Brunei Prince Abdul Mateen made headlines as he married his commoner partner, Anisha Rosnah Isa-Kalebic, during a lavish 10-day ceremony.
Matee, who was considered to be Asia's most eligible bachelor, is a real-life prince of an Islamic sultanate steeped in centuries-old traditions. However, on Instagram, he is more Hollywood than royalty as he is seen flying in fighter jets, driving speed boats, and posing bare-chested after workouts.
Brunei's Royal Wedding
The 32-year-old married his 29-year-old fiancee Anisha on Thursday in what was a male-only ceremony held inside a mosque in the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. Mateen is the 10th child and fourth son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, which makes him unlikely to ever ascend the throne of the oil-rich country found on the northern edge of Borneo island.
However, the royal prince's idol looks, rippling six-pack, and sense of adventure has turned him into a public relations asset for his family, which has been facing mounting pressure due to scandals and global censure in the past few years, as per NDTV.
In a statement, a resident from Brunei, Amyra Syahira Awang Ahmad, who works at a snack store, said that Mateen is a "breath of fresh air." A pre-wedding photograph of the royal prince and his fiancee was posted on Instagram on Dec. 31, 2023.
The image showed Mateen wearing an open-neck white shirt under a dark, double-breasted blazer while Anisha had a cream pantsuit and no hijab. The photo drew in more than 11,000 comments with some being smitten and lamenting that 2024 was starting with "heartbreak," which was a reference to their own rather than Mateen's or Anisha's.
The post appeared to be part of an effort to burnish a more modern image of the conservative country and make the royal family relevant to a younger generation that has grown up on social media.
The lavish wedding ceremony began on Jan. 7 and is scheduled to end on Tuesday next week. Mateen and Anisha's engagement was announced in October and the latter is the granddaughter of the sultan's special advisor, according to Yahoo News.
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Lavish 10-Day Ceremony
The royal prince's Instagram account has roughly 2.5 million followers and Anisha reportedly owns a fashion brand and tourism business. The main wedding reception is to be held on Sunday at the 1,788-room palace. It will see an array of international royalty and dignitaries and will have a parade through the capital.
Throughout the years, Mateen has drawn comparisons with Britain's Prince Harry and was previously dubbed the "hot royal." During the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, the royal prince represented his country in the sport of polo.
Mateen is often seen with his father abroad on official royal engagements and the two attended the coronation of Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla in London last year. They also paid their respects at Queen Elizabeth's funeral in 2022.
While not much is known about Mateen and Anisha's dating history, they have reportedly been together for several years. The couple was previously seen at the wedding ceremonies of Mateen's sisters Prince Azemah Ni'matul Bolkiah last year and Princess Fadzilah in 2022, said Firstpost.
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