Lavish Royal Banquet at Istana
By Lyna Mohamad & Zaim Zaini
Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei laid out a lavish spread last night for thousands of high-powered guests to celebrate the marriage of HRH Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bulqiah to YAM Pengiran Anak Khairul Khalil bin Pg Syed Hj Jaafari.
The official wedding banquet at the Istana Nurul Iman for royalty and dignitaries came a day after HRH Princess Hajah Majeedah and YAM Pengiran Anak Khairul Khalil were wedded in a traditional Malay ceremony steeped in Brunei tradition. The arrival of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang DiPertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pa Anak Hjh Saleha and HRH Pengiran Isteri Azrinaz Mazhar at the Royal Banquet Hall followed after the royal couple made their grand entrance. Members of the royal family - HRH Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah the Crown Prince and HRH Paduka Seri PengiranAnak Isteri Pg Anak Sarah, HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, HRH Pg Anak Isteri Pg Anak Hjh Zariah, HRH Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah, Pg Bini Hjh Faizah and other members of the royal family arrived together with the royal newly-weds. |
Also present were the parents of the groom, Pg Syed Hj Jaafari and Hjh Dyg Sarbanun.
Among the prominent figures in attendance as guests were Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his wife Datin Jeanne Abdullah and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Dato Seri Hj Mohd Najib Tun Hj Abd Razak and wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Hj Abdul Taib Mahmud and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and Senior Minister of Singapore Goh Chok Tong. |
A thanksgiving prayer was read by the State Mufti, Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awg Abd Aziz Juned shortly after the royal arrivals, marking the start of the Royal Banquet.
-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin, 12 June 2007.