https://www.scmp.com/rss/517931/feed The latest news, stories and updates on Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei, one of the world's longest-reigning monarchs. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Carol Yang Carol Yang China is pushing forward with several projects designed to boost its trade ties with Southeast Asia – including a major port upgrade in Brunei – as the region emerges as a pivotal front in the US-China trade war. Work has already begun on a major expansion of the port in Muara – Brunei’s largest port, which is jointly operated by a state-owned Chinese company – that will see the facility’s capacity more than double to 500,000 20-foot equivalent units (TEU), according to the Brunei Economic... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3321453/china-presses-ahead-southeast-asia-port-expansion-us-tensions-simmer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3321453/china-presses-ahead-southeast-asia-port-expansion-us-tensions-simmer?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Aug 2025 00:00:14 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has been discharged from hospital and will remain in the Malaysian capital for a few more days to rest, his office has said. Sultan Hassanal was admitted to hospital in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday due to fatigue, though his office had insisted the world’s longest-serving monarch was in “good health”. “His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah … praise be to God, is back at the Grand Hyatt Hotel after resting a few days at the National Heart Institute, Kuala Lumpur,” his... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3312609/sultan-brunei-hassanal-bolkiah-discharged-hospital-malaysia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3312609/sultan-brunei-hassanal-bolkiah-discharged-hospital-malaysia?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 May 2025 14:05:49 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah was hospitalised in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday due to fatigue, according to an official statement. The sultan “has been feeling tired”, the Prime Minister’s Office in Bandar Seri Begawan said in a statement late on Tuesday. He “is in good health”. Malaysia’s doctors have advised the 78-year-old ruler to rest at the National Heart Institute for several days, according to the statement. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday said the sultan was “stable... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3312047/sultan-brunei-hassanal-bolkiah-78-hospitalised-malaysia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3312047/sultan-brunei-hassanal-bolkiah-78-hospitalised-malaysia?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 May 2025 01:30:06 +0000 Hadi Azmi Hadi Azmi Southeast Asian leaders have said they are “deeply concerned” about the violence and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Myanmar, in a statement at the end of the Asean summit in Kuala Lumpur, but significantly held back from further action against a junta that continues to kill civilians four years after it seized power. The junta has continued deadly air strikes against civilian areas held by ethnic armed groups and pro-democracy forces in the weeks following a devastating earthquake in... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3312024/concerned-asean-leaders-fail-issue-fresh-condemnation-myanmars-junta?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3312024/concerned-asean-leaders-fail-issue-fresh-condemnation-myanmars-junta?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 May 2025 14:00:37 +0000 The Philippines has signed a maritime cooperation deal with Brunei to boost “stability of the region”, but analysts say Bandar Seri Begawan’s ties with China could limit its commitment to working with Manila on countering Beijing’s influence in the South China Sea. In his first official visit to Brunei on Tuesday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr signed a deal with the country’s monarch, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, that committed their two nations to mutually developing their maritime... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3264610/philippines-brunei-sign-deal-closer-maritime-cooperation-eye-beijing-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3264610/philippines-brunei-sign-deal-closer-maritime-cooperation-eye-beijing-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 May 2024 13:00:17 +0000 What would you wear if you could get your hands on the most coveted watches in the world? For Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei, the answer is apparently a US$300 battery-powered digital watch. The fourth son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei recently took his name off the list of Asia’s most eligible bachelors, marrying Anisha Rosnah in an elaborate 10-day-long celebration fit for royalty. The ceremony took place in January at the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, and the world was immediately... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3250406/prince-abdul-mateen-bruneis-eclectic-watch-collection-rolex-daytona-and-gmt-master-ii-patek-philippe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3250406/prince-abdul-mateen-bruneis-eclectic-watch-collection-rolex-daytona-and-gmt-master-ii-patek-philippe?