The first royal wedding of 2023! Sultan of Brunei’s daughter Princess Azemah marries her cousin

Princess Azemah of Brunei tied the knot in extravagant fashion as her and her new husband kicked off their week of wedding celebrations. 

The bride, 38, and her new husband Prince Bahar ibni Jefri Bolkiah – who is her first cousin –  held their various ceremonies at her father’s official residence Istana Nurul Iman in Bandar Seri Begawan earlier this month.

After billionaire Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 76, gave his formal blessing, the couple’s wedding week began on January 11 with the Royal Powdering Ceremony.

The traditional service – which was held at the Balai Singgahsana Indera Buana on the palace grounds – involves the couple’s family blessing them with coloured rice power and rubbing scented oils into their hands to wish them well.

For this event, the bride dazzled in a fuscia pink full-length dress and gold jewellery to offset her crown. 

Following this, the couple then held their their Islamic ceremony at the Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque, which is one of Brunei’s national landmarks.

The ceremony, held at the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, saw the groom pronounce his vows in front of an all-male group of attendees, including the Sultan, who acted as his daughter’s representative at the wedding. 

After they had officially tying the knot, the Sultan also a reception at his residence for guests.

The couple’s week of wedding celebrations began with a Royal Powdering Ceremony, which was held in the grounds of the billionaire Sultan’s home

The service involves the couple’s family blessing them with coloured rice power and rubbing scented oils into their hands to wish them well

For this event, Azemar dazzled in a sparkling ivory long-sleeved dress with a mermaid skirt. 

The bride kept her hair mostly hidden under a matching glittering veil and finished off her look with a silver tiara and sparkly bouquet of faux flowers. 

Meanwhile, her husband matched her outfit perfectly in a white military uniform for the occasion. 

Sharing snippets from the week on Instagram, Azemah’s brother Prince Abdul Mateen wrote: ‘So happy for my dearest big sister and BJB.’ 

The bride bows to her stepmother during her official wedding ceremony in Brunei earlier this  month

The newlyweds pose with guests after their first wedding reception. The bride dazzled in a glittering white gown with mermaid-style skirt and matching veil

The couple held their their Islamic ceremony at the Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque (pictured), which is one of Brunei’s national landmarks

The Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah pictured with his son Prince Abdul Mateen attending the Queen’s funeral in September 2022

Princess Azemah is the Sultan’s fifth daughter. Last year, the bride’s younger sister Fadzillah Lubabul married Awang Abdullah Nabil Mahmoud Al-Hashim.

Kingston University graduate Princess Fadzillah, the ninth of the sultan’s 12 children, is captain of the Brunei national netball team and healthcare campaigner who stays largely out of the spotlight. 

The newlyweds also have a sister, Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah, 37, and brother Prince Azim, who died in 2020 aged 38.

Following the Queen’s death last September, the Sultan of Brunei became the world’s longest-serving living monarch.