Al-Muhtadee Billah Bolkiah
Encyclopedia
Al-Muhtadee Billah, GCVO
(Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'Izzaddin Waddaulah; born 17 February 1974) is the first born son and heir to the Sultan of Brunei. He is the son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
and Queen Saleha
.
and Magdalen College, Oxford
in 1997. While at Oxford, he followed a programme of study specially designed for him involving Islamic Studies, Trade, Diplomacy and International Relations. He had previously attended St. Andrew's School, Brunei
in Bandar Seri Begawan
for his primary education. He is a pool
and snooker
enthusiast, and participated in the 2006 WPA Men's World Nine-ball Championship.
On 10 August 1998 Al-Muhtadee Billah was proclaimed Crown Prince of Brunei, putting him in line to become the 30th Sultan of Brunei.
Having recently celebrated his 37th birthday and as the Senior Minister in the Prime Minister's Office (and the royal court) he is being intensively groomed in all aspects of governance. When the Sultan is abroad he is always appointed to act as the Deputy Sultan. He also grants audience to arriving and departing foreign Ambassadors and High Commissioners. Increasingly he appears at official functions to improve his public speaking abilities in making sabda (royal speeches of a Crown Prince). He is the Deputy Chancellor of the University Brunei Darussalam and the Chancellor of the Institute Technology Brunei; once a year he awards diplomas at the convocations of both institutions. He is known to be a soft spoken and gentle man who holds a bright future as a future Sultan (king) of Brunei.
in an elaborate affair. Prominent guests included the Duke of Gloucester
, Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, Princes Bandar
and Saud al-Faisal of Saudi Arabia, the King of Bahrain and other Malaysian sultans. The wedding was also attended by heads of state and government from Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The wedding included a bersanding ceremony and a drive around Bandar Seri Begawan in a golden-topped Rolls Royce
by the couple where they were greeted by crowds lining the streets.
On 17 March 2007, Al-Muhtadee Billah and Sarah welcomed the birth of their first child and the future heir to the Brunei throne, Pengiran Muda 'Abdul Muntaqim
. The couple welcomed their second child and first daughter, Pengiran Anak Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah on 2 January 2011.
On 10 October 2007, the $400,000 2007 World Pool Championship was launched at the Sofitel
Philippine Plaza Hotel in Manila
. Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah again represented Brunei in the tournament at the Araneta Coliseum
from 3 to 11 November.
of the Royal Victorian Order
in 1998 by Queen Elizabeth II.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'Izzaddin Waddaulah; born 17 February 1974) is the first born son and heir to the Sultan of Brunei. He is the son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
Hassanal Bolkiah
General Haji Sir Hassan al-Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah GCB GCMG is the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the 29th Sultan of Brunei and the first Prime Minister of Brunei Darussalam...
and Queen Saleha
Pengiran Anak Saleha
Saleha Mohamed Alam is the Queen consort of Brunei as the wife of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the current Sultan of Brunei...
.
Biography
Al-Muhtadee Billah studied at Emanuel SchoolEmanuel School
Emanuel School is a co-educational independent school in Battersea, south-west London. The school was founded by Lady Dacre and Elizabeth I in 1594. Today it has some 710 pupils, aged between ten and eighteen.-History:...
and Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
in 1997. While at Oxford, he followed a programme of study specially designed for him involving Islamic Studies, Trade, Diplomacy and International Relations. He had previously attended St. Andrew's School, Brunei
St. Andrew's School, Brunei
St. Andrew's School is a private, co-educational school in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei offering kindergarten, primary and secondary education to more than 1000 students. It accepts foreign students. St. Andrew's School is located in Jalan Hj...
in Bandar Seri Begawan
Bandar Seri Begawan
Bandar Seri Begawan, with an estimated population 140,000 , is the capital and largest city of the Sultanate of Brunei...
for his primary education. He is a pool
Pocket billiards
Pool, also more formally known as pocket billiards or pool billiards , is the family of cue sports and games played on a pool table having six receptacles called pockets along the , into which balls are deposited as the main goal of play. Popular versions include eight-ball and nine-ball...
and snooker
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
enthusiast, and participated in the 2006 WPA Men's World Nine-ball Championship.