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Feb 2024 08:00:13 +0000 Designing the tiara that would be worn by Princess Anisha Rosnah during her lavish wedding to one of Asia’s most eligible bachelors, Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei, was a “once in a lifetime experience” for Singaporean jewellery designer Roslind Ng. The 10-day wedding event, which kicked off on January 7, featured several banquets, a royal court of musicians and a star-studded guest list, all befitting a royal family with enormous wealth – Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei and father... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3249971/singapore-jewellers-crowning-moment-designing-brunei-princess-anisha-rosnahs-tiara-worn-her-wedding?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3249971/singapore-jewellers-crowning-moment-designing-brunei-princess-anisha-rosnahs-tiara-worn-her-wedding?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Jan 2024 04:00:19 +0000 Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei is officially off the market, as the royal (who was once dubbed Asia’s most eligible bachelor) has tied the knot with Anisha Isa-Kalebic, aka Anisha Rosnah binti Adam. The anticipated 10-day wedding ceremony kicked off on January 7, featuring a mix of banquets, a royal court of musicians and a star-studded guest list, and is expected to wrap up on January 16. Here’s everything you need to know about the glittering events – from the outfits to the guest... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3248436/prince-mateen-bruneis-ott-10-day-wedding-celebrations-revealed-asian-royal-hired-angelina-jolie-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3248436/prince-mateen-bruneis-ott-10-day-wedding-celebrations-revealed-asian-royal-hired-angelina-jolie-and?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Jan 2024 04:30:24 +0000 Lavish celebrations for the wedding of Brunei’s Prince Abdul Mateen and his wife reached a climax on Sunday with a glittering ceremony attended by government leaders and blue-blooded guests from Asia and the Middle East. Mateen, 32, wore a ceremonial uniform while his 29-year-old bride was in a long white dress and sparkling jewels for the event at the sprawling Istana Nurul Iman palace. They made their first public appearance as a married couple in a procession through the normally sleepy... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3248364/world-leaders-royals-grace-brunei-prince-abdul-mateens-wedding-regal-ceremony-reaches-climax?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3248364/world-leaders-royals-grace-brunei-prince-abdul-mateens-wedding-regal-ceremony-reaches-climax?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Jan 2024 05:13:15 +0000 In real life he’s a prince of an Islamic sultanate steeped in centuries-old traditions, but on Instagram Brunei’s Abdul Mateen is more Hollywood than royalty as he flies in fighter jets, drives speedboats and poses bare-chested after workouts. Mateen, 32, was one of Asia’s most eligible bachelors until he married his 29-year-old fiancée on Thursday in a male-only ceremony at a mosque in the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. As the 10th child and fourth son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, he is unlikely... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3248212/how-cultural-instagrammer-prince-abdul-mateen-winning-hearts-and-minds-young-bruneians-one-post-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3248212/how-cultural-instagrammer-prince-abdul-mateen-winning-hearts-and-minds-young-bruneians-one-post-time?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Jan 2024 08:11:52 +0000 Brunei’s polo-playing Prince Abdul Mateen, one of Asia’s most eligible bachelors, married his commoner fiancée on Thursday as part of a lavish 10-day celebration in the oil-rich sultanate. An Islamic marriage ceremony for the 32-year-old prince and Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah, 29, was held inside a gold-domed mosque in the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. Mateen is the 10th child of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah – the world’s longest reigning monarch and once the richest man on the planet – and is well down... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3248039/bruneis-prince-abdul-mateen-marry-commoner-fiancee-10-day-royal-extravaganza-nears-climax?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3248039/bruneis-prince-abdul-mateen-marry-commoner-fiancee-10-day-royal-extravaganza-nears-climax?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Jan 2024 05:21:44 +0000 The first royal wedding of the year is set to commence this Sunday, and it’s taking place in Asia this time round. After announcing their engagement in October, Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei and his fiancée Anisha Isa Kalebic will tie the knot in a lavish wedding ceremony from January 7 to January 16. Here’s everything we know about the upcoming nuptials: Who is Prince Mateen of Brunei? Per Town & Country, Prince Mateen, 32, is Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei’s fourth son and 10th... