Royal | News - Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
This year, Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei, 32, will marry Anisha Isa Kalebic, 31, in the first major royal wedding of the year.
The pair are set to tie the knot today in a wedding that will last nine days in the small Asian country.
The wedding is expected to include the couple exchanging vows alongside a parade through Brunei’s capital Bandar Seri Begawan.
The young prince released a photo of himself and his fiancé on New Year’s Day alongside a post which said: “We wish you all the best for 2024.”
Prince Abdul Mateen is sixth-in-line to the throne but has been seen accompanying his father to official engagements at home and abroad.
According to Hola, the couple will begin their nine-day wedding with the marriage proposal at the Istana Nurul Iman Palace.
The ceremony and rest of the day will include performances by local artists, which is expected to be attended by royalty from around the world.
Later, the couple will say their vows on January 11 at the Sultan Omar Alia Saifuddien Mosque.
The couple are also expected to parade around Brunei’s capital before a reception and grand banquet on January 15. The wedding will close with a prayer reading ceremony.
While Prince Abdul is sixth-in-line to the throne, he is also one of the richest men in Asia and has spent a lot of time in the UK.
He studied International Politics at King’s College London and was a helicopter pilot at the Defence Flying School at RAR Shawbury. He also studied at Sandhurst’s Royal Military Academy and holds the rank of captain in Brunei’s Armed Forces.
Online, the prince has over two million followers and shares photos of him engaging in hobbies such as cycling, swimming, and polo. He has also revealed his love for nature and he has reportedly posed with animals at the Sultan of Brunei’s private zoo.
While the prince has engaged in extracurricular activities he has also acted in an official capacity with the Sultan of Brunei, attending Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022.
According to reports Prince William and Princess Kate are expected to attend the wedding later this month.
In a statement, the Brunei royals said: “By the royal command of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah of Brunei Darussalam, the palace has announced the upcoming wedding of His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Mateen and Anisha Isa Kalebic will be held from 7 to 16 January 2024.”