On 10 August 1998 Al-Muhtadee Billah was proclaimed Crown Prince of Brunei, putting him in line to become the 30th Sultan of Brunei.
Role in government
The Crown Prince is also the Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office; the Prime Minister is his father; HM The Sultan of Brunei. The Crown Prince is also a General in the Brunei Armed Forces and was appointed by his father the Sultan as the Deputy Inspector General of the Royal Brunei Police Force. As Senior Minister he is also Head of the National Disaster Management Committee.Having recently celebrated his 37th birthday and as the Senior Minister in the Prime Minister's Office (and the royal court) he is being intensively groomed in all aspects of governance. When the Sultan is abroad he is always appointed to act as the Deputy Sultan. He also grants audience to arriving and departing foreign Ambassadors and High Commissioners. Increasingly he appears at official functions to improve his public speaking abilities in making sabda (royal speeches of a Crown Prince). He is the Deputy Chancellor of the University Brunei Darussalam and the Chancellor of the Institute Technology Brunei; once a year he awards diplomas at the convocations of both institutions. He is known to be a soft spoken and gentle man who holds a bright future as a future Sultan (king) of Brunei.
Marriage and children
On 9 September 2004, he married 17-year old Pengiran Anak Sarah at Nurul Iman Palace in Bandar Seri BegawanBandar Seri Begawan
Bandar Seri Begawan, with an estimated population 140,000 , is the capital and largest city of the Sultanate of Brunei...
in an elaborate affair. Prominent guests included the Duke of Gloucester
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester is a member of the British Royal Family. Prince Richard is the youngest grandchild of King George V and Queen Mary. He has been Duke of Gloucester since his father's death in 1974. He is currently 20th in the line of succession...
, Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, Princes Bandar
Bandar bin Sultan
Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud is a prince of the Saudi royal family and was Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States from 1983 to 2005. He was appointed Secretary-General of the National Security Council by King Abdullah on 16 October 2005...
and Saud al-Faisal of Saudi Arabia, the King of Bahrain and other Malaysian sultans. The wedding was also attended by heads of state and government from Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The wedding included a bersanding ceremony and a drive around Bandar Seri Begawan in a golden-topped Rolls Royce
Rolls-Royce Motors
Rolls-Royce Motors was created from the de-merger of the Rolls-Royce car business from Rolls-Royce Limited in 1973. The original Rolls-Royce Limited had been nationalised in 1971 due to the financial collapse of the company, caused in part by the development of the RB211 jet engine...
by the couple where they were greeted by crowds lining the streets.
On 17 March 2007, Al-Muhtadee Billah and Sarah welcomed the birth of their first child and the future heir to the Brunei throne, Pengiran Muda 'Abdul Muntaqim
Abdul Muntaqim
Abdul Muntaqim is the oldest child and only son of His Royal Highness Al-Muhtadee Billah, heir to the Sultan of Brunei, and his wife, Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Sarah...
. The couple welcomed their second child and first daughter, Pengiran Anak Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah on 2 January 2011.
Personal interests
He owns sports cars from around the world, including Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, Mercedes McLaren SLR and Ferrari 599 GTB.On 10 October 2007, the $400,000 2007 World Pool Championship was launched at the Sofitel
Sofitel
Sofitel is a luxury hotel chain managed by Accor, which opened its first property in Strasbourg in 1964. Its first overseas opening in Minneapolis, USA was in 1974. In 1995 Sofitel had 100 hotels in 40 countries and employed 12500 people....
Philippine Plaza Hotel in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah again represented Brunei in the tournament at the Araneta Coliseum
Araneta Coliseum
The Smart Araneta Coliseum, known as The Big Dome is an indoor multi-purpose sports arena located in the Cubao area of Quezon City, Philippines...
from 3 to 11 November.
Titles, styles and honours
The style and title of Al-Muhtadee Billah in full is: His Royal Highness Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'Izzaddin Waddaulah, Crown Prince of Brunei.Honours
The Crown Prince was created an honorary Knight Grand CrossKnight Grand Cross
Knight Grand Cross is the most senior grade of seven British orders of chivalry, three of which are obsolete. The rank entails admission into knighthood, allowing the recipient to use the title 'Sir' or 'Dame' before his or her name...
of the Royal Victorian Order
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
in 1998 by Queen Elizabeth II.