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3247411/inside-prince-mateens-upcoming-10-day-wedding-extravaganza-sultan-bruneis-hot-son-will-tie-knot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3247411/inside-prince-mateens-upcoming-10-day-wedding-extravaganza-sultan-bruneis-hot-son-will-tie-knot?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Jan 2024 10:00:12 +0000 Oh, how we love a royal wedding – even if it means saying goodbye to any fairy tale hopes of landing a bachelor like Prince Abdul Mateen. The Bruneian royal, who has ranked among the “most eligible bachelors in Asia”, is officially off the market and is set to tie the knot with his fiancée in a dreamy wedding ceremony next January. So who’s the lucky lady? According to the Independent, the handsome blue blood will marry Anisha Rosnah, the granddaughter of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s special... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3237553/asias-most-eligible-bachelor-prince-mateen-getting-married-bruneian-royal-will-tie-knot-anisha?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3237553/asias-most-eligible-bachelor-prince-mateen-getting-married-bruneian-royal-will-tie-knot-anisha?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Oct 2023 10:00:13 +0000 Australia’s economic ties with Southeast Asia have been mixed due to challenges in expanding business there, but observers say the relationship could be headed for a turning point as Canberra intensifies its interests in the region amid softer relations with China. “Australian institutions – big and small – are increasingly convinced that Asean is on its way to the first world. Primarily, Asean is opening up to the world,” said Australia’s former trade minister Andrew Robb, among those who have... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3225284/australia-asean-trade-ties-set-turning-point-now-theres-different-appetite?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3225284/australia-asean-trade-ties-set-turning-point-now-theres-different-appetite?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jun 2023 06:00:21 +0000 Business Insider Business Insider Worldwide, scientists have found that there’s around a 20cm, or 7.8 inch, difference between the average height of a child in the tallest and shortest countries, according to the BBC. When it comes to adults, in countries like the Netherlands – ranked as the tallest on Earth – the average person towers as high as 175.62cm (5 feet 7.96 inches). But at the other end of the scale, the average height is considerably lower. Below is a ranking of average height data compiled using a 2020 medical... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3223878/asia-has-14-worlds-top-25-shortest-countries-can-you-guess-whos-no-1?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3223878/asia-has-14-worlds-top-25-shortest-countries-can-you-guess-whos-no-1?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jun 2023 04:32:07 +0000 King Charles invited around 2,200 guests to witness his coronation at Westminster Abbey, London, on May 6. The coronation forms part of a religious ceremony that has remained largely unchanged for over 1,000 years. The king had a weekend of special events planned and invited Asian royalty to take part in the historic event. King Charles actually broke tradition by inviting reigning kings and queens to his coronation – it is usually princes and princess who attend. The addition was welcomed by... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3219913/asian-royals-who-dazzled-king-charles-coronation-bruneis-sultan-hassanal-bolkiah-and-son-bhutans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3219913/asian-royals-who-dazzled-king-charles-coronation-bruneis-sultan-hassanal-bolkiah-and-son-bhutans?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 May 2023 07:16:39 +0000 This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Malaysia’s king convened a special meeting between the heads of the nation’s nine royal houses on Thursday, on day five of a post-election political impasse. Saturday’s polls led to a hung parliament, although the reformist long-time opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) alliance and the Malay-Muslim Perikatan Nasional (PH) coalition led by... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3200790/malaysia-election-2022-decision-anwar-or-muhyiddin-pm-nears-sultans-meet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3200790/malaysia-election-2022-decision-anwar-or-muhyiddin-pm-nears-sultans-meet?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Nov 2022 01:43:50 +0000 The wealthiest female monarch in the world right now is also the only reigning queen left after Queen Elizabeth died in September. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is a lone wolf in the competition, as her other current female contenders were all queen consorts who married into royalty. But the chain-smoking Danish blue-blood, who recently stripped her grandkids of their royal titles, stands strong on the throne with a net worth of US$40 million, according to the Guinness World Records. Although... