Al-Muhtadee Billah

Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah was born at Istana Darul Hana, Bandar Seri Begawan on 17 February 1974.[2] 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 grandparents were Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III and Pengiran Anak Damit. His maternal grandparents were Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohammad Alam and Pengiran Anak Hajah Besar.

Al-Muhtadee Billah's education began early in life, at the Prince-Princess School at the Istana Darul Hana.[2] He also had his primary education at St. Andrew's School in Bandar Seri Begawan.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] He matriculated for admission to University of Oxford's Foreign Service Programme at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he graduated in 1997.[4] While at Oxford, he followed a program 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 Quran and the 'ayat-ayat lazim' and also studied various aspects of Islamic teachings.

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'.[5] 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.[6]

On 9 September 2004, he married 17-year-old Pengiran Anak Sarah at Nurul Iman Palace in Bandar Seri Begawan.[10] 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.[10] The wedding was also attended by heads of state and government from Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.[11] The wedding included a bersanding ceremony, and a drive around Bandar Seri Begawan in a golden-topped Rolls-Royce.[12]

The royal couple have four children. Their first child and future heir to the Brunei throne, Pengiran Muda Abdul Muntaqim, was born on 17 March 2007 at the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital.[13][14] Their second child, a daughter, Pengiran Anak Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah, was born on 2 January 2011.[15] Pengiran Anak Sarah gave birth to their third child and second son, Pengiran Muda Muhammad Aiman on 7 June 2015.[16] Their fourth child and second daughter, Pengiran Anak Faathimah Az-Zahraa' Raihaanul Bolkiah, was born at 15:54, on 1 December 2017.[17]

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, and later the 2008 WPA World Eight-ball Championship.[18] 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.[19][20]

A football club, the Brunei DPMM FC is owned by Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah, who previously played as a goalkeeper for the team.[21]

• Token of gratitude from the people (Tanda Kesyukuran Dari Rakyat). 20 February 1974.
• Son and heir for Brunei Sultan. Bernard Long.
• Curahan kasih = Affectionate expression. 2004. OCLC 298379085. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)

• List of current heirs apparent

• Pictures from 2004 wedding