Golden Jubilee Of Brunei: Celebrating 50 Years Of Royalty

On October 5, 2017, more than 60,000 people gathered in Bandar Seri Begawan to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, marking his 50 years on the throne. The Sultan is the world's second-longest reigning monarch, having ascended to the throne in October 1967 at the age of 21. The celebrations included a royal procession, a 21-gun salute, and a ceremony at his golden-domed palace. The Sultan's reign has been marked by both lavish festivities and controversies, including the introduction of strict Islamic laws and family feuds.

The Golden Jubilee procession

The procession began with marching bands from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and the Royal Brunei Police Forces, followed by a special customised vehicle carrying a huge two-pronged spear called the changkah. This was followed by bearers carrying intricate weaponry, including swords, daggers and spears.

Then came the main event: the Sultan himself, riding in a golden chariot drawn by 50 royal guards. He was accompanied by his wife, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha, and their six children. The 71-year-old Sultan wore a royal yellow outfit, with a Malay curved dagger, called a keris, slipped into his belt.

The chariot procession was the culmination of a day of festivities, which began with the Sultan inspecting a parade of more than 300 royal guards of honour and receiving a 21-gun salute. The Sultan also delivered a speech in the throne hall of Nurul Iman palace, in which he emphasised the reciprocal responsibility between himself and his people.

The Sultan's speech

Today, we gather to celebrate a most significant milestone in the history of our beloved nation, Brunei. It has been fifty years since I ascended to the throne, and I am deeply humbled and honoured to be able to address you, my people, on this momentous occasion.

As I stand before you today, I am filled with a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the trust and support you have shown me throughout my reign. It is a privilege to serve as your Sultan, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue leading our great nation towards progress and prosperity.

Over the past five decades, we have achieved much together. When I assumed the throne in 1967, our nation was still under British rule. But through our collective efforts and unwavering determination, we gained our independence in 1984, and Brunei emerged as a sovereign and proud nation.

Our country is blessed with abundant natural resources, particularly our rich oil and natural gas reserves. We have utilised these resources to develop and strengthen our economy, ensuring a high standard of living for all our citizens. Today, Brunei is recognised as one of the wealthiest nations in the world, and this is a testament to our hard work and dedication.

However, our journey has not been without its challenges. In recent years, we have faced criticism and controversy, particularly regarding the introduction of Islamic Sharia law in 2014. I want to assure you that the decisions I make are always in the best interests of our nation and are rooted in our values and traditions.

As your Sultan, I believe in the importance of reciprocity between the ruler and the ruled. I am committed to being fair and just in my governance, and in return, I ask for your loyalty and support. Together, we must uphold the principles that have guided our nation for over 600 years, fostering unity and harmony among our diverse communities.

As we celebrate this Golden Jubilee, let us also look towards the future with hope and determination. While we face challenges in diversifying our economy, I am confident that with our collective efforts and innovative spirit, we will overcome these obstacles and secure a bright future for generations to come.

Once again, I thank you, my beloved people, for your unwavering support and dedication. May Allah continue to bless and guide us as we embark on the next chapter of our nation's journey together.

The royal audience

The sultan's wife, Queen Saleha, was dressed in a lavish outfit in gold, and the sultan wore yellow and gold royal finery. The couple inspected a guard of honour in the grounds of the palace before the gun salute.

The golden jubilee was a chance for citizens to focus on celebrating the life and times of the sultan, a revered father figure to his people.

The banquet

Among the foreign dignitaries were several Southeast Asian leaders and Middle Eastern royalty. Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte were in attendance. Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, and Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex of the British royal family were also among those due to attend.

The Golden Jubilee celebrations were a chance for citizens to focus on the life and times of the Sultan, who is widely revered as a father-figure monarch. The festivities began on Thursday with a guard of honour, a 21-gun salute, and a royal audience at the palace. The highlight of the celebrations was the procession through the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, where the Sultan and his wife, Queen Saleha, rode in a golden chariot pulled by 50 people.

The Sultan's rule

The Golden Jubilee of Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah marked his 50 years on the throne. The Sultan is the world's second-longest reigning monarch, having ascended to the throne in October 1967. He succeeded his father and celebrated his coronation in August 1968. Brunei has had an absolute monarchy since achieving independence from Britain in 1984.

The Sultan's decades-long rule has seen the country gain full independence from Britain and living standards soar to among the highest in the world. This is due to its abundant oil and gas reserves, which have contributed to the country's booming economy and ensured a high standard of living for its population of over 400,000 people.

However, the Sultan's reign has also been marked by controversies, including the introduction of tough Islamic laws in 2014, which sparked both domestic and international criticism. These laws include severe penalties such as the severing of limbs and death by stoning. The Sultan also faced criticism for his alleged support of Islamic Sharia law, which was adopted by Brunei in 2014, making it the first east Asian country to do so.

Another controversy surrounding the Sultan was a highly publicised feud with his younger brother, Prince Jefri Bolkiah. This feud revealed details of Prince Jefri's alleged embezzlement of $15 billion during his tenure as finance minister in the 1990s, as well as his lavish and un-Islamic lifestyle, which included allegations of a high-priced harem and a luxury yacht named "Tits.".

Despite these controversies, the Sultan is widely revered by his people, who see him as a father figure. His Golden Jubilee celebrations were a chance for citizens to focus on celebrating his life and contributions to the country's development, stability, and peace. More than 60,000 people gathered to pay homage to the Sultan during the festivities, which included a royal procession, a 21-gun salute, and a ceremony at his golden-domed palace.

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