There’s nothing quite as lavish as a royal wedding ceremony. Brunei is a small Southeast Asian nation that’s been in the press for several years due to its swoon-worthy royals. Brunei is also home to one of the most eligible bachelors in Asia: Prince Abdul Mateen. This prince is often dubbed “hot,” sexy,” and other variations that speak to his attractiveness.
The 32-year-old was a trained helicopter pilot and Royal Brunei Air Force major. Apart from being a prince, he is known for winning medals in polo, cuddling up with tigers, and having 2.8 million Instagram followers.
Prince Abdul Mateen is officially off the market as he married his non-royal (aka commoner) fiancée, the 29-year-old Anisha Rosna Isa-Kalebic. The ceremony was both grandiose and traditional, taking place over a 10-day royal nuptial festival that started on January 7th.
The solemnization ceremony is an event that legalizes the marriage before the other celebratory days take place, and this occurred on January 11th at the lavish gold-domed Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque.
Only male guests like government officials and ministers were allowed to attend the mosque ceremony — even the bridge was excluded from the event.
Prince Mateen’s father is Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, one of the wealthiest royals with an approximate net worth of almost $28 billion. His luxurious lifestyle can be seen in the several jets he owns, hundreds of Ferraris and Rolls Royces, and a palace that contains a whopping 1,700 rooms. Prince Mateen is the Sultan’s fourth son and 10th child. He is currently sixth in line for the throne.
Anisha Rosnah is the granddaughter of one of the sultan’s special advisers, Pehin Dato Isa. Isa is also the founding chairman of Royal Brunei Airlines. Anisha runs a fashion brand named Silk Collective and co-owns the tourism company Authentirary.
The prince and Anisha have known each other since childhood, and although their engagement was announced in October 2023, many believe that they have been dating for years. That being said, their courtship details are scarce. The couple was seen in public at Mateen’s sisters’ wedding ceremonies. First Princess Fadzilah in 2022, and then Princess Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah in 2023.
It’s common for Brunei royal ceremonies to last several days due to how many events are involved. The first event, the royal proposal, occurred on January 7th. The reception is the festival’s highlight and occurred in the sultanate palace Istana Nurul Iman on January 14.
Around 5,000 guests attended the reception. High-profile invitees included world leaders and foreign dignitaries. Some royal families participating in the event included Bhutan’s King Jigme and Queen Jetsun Pema, Malaysia’s King Abdullah and Queen Azizah, and Jordan’s Princess Noor Asem and her husband Amr Fareed Zaidan.
In addition, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Indonesian President Joko Widodo reportedly attended.
Once the reception was finished, the newlywed Brunei royal couple began a procession through the streets of the capital, Bandar Seri Bagawan, in a splendid parade. At the parade, thousands of Bruneians waited under the hot sun to catch a glimpse of the prince and his new wife.