Al Muhtadee Billah

Early life

Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah was born at Istana Darul Hana, Bandar Seri Begawan on 17 February 1974. He is the first-born son and heir to the throne of Brunei. He is the son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Pengiran Anak Saleha (both first cousins). His paternal grandparent was Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III and Pengiran Anak Damit. His maternal grandparent was Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohammad Alam and Pengiran Anak Hajah Besar.

Education

Al-Muhtadee Billah's education began early in life, at the Prince-Princess School at the Istana Darul Hana. He also had his primary education at St. Andrew's School, Brunei, in Bandar Seri Begawan. Subsequently, he progressed through the Brunei Junior Certificate of Education in 1988, and the General Certificate of Education GCE Ordinary Level Exam in 1991 while he was studying at the Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College. He was further educated at Emanuel School in London. He passed his GCE Advanced Level exams in 1994.

Al-Muhtadee Billah attended tutorials at the University of Brunei Darussalam and began his overseas education at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies in October 1995. He matriculated for admission to University of Oxford's Foreign Service Programme at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he graduated in 1997. While at Oxford, he followed a programme of study specially designed for him involving Islamic studies, trade, diplomacy and international relations. He received his Diploma in diplomatics Studies in a special convocation held on 3 August 1998 in Bandar Seri Begawan.

In 1988 Al-Muhtadee Billah completed the reading of the Holy Quran and the 'ayat-ayat lazim' and also studied various aspects of Islamic teachings.

Proclamation as Crown Prince

Al-Muhtadee Billah was proclaimed Crown Prince of Brunei on 10 August 1998 at the Istana Nurul Iman. At the ceremony, his father, the Sultan of Brunei, bestowed upon him the 'Keris Si Naga'. This put him in line to become the 30th Sultan of Brunei. The ceremony was followed by the procession around the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan.

Role in government

In preparing to become the future leader and head of the country, Al-Muhtadee Billah holds several roles in government. He is the Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, a general in the Brunei Armed Forces, and the Deputy Inspector General of the Royal Brunei Police Force. As Senior Minister he is also Head of the National Disaster Management Committee.

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 his father 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 of Brunei Darussalam and the Chancellor of the Institute Technology Brunei; once a year he awards diplomas at the convocations of both institutions.

Marriage and children

On 9 September 2004, (aged 30), he married 17-year-old Pengiran Anak Sarah at Nurul Iman Palace in Bandar Seri Begawan. 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.

On 17 March 2007 their first child, future heir to the Brunei throne, was born and named Abdul Muntaqim.
Their second child, and first daughter, Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah, was born on 2 January 2011. On June 7, 2015, their third child, and second son, was born and named Muhammad Aiman.

Children

Personal interests

He owns sports cars from around the world, including a Lamborghini Murciélago LP640, a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren and a Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano.

He is a pool and snooker enthusiast, and participated in the 2006 WPA Men's World Nine-ball Championship. The 2007 World Pool Championship was launched on 10 October at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel in Manila; Al-Muhtadee Billah represented Brunei in the tournament at the Araneta Coliseum from 3 to 11 November.

A football club, the Brunei DPMM FC is owned by Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah, who previously played as a goalkeeper for the team.

Biography

English language style

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, Deputy Sultan and Senior Minister in the Prime Minister's Office

Malay language style

Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah

Honours

He was awarded:

National Honours

Foreign Honours