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3200420/5-richest-queens-all-time-net-worths-ranked-chinas-empress-wu-and-russias-catherine-great-egypts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3200420/5-richest-queens-all-time-net-worths-ranked-chinas-empress-wu-and-russias-catherine-great-egypts?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Nov 2022 16:10:15 +0000 The United States and China promoted their ambitious plans for the Indo-Pacific at an Apec business forum, even as other leaders warned of the dangers of splitting the globe into two blocs. US Vice-President Kamala Harris on Friday underscored Washington’s “enduring” long-term plan for the region, amid growing uncertainty among governments and businesses over its lack of commitment to Asia. Biden eyes boosting US-Asean ties in first post-pandemic ‘summit season’ “Our message is clear. The United... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3200179/us-and-china-vie-win-over-asia-pacific-france-warns-need-single-global-order?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3200179/us-and-china-vie-win-over-asia-pacific-france-warns-need-single-global-order?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Nov 2022 14:30:07 +0000 When you’ve got billions in the bank, what better way to treat yourself than with a fleet of ultra-luxury cars? The 29th sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III, takes the hobby to a whole new level. According to reports, he has over 7,000 cars from the most expensive makers. The exact amount, however, isn’t clearly known as the sultan likes to be notoriously secretive about his wheels. If you’re wondering how on Earth one comes to build such a gigantic garage, consider... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3199688/5-sultan-bruneis-most-lavish-supercars-hassanal-bolkiah-rides-bmw-nazca-m12s-ferrari-f40-lms-bentley?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3199688/5-sultan-bruneis-most-lavish-supercars-hassanal-bolkiah-rides-bmw-nazca-m12s-ferrari-f40-lms-bentley?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Nov 2022 00:00:15 +0000 With world leaders and dignitaries flown in from across the globe, and a crowd of over two million people filling the streets of London, Queen Elizabeth’s funeral was closely watched in Britain and beyond, including in Asia. Across the region, citizens tuned in to the state funeral – Britain’s first since the passing of Winston Churchill in 1965 – on live streams on YouTube and other social media platforms. Rather than due to colonial legacies or memories, Asians are likely to have been drawn to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3193049/asians-love-good-show-and-british-delivered-why-malaysia-singapore?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3193049/asians-love-good-show-and-british-delivered-why-malaysia-singapore?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Sep 2022 12:48:16 +0000 When the funeral for Britain’s Queen Elizabeth takes place at Westminster Abbey on Monday, a host of world leaders, royals and other dignitaries are expected to attend, in an event likely to be the most-watched in history. The guest list includes many Western leaders, from US President and First Lady Joe and Jill Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to French President Emmanuel Macron and Australian and New Zealand prime ministers Anthony Albanese and Jacinda Ardern. Asian royalty... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3192831/asian-leaders-malaysia-singapore-sri-lanka-arrive-queen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3192831/asian-leaders-malaysia-singapore-sri-lanka-arrive-queen?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Sep 2022 10:00:20 +0000 Billionaires are no strangers to the high life – especially in the case of private jets. Although owning at least one is a staple asset for many of the world’s wealthiest, not all jets are created equal, and some are inevitably more impressive than others – and of course come with different price tags. So, which billionaires own the most extravagant rides? 12. Jay-Z, 52: Bombardier Challenger 850 – US$40 million Net worth: US$1.3 billion Queen Bey and her billionaire hubby Jay-Z treat... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3184630/14-most-extravagant-celebrity-private-jets-kim?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3184630/14-most-extravagant-celebrity-private-jets-kim?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Jul 2022 17:00:28 +0000 Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, 50, the eldest child of King Harald and Queen Sonja and fourth in line to the Norwegian throne, recently made headlines after she got engaged to an American shaman named Durek Verrett, who’s known to have A-list celebrity clients including actress and Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow. The princess, also referred to simply as Märtha Louise when she’s not performing her royal duties, has quite the double life – half the time she’s pursuing her many business ventures... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3181213/meet-princess-martha-louise-norway-newly-engaged-gwyneth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3181213/meet-princess-martha-louise-norway-newly-engaged-gwyneth?