Al-Muhtadee Billah Bolkiah
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Al-Muhtadee Billah Bolkiah | |
Born | February 17, 1974 (age 33) Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei |
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Other names | Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah |
Title | Crown Prince of Brunei |
Spouse | Sarah Pengiran Salleh |
Children | Abdul Muntaqim |
Parents | Hassanal Bolkiah and Queen Saleha |
Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah (Jawi: المهتدي بالله بلقية) (born February 17, 1974) is the first born son and heir to the Sultan of Brunei. He is the son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Queen Saleha.
Prince Billah studied at Emanuel School and Magdalen College, Oxford University in 1997. While at Oxford, he followed a programme of study specially designed for him involving Islamic Studies and International Relations. He had previously attended St. Andrew's School in Bandar Seri Begawan for his primary education. He is a pool and snooker enthusiast, and participated in the 2006 WPA Men's World Nine-ball Championship.
On September 9, 2004, he married 17-year old Sarah Pengiran Salleh at Nurul Iman Palace in Bandar Seri Begawan in an elaborate affair. Some considered the ceremony to be extravagant, as its cost was estimated at US$5,000,000 or GBP 2,800,000.
He is also the Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, a general in the Brunei Armed Forces and an inspector in the Brunei Police Forces.
He owns supercars from around the world, including Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, Mercedes McLaren SLR and Ferrari 599 GTB.
On March 17, 2007 at 3.50 pm, Prince Billah and Princess Sarah welcomed the birth of their first child and likely future heir to the Brunei throne, a son named Abdul Muntaqim. In honour of the birth of the prince, a 19-gun salute was fired from the cannons on the grounds of Istana Nurul Iman, the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei. The gun-salute is traditionally carried out to mark the births of immediate members of Sultan's family, and serves as an announcement of a royal birth to the Bruneian people.