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Hassanal Bolkiah

The latest news, stories and updates on Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei, one of the world's longest-reigning monarchs.

Born

15 Jul 1946

Industry

Politics

Job Title

Sultan of Brunei

last updated:

7 October, 2024

Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (left) with Philippines’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr prior to a meeting at Istana Nurul Iman in Bandar Seri Begawan on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

The Philippines

Philippines, Brunei boost maritime ties, with eye on Beijing in South China Sea

The deal involves development of maritime capabilities through joint skills training, as well as research and information sharing.

30 May 2024 - 5:10PMvideocam

Royalty

Prince Mateen of Brunei’s watch collection, from Patek Philippe to Rolex

5 Feb 2024 - 12:01PM

Singapore

Singapore jeweller behind Bruneian princess’ tiara basks in royal wedding glam

27 Sep 2024 - 10:18AM

Royalty

What happened at Prince Mateen of Brunei’s overwhelmingly opulent 10-day wedding

Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei is officially off the market, as the man once known as Asia’s most eligible bachelor has tied the knot with his ‘commoner’ wife, Anisha Isa-Kalebic

15 Jan 2024 - 12:45PM

Prince Mateen of Brunei and Anisha Rosnah just got married in a lavish wedding. Photo: @tmski/Instagram

Royalty

‘I’m very happy for him’: leaders, royals grace Brunei prince’s wedding

Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and royals from the Middle East among guests who attended the glittering event at the palace.

15 Jan 2024 - 11:28AMvideocam

Fame and celebrity

Newlywed ‘cultural Instagrammer’ prince leaves Brunei’s Gen Z smitten

The newlywed monarch, who flies in fighter jets and drives speedboats, has boosted efforts to make the royal family relevant to the country’s younger generation.

12 Jan 2024 - 4:11PM

Royalty

‘Like a fairy tale’: Brunei prince marries commoner as royal event nears climax

A marriage ceremony for the polo-playing monarch and Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah was held inside a gold-domed mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan.

11 Jan 2024 - 3:49PM

People wave to a car carrying Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah after his son’s wedding at the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Royalty

Prince Mateen of Brunei’s upcoming 10-day wedding extravaganza

The first royal wedding of the year is set to commence this Sunday, and it’s taking place in Brunei this time round – here’s what we know about Prince Abdul Mateen’s lavish bash

7 Jan 2024 - 6:00PM

Weddings

Asia’s most eligible bachelor Prince Mateen is getting married!

Asia’s most eligible bachelor Prince Mateen is a trained helicopter pilot, polo player and a major in the Royal Brunei Air Force – so who’s the lucky lady he’s marrying?

12 Oct 2023 - 10:18AM

Australia

Australia’s appetite for Asean trade set to grow as mindsets change: experts

Businesses rushing to find alternative manufacturing hubs outside China and maturing of Asean economies could change Australian mindsets, former trade chief Andrew Robb says.

26 Jun 2023 - 4:26PM

Shipping containers at the Port of Brisbane in Australia. Photo: Bloomberg

Sri Lanka

Asia has 14 of the world’s top 25 shortest countries – can you guess who’s No 1?

There’s around a 20cm difference between children in the tallest and shortest nations, studies have found. Genes are part of the reason, but environmental factors such as poor diet could be more important.

13 Jun 2023 - 12:32PM

A girl uses her hand to measure her height. Average heights in several nations have both risen and fallen over recent decades. Photo: Shutterstock

Fame and celebrity

Meet the Asian royals who dazzled at King Charles’ coronation

King Charles’ coronation saw many Asian royals dazzling in uniforms, traditional dresses and suits … from Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino to Thailand’s Queen Suthida

9 May 2023 - 3:16PM

Malaysia election 2022

Malaysia’s Anwar sworn in as new PM; says China ties will be ‘enhanced’

Pakatan Harapan’s chief has been sworn in as Malaysia’s 10th prime minister, after five days of political uncertainty.

7 Sep 2023 - 5:30PMvideocam

Royalty

5 richest queens of all time – net worths, ranked: Empress Wu to Cleopatra

No, not Queen Elizabeth – meet the richest female monarchs in history, from trillionaires Empress Wu and Catherine the Great, to the powerful Cleopatra and Isabella of Spain

22 Nov 2022 - 12:10AM

Hatshepsut, Catherine the Great, Empress Wu, Isabella of Spain and Cleopatra were the five richest queens in history ... so how much would they have had in the bank today? Photos: Handout; Mary Evans Picture Library; @queen_isabella_of_spain/Instagram; @Egypteinsolite, @lifeofcleopatra/Twitter

US-China relations

As US and China vie for Asia-Pacific sway, France warns against divided world

US Vice-President Kamala Harris and Chinese President Xi Jinping have reiterated Asia-Pacific commitments as leaders gather for the Apec summit.