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Jun 2022 21:00:24 +0000 Since they moved to California two years ago, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been working on several new projects, ranging from Netflix to Spotify. Much of these were supposed to launch this year in an attempt to bring the Duke and Duchess of Sussex a new Hollywood career and further take their fame away from the royal spotlight. Although the couple are no longer working royals, they will attend this year’s Platinum Jubilee with Queen Elizabeth. But it’s not all been sunshine and rainbows... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3179897/meghan-markle-and-prince-harrys-bad-luck-streak-netflix?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3179897/meghan-markle-and-prince-harrys-bad-luck-streak-netflix?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 May 2022 22:00:28 +0000 Whether it’s their extravagant lifestyles or enthralling histories, royal families have been intriguing the public for centuries. And even though the British royals seem to get a hefty share of global media attention, there are indeed a number of other European aristocrats that are equally fascinating and glamorous. Take Prince Achileas-Andreas for example. The handsome 21-year-old is descended from a notably illustrious lineage and – as can be seen from his Instagram alone – the dapper young... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3178364/meet-hunky-prince-achileas-andreas-greece-and-denmark-21?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3178364/meet-hunky-prince-achileas-andreas-greece-and-denmark-21?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 May 2022 00:00:17 +0000 A year ago, her life was thrown into disarray after a 10-day trip turned into a nightmare seven months away from her family, filled with health traumas. Now, as Princess Charlene of Monaco attempts to not only regain control of her public life, but to be present in the lives of her children, more details around her health have emerged. The princess spent months in South Africa undergoing several medical procedures, which left her weak and separated from her family. On top of that, she also had... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3177924/price-royalty-new-details-about-princess-charlenes-health?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3177924/price-royalty-new-details-about-princess-charlenes-health?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 May 2022 10:00:32 +0000 Crazy Rich Asians was unleashed on the world in 2018 and, as Time correctly predicted on the eve of its release, the film was “destined to become a hit”, marking a watershed moment for representation in Hollywood. Pegged as the first mainstream Hollywood productions with both an all-Asian cast and an Asian-American lead since 1993, the feelgood smash raked in US$237 million worldwide at the box office, making it the highest-grossing romcom of the decade, according to Vox. Stars shone – some new,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3177668/crazy-rich-asians-cast-2022-net-worths-ranked-bond-girl?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3177668/crazy-rich-asians-cast-2022-net-worths-ranked-bond-girl?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 May 2022 19:00:24 +0000 Bringing all the glitz, glam and luxury she can muster, Mimi Morris debuts on Netflix’s Bling Empire season two as an exciting new addition to their cast. She floods her Instagram with photos of private jets, designer dresses, extravagant parties and snippets of her “castle” where she lives in the US. Here are a few things to know about this real-life crazy rich Asian … 1. A rich marriage – in all sense of the word Coming from a wealthy background herself, Mimi Morris married millionaire... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3177494/meet-mimi-morris-newest-cast-member-netflixs-bling-empire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3177494/meet-mimi-morris-newest-cast-member-netflixs-bling-empire?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 May 2022 17:00:16 +0000 Queen Elizabeth will celebrate her Platinum Jubilee in June, marking an unprecedented 70 years on the British throne. The word “jubilee” is used to describe a milestone anniversary of a monarch’s accession to the throne. Queen Elizabeth, 96, succeeded to the throne at the age of 25 upon the death of her father, King George VI, who passed away on February 6, 1952. The Platinum Jubilee is particularly significant, as the queen is the first British monarch to achieve a 70-year reign. So, what can... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3177292/everything-know-about-queen-elizabeths-platinum-jubilee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3177292/everything-know-about-queen-elizabeths-platinum-jubilee?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 May 2022 10:00:23 +0000 When spring comes around, nature is reborn for another four seasons. Sprouts emerge from the ground, leaves start to grow on trees, and flowers of all shapes and sizes are in full bloom. Not only does nature on Earth flourish as we orbit around the sun – we’re also greeted by new constellations that reside in a different section of space. These jewellery brands have been inspired by natural phenomena, capturing these wondrous moments and immortalising them into gorgeous works of art. Chanel’s... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3176378/5-best-nature-inspired-jewellery-pieces-spring-chanels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3176378/5-best-nature-inspired-jewellery-pieces-spring-chanels?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 May 2022 02:00:27 +0000 It’s the return that royal fans have been waiting for: Princess Charlene Wittstock of Monaco has, after months of medical traumas, family separation and much speculation, made her first public appearance in months with her husband Prince Albert and children Jacques and Gabriella. She was at the sixth round of the 2022 Formula E championship being held in Monaco, showing off a platinum blonde cropped hairstyle, grey suit and simple diamond earrings. Throughout Charlene’s year of confusion,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3176375/princess-charlene-monacos-royal-return-she-finally-road?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3176375/princess-charlene-monacos-royal-return-she-finally-road?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 May 2022 10:00:23 +0000 He was once the world’s richest person and currently has a net worth estimated at around US$28 billion. The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, is also the country’s prime minister. The sultan has a degree from the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst (the same one Princes William and Harry attended) and is known for his extravagant spending. From his love of gold (even his sinks are made of the stuff), to flying his barber from the UK to Brunei to make sure his locks are in order, the sultan... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3174250/how-sultan-brunei-hassanal-bolkiah-spends-his-billions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3174250/how-sultan-brunei-hassanal-bolkiah-spends-his-billions?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Apr 2022 02:00:19 +0000 Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah of Brunei’s highly anticipated royal wedding kicked off on January 16 and wrapped up on the January 25. Unlike her siblings, Princess Fadzilah has lead rather a private life, which only served to make her nuptials all the more intriguing as her big day drew closer. And it’s not just Brunei royal family weddings we’re obsessed with. Here’s why we at STYLE can’t get enough of one of the world’s wealthiest families, as seen in our four biggest stories on them to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3165133/princess-fadzilah-bruneis-10-day-royal-wedding?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3165133/princess-fadzilah-bruneis-10-day-royal-wedding?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Jan 2022 22:00:20 +0000 The bride was radiant in red and the groom dashingly draped in gold jewellery in a wedding that lit up Brunei. Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah, the daughter of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah who is one of the world’s wealthiest people and royals, married Awang Abdullah Nabil Mahmoud Al-Hashimi in a ceremony of events spread out over days. Not much information about Princess Fadzilah’s new husband has been disclosed to the public, and the world has been on the alert since December 31 last year, when... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3164791/what-did-bruneis-princess-fadzilah-wear-her-wedding?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3164791/what-did-bruneis-princess-fadzilah-wear-her-wedding?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Jan 2022 09:14:53 +0000 As Princess Fadzilah’s 10 day-long marriage rites continue, the world has their eyes set on Brunei’s royal brood. They are, after all, children of mega-rich Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who has a reported net worth of US$28 billion. We’ve come to know of the sporty Princess Fadzilah’s netball playing skills and her “heart of gold”, now let’s take a closer look at her three siblings and the many interesting titbits about them. Inside Brunei’s lavish royal weddings, from Malik to Majeedah Prince... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3164554/meet-bruneis-crazy-rich-royal-siblings-princess-fadzilah?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3164554/meet-bruneis-crazy-rich-royal-siblings-princess-fadzilah?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Jan 2022 22:00:20 +0000 The much-awaited wedding of Princess Fadzilah, daughter of the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, begun on January 16, and she has been showered with well wishes from across the globe. As per reports, a royal banquet commenced the 10-day long rites that end on the evening of January 24. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @bruneiroyals As the world awaits more news about the ceremony, we look back at the fancy details of the Brunei royal family’s most recent... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3164076/bruneis-lavish-royal-weddings-princess-fadzilah-gets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3164076/bruneis-lavish-royal-weddings-princess-fadzilah-gets?