Prince Abdul Mateen's lavish wedding celebrations climaxed on Sunday in the Sultanate of Brunei, a small and rich oil state in northern Borneo, with a ceremony attended by many heads of state and crowned heads.
Abdul Mateen, 32, and his wife Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah, a 29-year-old citizen and granddaughter of one of the Sultan's advisers, who were reunited on Thursday, attended a magnificent ceremony on Sunday, the highlight of the 10-day celebrations.
The prince appeared at the Istana Nurul Iman Palace in a ceremonial uniform and his wife in a long white dress bearing numerous jewels.
The couple then made their first public appearance as a married couple in a procession through the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, in front of thousands of cheering residents.
Abdul Mateen is the 10th child of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 77, one of the world's longest-serving rulers, who has ruled the monarchy since his father's abdication in 1967.
Among the 5,000 guests are representatives of the royal families of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Bhutan.
Several regional leaders were also present, namely Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“It's a very big celebration,” said Haji Suhaimin Abas, 66, a retired banker in traditional costume and one of the members of his country's elite who received an invitation.
“Unique moment in life”
Sunday's celebration was the culmination of 10 days of pageantry in this small country whose wealth comes almost entirely from its vast oil and gas reserves.
A graduate of the prestigious British Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, an officer in the Brunei Armed Forces and a helicopter pilot, the Prince, accompanied by his wife, received his guests in a precise ceremony in the heart of the vast Istana Nurul Iman Palace with no fewer than 1,788 rooms.
The couple then took a seat in the back seat of an open Rolls-Royce and greeted the residents of the capital, where the portrait of the newlyweds has adorned the streets and facades of buildings for days.
In a festive atmosphere and under the sun, thousands of residents took a stand several hours before the royal couple's visit and were offered free ice cream.
“I'm looking forward to it. It's a unique moment in life,” said Norliha Mohamad Din, a 37-year-old teacher.
“I have seen Prince Mateen since he was little. I'm very happy for him. “It's a way for me to show my commitment to the royal family,” she added.
As the Sultan's tenth child and fourth son, Abdul Mateen is unlikely to ever ascend the throne.
But the prince is playing a growing role in the kingdom's international diplomacy. He accompanied his father to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of Charles III. and Queen Camilla last May.
As a polo player with the look of a young prime minister, the prince is also very present on social networks.