18 Nov 2022 - 10:30PMvideocam

Vice-President Kamala Harris addresses the Apec CEO summit in Bangkok on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Royalty

5 of the Sultan of Brunei’s most lavish supercars – out of his 7,000 rides

With a net worth of US$30 billion and a garage of over 7,000 cars, the Sultan of Brunei is no stranger to luxury wheels – here are five of his most extravagant and rare rides

16 Nov 2022 - 8:00AM

Queen Elizabeth II

‘A good show’: why Asians in ex-British colonies tuned in to queen’s funeral

Despite intense discussions in the last week over the ills left behind in Asia during British colonial rule, millions of people from Singapore to India watched the pomp and ceremony of the queen’s funeral. What’s behind Asia’s colonial nostalgia?

19 Sep 2022 - 10:38PM

Queen Elizabeth II

Queen funeral an opportunity for UK, Asia to strengthen ‘delicate Commonwealth links’

Monday’s funeral will bring together leaders and royalty from around the world, including Asia, but representatives from Russia and Myanmar are not invited.

17 Sep 2022 - 6:00PMvideocam

People queue in London on Friday to pay their respects to late Queen Elizabeth II. Her funeral will take place on Monday. Photo: AP

Private jets

14 most extravagant celebrity private jets – from Kim K to Elon Musk

Kim K and Elon Musk own Gulfstreams, while Donald Trump and Joseph Lau opted for Boeings … so which billionaire owns the most extravagant private jet?

10 Jul 2022 - 1:00AM

Royalty

Meet Norway’s Princess Märtha Louise, newly engaged to a spirit guide

Märtha Louise is something of a black sheep, fulfilling her royal duties half the time and opening eyebrow-raising businesses and writing books the rest – and now she’s engaged to a ‘spirit guru’

11 Jun 2022 - 5:00AM

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

Trouble in paradise? Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s recent bad luck

The Sussexes have faced some bad luck lately, from cancelled Netflix shows to Meghan’s failed blog relaunch … what’s going on?

1 Jun 2022 - 6:00AM

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, started Archewell together. Photo: AP

Royalty

Meet Prince Achileas-Andreas, the hunky royal of Greece and Denmark

He’s the son of Hong Kong-raised Crown Princess Marie-Chantal and Crown Prince Pavlos … here are 5 things to know about the handsome, jet-setting royal

20 May 2022 - 8:00AM

Prince Achileas-Andreas is the 21-year-old son of Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece and Marie-Chantal, Crown Princess of Greece. Photo: @achi_of_greece/Instagram

Royalty

The price of royalty: new details about Princess Charlene’s health scare revealed

Princess Charlene has had a tough year with health concerns, but could she really be getting paid by Prince Albert for her return?

16 May 2022 - 6:00PM

Crazy Rich Asians

Who is the richest Crazy Rich Asians cast member in 2022? Net worths, ranked

Crazy Rich Asians 2? As hype builds for a long-awaited sequel, we work out who is the richest OG cast member to date – from Michelle Yeoh to Henry Golding

16 May 2022 - 11:06AM

Fame and celebrity

Meet Mimi Morris, newest cast member on Netflix’s Bling Empire Season 2

Mimi Morris enjoys a lavish lifestyle … here’s what to know about the Vietnamese crazy rich Asian from Netflix’s Bling Empire

13 May 2022 - 1:00AM

Mimi Morris is the latest cast member to join Netflix’s Bling Empire. Photo: @mimi_morris_/Instagram

Royalty

Everything you need to know about Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee

And why Meghan and Prince Harry won’t be joining their relatives on the palace balcony this year

11 May 2022 - 6:00PM

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth waves to well-wishers during a walkabout on her 90th birthday in Windsor, west of London, on April 21, 2016. Photo: AFP

High Jewellery

The 5 best nature-inspired jewellery pieces for spring

Spring into action with elegant, nature-inspired pieces for the season, from Chanel’s camellia earrings to Van Cleef & Arpels’ ethereal Astre rose ring

4 May 2022 - 10:00AM

Royalty

Princess Charlene of Monaco’s royal return: is she finally on the road to recovery?

Concerned royal watchers can rest easy knowing that Princess Charlene appears to be on the mend after nearly a year of sickness and marriage trouble rumours – but how did it all start?

3 May 2022 - 6:00PM

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