Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei leaves the mosque with his father Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah on day five of the 10-day wedding

The wedding of Asia’s most eligible bachelor has officially begun.

Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei, 32, headed to the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei this morning for his pre-wedding ceremony to Anisha Isa Kalebic.

Today, the fifth day of the ten-day wedding, the couple will legally tie the knot.

This will be followed by a banquet on Sunday, which royals from around the world are expected to attend.

Prince Mateen is the fourth son – and tenth child – of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 77, and his former second wife Mariam Abdul Aziz, 67.

While little is known about how their relationship blossomed, it is reported that the couple has been dating for years and that Anisha is the granddaughter of one of her soon-to-be father-in-law’s closest advisors, Pehin Dato Isa.

Wearing traditional clothing and a white headdress, Prince Abdul waved to the crowd of adoring well-wishers who had gathered to catch a glimpse of the prince.

The solemnization ceremony is performed by the groom and his family, while the bride is represented by the legal male representative or an elder.

During the ceremony, the groom promises to take the bride as his wife and care for her in the presence of God and other witnesses.

Only one official photo of the couple has been released, which shows Anisha flaunting her huge diamond engagement ring in a snap to celebrate the New Year.

Prince Mateen, sixth in line to the throne, is much more open and actively communicates with the public on Instagram, where he simply goes by the name ‘Mateen’ – and has 2.4 million followers.

His lavish lifestyle is evident on the social media platform: superyachts, exotic pets, world-class hotels and private jets, intertwined with official royal duties around the world.

But perhaps surprisingly, when the Prince was 24, GQ Thailand described him as ‘a grounded man who does not like to show off his family’s wealth.’

“He says thank you at the end of every sentence, and he makes no distinctions by class or social status in his interactions with those around him,” the publication said.

The interview showed that the prince’s charm attracted more attention than his striking appearance.

It also indicated that Mateen was more focused on sharing his interests and discussing family and friends, rather than the monarch’s wealth.

Coincidentally, his father, the Sultan of Brunei, is one of the richest people in the world, with a net worth of over £24 billion – thanks to exports of crude oil and natural gas.

Prince Mateen, who was named one of Asia’s 50 most coveted bachelors by Tatler Magazine in 2016, holds a Master of Arts in International Studies and Diplomacy from the University of London in 2016.

He currently serves as a helicopter pilot in the Royal Brunei Air Force, with the rank of Major.

Mateen has also shown his passion for polo by representing Brunei at the Southeast Asian Games in 2017 and 2019.

The 32-year-old is an avid traveler and regularly posts photos of exotic destinations for his Instagram audience. One photo in particular shows him cradling a tiger cub on the beach.

He often accompanies his father on official visits, including the coronation of King Charles II and Queen Camilla, held at Westminster Abbey on May 6.

Earlier this month, the sultan announced that his son will marry Anisha Isa Kalebic in January 2024.

The couple have reportedly been dating for several years and have attended a number of events together, including the wedding of Mateen’s sister, Princess Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah, earlier this year.

Anisha, the granddaughter of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s special advisor Pehin Dato Isa, is said to be a thriving entrepreneur in Brunei.

She founded the successful fashion brand Silk Collective and co-owns a tourism company called Authentirary with a good friend.

Although it has not yet been confirmed, it is believed that the Prince and Princess of Wales, both 41, could attend the wedding.

The Sultan and Queen of Brunei were notable guests at William and Kate’s wedding in 2011. Given this history, it is believed they will invite the British royal family to their son’s special day.

Furthermore, both couples – along with Prince Mateen – attended the wedding of Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II and Rajwa Alseif in Jordan last June.

Other notable guests included Princess Beatrice, 34, and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 39.

Prince Mateen is the youngest of three siblings to get married, after his two older sisters, Princess Fadzilah and Princess Azemah, who tied the knot in January 2022 and January 2023 respectively.

“By royal command of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah of Brunei Darussalam, the Palace has announced that the upcoming wedding of His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Mateen and Anisha Isa Kalebic will take place from January 7 to 16, 2024,” the spokesperson said. . an official announcement.

The celebration, which will be spread over nine days, will begin with the proposal of a wedding ceremony to receive the Royal Command, followed by performances by royal court musicians to officially mark the start of the wedding.

The wedding will be solemnized at the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque on January 11.

After this, the royal wedding reception will take place, with a lavish banquet attended by guests from all over the world.