Prince Mateen of Brunei's wedding continues with solemnization ceremony

By Linh Le January 11, 2024 | 03:00 pm PT

Prince Mateen of Brunei's lavish wedding celebration entered its fifth day with a solemnization ceremony at the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, a pivotal moment in uniting him with Anisha Rosnah Isa-Kalebic.

Prince Mateen of Brunei. Photo from Prince Mateen's Instagram

According to AFP, Prince Mateen arrived at the mosque for the ceremony in a luxury saloon, clad in traditional white attire along with a distinguished white headpiece.

The ceremony commenced with a 17-gun salute, after which Prince Mateen held his father's hand as the Sultan recited a prayer for the newlyweds. Following this emotional moment, Prince Mateen bowed, gently touching his father's hand with his forehead.

The prince waved to the gathered crowds as he departed from the mosque after the ceremony.

As detailed by the Daily Mail, the solemnization ceremony holds deep cultural significance in Brunei and is traditionally led by the groom and his family, with the bride being represented by her legal male guardian or an elder. During this sacred ritual, the groom vows to accept the bride as his wife and promises to care for her in the presence of God and witnesses.

The royal wedding extravaganza will continue with a grand banquet on Sunday, expected to be attended by royalty and politicians from around the world.

Prince Mateen, 32, serves as a helicopter pilot and holds the rank of major in the Royal Brunei Air Force.

He represented Brunei in polo at the 2017 and 2019 SEA Games and was recognized as one of Asia's top 50 most eligible bachelors by Hong Kong's Tatler Magazine in 2016.

Anisha Rosnah Isa-Kalebic, 29, is a graduate of the University of Bath and an entrepreneur.

She currently manages Silk Collective, a fashion brand, and Authentirary, a tourism company that offers cultural experiences.

The royal bride comes from a prestigious family background, with her grandfather, Pehin Dato Isa, serving as the Sultan of Brunei's special advisor and holding significant government roles in Brunei during the 1960s and 1970s.

Her brother, Danial Deen Isa-Kalebic, is reportedly a close friend of Prince Mateen, and her sister-in-law, Janetira Attaskulchai Deen, is part of Thailand's Attaskulchai family, known for their yogurt empire Betagen.