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Jan 2022 08:24:14 +0000 Unlike her siblings (her late brother Prince Azim is a familiar name among Hollywood’s elite and her hunky heartthrob younger brother Prince Mateen is Instagram-famous for obvious reasons), Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah – or, simply, Princess Fadzilah – is rather private and seems to keep to herself. Here’s what we know about the royal, who is the daughter of Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah from his second marriage, and who is getting married this month in a 10-day ceremony that kicked off... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3163783/meet-sporty-princess-fadzilah-brunei-or-fad-national?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3163783/meet-sporty-princess-fadzilah-brunei-or-fad-national?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Jan 2022 05:19:08 +0000 If you’re a royal watcher or celebrity hound fascinated with the lives of the rich and fabulous, social media is a great way to get glimpses into their daily lives. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex famously shut down their @sussexroyal Instagram account in March 2020 when they stepped back from royal life, opting to live a more private existence. But could they be missing out on another form of revenue by not being on social media? A recent survey by money.co.uk in collaboration with Influencer... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3158359/10-royals-highest-instagram-earning-potential-revealed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3158359/10-royals-highest-instagram-earning-potential-revealed?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Dec 2021 22:00:32 +0000 Last month, Canada sent a warship through the Taiwan Strait alongside the US for the very first time, amid an increase in Chinese military exercises in the self-ruled island’s air defence identification zone. The appearance of the Canadian frigate HMCS Winnipeg in waterways that are increasingly the staging ground for competition between major powers is one of several indications that just weeks after the release of two Canadians held by China – the ‘two Michaels’ – Ottawa is ready to join a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/article/3154457/has-chinas-release-two-michaels-allowed-canada-be-latest-us-ally?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/article/3154457/has-chinas-release-two-michaels-allowed-canada-be-latest-us-ally?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Nov 2021 14:30:12 +0000 The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) bloc on Thursday said it had agreed with China to upgrade their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, a day after reaching a similar deal with Australia. Australia’s clinching of the elevated partnership was a symbolic win for Canberra in getting ahead of Beijing in securing the first such deal with the Southeast Asia region, which has become a strategic battleground between China and the US. The announcement was made by... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3154054/asean-upgrades-strategic-ties-china-says-myanmar-integral?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3154054/asean-upgrades-strategic-ties-china-says-myanmar-integral?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Oct 2021 11:23:21 +0000 Japan’s Princess Mako will on Tuesday register her marriage to her university sweetheart Kei Komuro, a 30-year-old commoner, without any of the traditional, festive rites. The princess, also 30, will then relinquish her title, as is customary for women who marry outside the Imperial Family. She has declined a payment of some US$1.35 million from taxpayers usually given to women who leave the royal family, and is expected to move into a Tokyo condominium after which she will leave for the US to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3153610/japans-princess-makos-low-key-wedding-unlike-lavish-royal-unions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3153610/japans-princess-makos-low-key-wedding-unlike-lavish-royal-unions?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Oct 2021 23:00:29 +0000 Kate Berbano Kate Berbano Prince William and Prince Harry might have been off the market for quite a while now, but there’s no shortage of eligible bachelor royals out there. Malaysia’s Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah might just top our list, with many fans claiming that he is the definition of humble and down to earth. This 25-year-old regent of Pahang is the oldest living biological son of the current King of Malaysia and Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah, and his queen consort, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3146084/move-over-prince-harry-hello-tengku-hassanal-ibrahim-alam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3146084/move-over-prince-harry-hello-tengku-hassanal-ibrahim-alam?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Aug 2021 14:10:35 +0000 The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, beset with questions about internal unity, on Wednesday said it was appointing one of Brunei’s top diplomats to spearhead overtures to junta-ruled Myanmar as the country reels from a worsening Covid-19 crisis. The decision to appoint Erywan Yusof, Brunei’s second minister for foreign affairs, as a special envoy was published in a joint communique of the bloc on Wednesday, two days after its 10 foreign ministers, including a representative of the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3143809/asean-appoints-brunei-diplomat-erywan-yusof-envoy-myanmar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3143809/asean-appoints-brunei-diplomat-erywan-yusof-envoy-myanmar?