ziarah with the visitors. – Lyna Mohamad