Bruneian Prince Abdul Mateen Weds His Non-Royal Bride in a 10-Day Ceremony
The world’s “Hot Royal” is no longer an eligible bachelor.
Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei has officially tied the knot with Anisha Rosnah Isa-Kalebic, a non-royal, in a celebrated 10-day ceremony which commenced on January 7. The days-long festivities included the male-only Islamic solemnisation, which took place on January 11 at a gold-domed mosque in the country’s capital Bandar Seri Begawan. The 32-year-old Prince first announced his upcoming marriage to Isa-Kalebic in October 2023 but little is known about the origins of the couple’s dating life.
On January 10, the couple also partook in the Berbedak Mandi, the traditional powdering ceremony. The powdering ceremony saw the couple being showered with blessings from close family members, who applied a paste made of coloured powder and oils to their hands, which symbolises wealth and fertility.
The royal nuptials will reach their climax on January 14, as an extravagant banquet will be held to celebrate the happy couple. To be held in the 1,788-room sultanate palace Istana Nurul Iman, the ceremony will likely be attended by politicians and international royalty who will be flying into Brunei, one of the world’s richest countries. The streets of Brunei are expected to be lined with locals for the procession, as the couple will pass by in a royal carriage.
Widely regarded as the “Hot Royal” for his dashing good looks, Prince Mateen, who was once also perceived as one of the most eligible bachelors in the world, is a helicopter pilot and a major in the Brunei Air Force. A skilled polo player, he represented his country in the sport at the 2017 and 2019 SEA Games. As the tenth child and the fourth son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, he is unlikely to ascend the throne. The Sultan of Brunei, who was once the richest man on earth, currently serves his country as the world’s longest-reigning monarch. Prince Mateen and his Sultan father both attended the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla in 2023, as well as Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in 2022.
Isa-Kalebic, though non-royal, is the 29-year-old granddaughter of Pehin Dato Isa, who serves as the Sultan’s special advisor and has held many key positions in Brunei’s government in the 1960s and 1970s. Isa is also the founding chairman of the Royal Brunei Airlines. She is said to own her own fashion business Silk Collective, and co-owns a tourism company that offers cultural experiences.