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Aug 2021 10:45:54 +0000 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called on Southeast Asian nations to be on the alert for external forces interfering in Myanmar as the military junta faces rising international pressure. Wrapping up his week-long series of meetings with his counterparts from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines in Fujian, Wang said efforts should be made to stop tensions escalating in Myanmar. “We are aware that we have to be alert to some external forces infiltrating Myanmar with ulterior... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3128371/chinese-foreign-minister-wang-yi-warns-asean-be-alert-external?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3128371/chinese-foreign-minister-wang-yi-warns-asean-be-alert-external?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Apr 2021 13:00:18 +0000 Brunei, the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), on Monday threw its support behind a regional leaders’ meeting to discuss developments in Myanmar, and says it has asked officials to prepare for a meeting in Jakarta. Indonesia has led efforts by members of Asean, to which Myanmar belongs, to encourage a negotiated solution, despite a long-standing policy of not commenting on each other’s domestic problems. In a joint statement with Malaysia, Brunei said both countries had... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3128379/asean-leaders-meet-over-myanmar-jakarta-bloc-chair-brunei?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3128379/asean-leaders-meet-over-myanmar-jakarta-bloc-chair-brunei?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Apr 2021 11:36:54 +0000 1. Does Malaysia have a king? Since independence, the country’s monarchs have mainly performed ceremonial functions, but King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad has emerged as a major political force amid recent turmoil. Learn more 2. Who is the queen of Thailand? Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn is married to Queen Suthida, but has a consort named Sineenat. Learn more 3. How do you marry a Malaysian prince? A long line of Malaysian royals have married non-Malays, sometimes controversially. Learn... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3125161/15-things-you-may-not-know-about-asian-royalty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3125161/15-things-you-may-not-know-about-asian-royalty?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Mar 2021 10:41:44 +0000 Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat on Monday said the first face-to-face talks between the United States and China under the Biden administration were a “step in the right direction”, though he warned that the global order was transiting through “choppier seas” and that Asean had to remain united as it navigated the shifting political tides. “Despite the tough rhetoric, it is a step in the right direction. The meeting showed a recognition from both sides on the need for dialogue... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3126424/singapore-weighs-us-china-talks-urges-asean-focus-own-interests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3126424/singapore-weighs-us-china-talks-urges-asean-focus-own-interests?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Mar 2021 07:13:41 +0000 Myanmar security forces on Friday shot dead nine opponents of a February 1 coup, a funeral services provider and media said, as Indonesia urged an end to the violence and the restoration of democracy, in an unusually blunt call from a neighbour. Military and police have used increasingly violent tactics to suppress demonstrations by supporters of detained elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, but that has not put off the protesters, with crowds turning out again in several towns. Security forces... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3126132/myanmar-coup-ousted-lawmakers-may-turn-icc-hold-military?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3126132/myanmar-coup-ousted-lawmakers-may-turn-icc-hold-military?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Mar 2021 06:44:23 +0000 Asean foreign ministers held an emergency meeting on Tuesday afternoon during which the bloc called on Myanmar’s military rulers to stop violence against demonstrators and immediately release civilian leaders as a first step towards quelling the unrest that has followed last month’s coup. Ahead of the talks, police in Myanmar continued to use violence – including the firing of live bullets – to disperse crowds as protests continued in Yangon and across the country, Reuters reported, citing... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3123748/asean-expected-tell-myanmar-military-stop-violence-release-aung?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3123748/asean-expected-tell-myanmar-military-stop-violence-release-aung?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Mar 2021 08:44:17 +0000