Royal wedding process begins

HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday attended Majlis Istiadat Bersuruh DiRaja in conjunction with the royal wedding between His Majesty's daughter, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah and Yang Mulia Pg Hj Muhammad Ruzaini Pg Dr Hj Muhammad Yakub at Istana Nurul Iman.

The Majlis Istiadat Bersuruh Diraja began at the groom's house at Kg Beribi with Yang Amat Mulia Pg Sanggamara Diraja Major General (Rtd) Pg Hj Ibnu Basith, Yang Amat Mulia Pg Kerma Raja Pg Hj Kamarulzaman and Pg Ratna Wijaya Major General (Rtd) Pg Hj Hasnan enter the ceremony together with the father of the groom-to-be, Pg Dr Hj Mohd Yakub Pg Hj Othman.

Then, Pehin Bendahari Hj Awang Abu Bakar presented himself before YAM Pg Sanggamara Diraja Major General (Rtd) Pg Hj Ibnu Basit to YAM Pengiran Kerma Raja to commence the Majlis Istiadat Bersuruh Diraja.

Pehin Bendahari Hj Awang Abu Bakar then returned to his seat following the commencement. A Doa Selamat was read by Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Hj Salim.

Following the prayers, the groom's delegation, led by Pg Sanggamara Diraja Major General (Rtd) Pg Hj Ibnu Basith, left Kg Beribi for Istana Nurul Iman.

At Istana Nurul Iman, the groom's entourage was welcomed by Pehin Orang Kaya Maharaja Diraja Dato Seri Paduka Hj Abdul Wahab, Pehin Penyurat Awang Maidin, Pehin Penyurat Hj Awang Osman and officers from the Grand Chamberlain into Baitur Rahmah.

Yang Berhormat Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Dr Ustaz Hj Mohd Zain Hj Serudin then presented the entourage to Yang Amat Mulia Pg Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pg Anak Hj Abdul Aziz and informed him that the Majlis Istiadat Bersuruh Diraja ceremony was set and ready.

YAM Pg Anak Hj Abdul Aziz in a sabda instructed YB Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Dr Ustaz Hj Mohd Zain to present himself before His Majesty and convey the message.

His Majesty then made his presence at the ceremony in the company of His Royal Highness Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince; His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, His Royal Highness Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah, His Royal Highness Prince Hj Jefri Bolkiah, His Royal Highness Prince Hj 'Abdul Azim, His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Malik and His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Mateen.

YB Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Dr Ustaz Hj Mohd Zain once again informed YAM Pengiran Anak Hj Abdul Aziz that the Majlis Istiadat Bersuruh Diraja was ready to proceed.

YAM Pg Anak Hj Abdul Aziz then sought His Majesty's consent for the ceremony to begin to which His Majesty gave his approval.

YAM Pg Sanggamara Diraja Major General (Rtd) Pg Hj Ibnu Basith was then granted an audience before His Majesty followed by Pg Dr Hj Mohd Yakub Pg Hj Othman, the father of the groom-to-be.

Pg Dr Hj Mohd Yakub then conveyed before His Majesty of his family's hopes and intention to seek HRH Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul's hand in marriage to his son, Ak Hj Muhammad Ruzaini Pg Dr Hj Mohd Yakub.

His Majesty in a titah acknowledged the marriage proposal and gave his approval by consenting to bestow the Majlis Istiadat Gendang Jaga-Jaga to the royal bridegroom-to-be and appointed HRH Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah to preside over the Majlis Istiadat Bersuruh Diraja for the 10 days royal wedding ceremonies on behalf of the family of the bridegroom-to-be.

To bless the ceremony, a Doa Selamat was read by State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Hj Abdul Aziz.

YB Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Dr Ustaz Hj Mohd Zain then informed YAM Pg Anak Hj Abdul Aziz that the ceremony had been diligently carried out and conveyed to His Majesty who consented for the ceremony to be closed.

Also present at the Istana Nurul Iman ceremony were YAM Pengiran-pengiran Cheterias, Cabinet Ministers, Members of the Privy Council, Deputy Ministers, Pengiran Pengiran Peranakan, Pehin Manteris, Manteri Pedalaman, Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Members of the Legislative Council, Permanent Secretaries and heads of departments.

Pengiran Sanggamara Diraja Major General (Rtd) Pengiran Hj Ibnu Basith, YAM Pengiran Kerma Raja Pengiran Hj Kamarulzaman and Pengiran Ratna Wijaya Major General (Rtd) Pg Hj Hasnan, Pg Dr Hj Mohd Yakub Pg Hj Othman and the rest of the delegation left Istana Nurul Iman to return to the groom's house in Kg Beribi.

Upon their return to Kg Beribi, Pehin Bendahari Hj Abu Bakar present himself to YAM Pengiran Sanggamara Diraja Major General (Rtd) Pg Hj Ibnu Basith to inform him that the Majlis Istiadat Bersuruh Diraja ceremony has concluded.

The ceremony ended with YAM Pg Sanggamara Diraja Major General (Rtd) Pg Hj Ibnu Basith acknowledged the closing of the ceremony to Pehin Bendahari Hj Abu Bakar.

The Royal Wedding ceremonies will continue today with the Majlis Istiadat Membuka Gendang Jaga-Jaga at the Lapau, Istana Nurul Iman and the groom's home in Kg Beribi.

The Brunei Times