Al-Muhtadee Billah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Al-Muhtadee Billah
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| Pengiran Muda Mahkota | |||||
Al-Muhtadee Billah in 2024
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| Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office | |||||
| Assumed office 24 May 2005 |
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| Monarch | Hassanal Bolkiah | ||||
| Prime Minister | Hassanal Bolkiah | ||||
| Born | 17 February 1974 Istana Darul Hana, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei |
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| Spouse |
Princess Sarah
(m. 2004) |
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| Issue |
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| House | Bolkiah | ||||
| Father | Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah | ||||
| Mother | Pengiran Anak Saleha | ||||
| Religion | Sunni Islam | ||||
| Education |
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| Military career | |||||
| Allegiance |  Brunei |
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| Service/ |
 Royal Brunei Armed Forces |
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| Years of active service | 2004–present | ||||
| Rank |  General |
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Al-Muhtadee Billah (born 17 February 1974) is the oldest son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Queen Saleha of Brunei. He is the Crown Prince of Brunei Darussalam. This means he is next in line to become the Sultan of Brunei. He is expected to lead the country and its government in the future.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah was born in Istana Darul Hana, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, on 17 February 1974. He is the first son of the Sultan, making him the heir to the throne of Brunei.
Schooling and College
He started his schooling at the Putera Puteri School. He then went to St. Andrew's School for his primary education. He completed his Quran studies in 1988. He passed his Brunei Junior Certificate of Education (BJCE) in 1988. He also passed his General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary Level exam in 1991. This was while he was studying at the Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College. Later, he studied at Emanuel School in London. He passed his GCE Advanced Level exams in 1994.
University Studies
Al-Muhtadee Billah attended classes at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD). In October 1995, he began his studies abroad at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. He joined the Foreign Service Programme at Magdalen College, Oxford, and graduated in 1997. During his time at Oxford, he used the name "Mr. Omar Hassan." This allowed him to live like a regular student. He studied Islamic studies, trade, diplomacy, and international relations. He received his diploma in Diplomatics on 3 August 1998 in Bandar Seri Begawan.
Crown Prince Duties
Al-Muhtadee Billah was officially named Crown Prince of Brunei on 10 August 1998. The ceremony took place at the Istana Nurul Iman. His father, the Sultan, gave him the 'Keris Si Naga' (a special dagger). This meant he was now in line to become the 30th Sultan of Brunei. After the ceremony, there was a parade around the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan.
Government Roles
To prepare him for his future role, Al-Muhtadee Billah has worked with many government groups. These include the Public Service Department, Immigration Department, and the Ministries of Finance, Health, and Communications. He also worked with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs. This helps him learn how the country works.
Since 2004, he has been a general in the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF). Since 2005, he has been the deputy inspector general of the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF). He has also been a senior minister in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) since 24 May 2005. He meets with foreign ambassadors and acts as deputy sultan when his father is away. He also gives royal speeches to improve his public speaking. He is also the pro-chancellor of several universities, including Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD).
He is the chairman of the board of directors for Brunei Shell Joint Venture (BSJV) Companies since 2018. He also leads the Wawasan Brunei Supreme Council since 2014. He was the chairman of Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam (AMBD) from 2011 to 2020. He is also the royal patron of the Heart of Borneo National Council in Brunei.
International Engagements
Al-Muhtadee Billah often visits Singapore as part of the Singapore–Brunei Young Leaders' Programme. In 2019, he met with leaders like President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. These visits help strengthen the close friendship between the two countries. He also visited important places like Changi Naval Base.
He has spoken at the United Nations (UN) about the need for changes to reflect today's world. He highlighted how important the UN is for a better future.
On 4 November 2013, Al-Muhtadee Billah was made an Honorary Member of the Special Forces Regiment, RBAF. This was to recognize his leadership and contributions to the RBAF. He also received an honorary Green Beret in Malaysia.
On 3 May 2014, he visited Indonesia's Special Forces Command (Kopassus). He was given the title of Honorary Member there. He spoke about the strong ties between Brunei and Indonesia, especially in defense. On 6 May 2014, he was named an honorary member of the Indonesian Marine Corps.
In September 2014, he visited Singapore again. He received the SAF's Honorary Advanced Combat Skills Badge. He also drove a special military vehicle. His visits show the strong defense cooperation between Brunei and Singapore.
Al-Muhtadee Billah talked about the need for a national plan to stop the Zika virus in 2016. He said that public support is key for government efforts to work. He thanked Allah for keeping Brunei safe from the global health crisis.
On 4 November 2017, he launched a special exhibition in Bandar Seri Begawan. It was called "Abode of Peace & the Lion City: A Brunei-Singapore Exhibition." This event celebrated 50 years of the Currency Interchangeability Agreement. The exhibition showed coins, notes, and stamps.
During the ASEAN Business Awards (ABA) 2021, Al-Muhtadee Billah spoke about working together. He stressed that public and private sectors must cooperate. This helps businesses during the COVID-19 epidemic. He noted how fast technology is changing the economy.
Charity Work
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah created the Dana Pengiran Muda Mahkota Al-Muhtadee Billah for Orphans (DANA). Al-Muhtadee Billah approved the start of DANA on 25 August 1998. The official launch of the DANA Account was on 30 August 1999. Many groups and people have given money to DANA. For example, on 2 April 2024, three groups gave B$75,381 to DANA.
For Hari Raya Aidilfitri, the Sultan gives special gifts (Kurnia). These gifts go to 4,651 people across the country. This includes people with special needs, orphans, and those who are poor. The Sultan's sons, including Al-Muhtadee Billah, help give out these gifts. Al-Muhtadee Billah gives gifts to thousands of people each year.
Personal Life
Interests
He enjoys pool and snooker. He played in the 2006 WPA Men's World Nine-ball Championship. He also played in the 2008 WPA World Eight-ball Championship. In 2007, he represented Brunei in the World Pool Championship in Manila.
Al-Muhtadee Billah owns a football club called the Brunei DPMM FC. He used to play as a goalkeeper for the team himself.
He also owns a collection of cars. These include a Ferrari 599 GTB, a Mercedes McLaren SLR, and a Lamborghini Murcielago LP640. He is known to be a quiet and religious person.
Marriage and Children
On 9 September 2004, Al-Muhtadee Billah married 17-year-old Pengiran Anak Sarah. The wedding was held at Istana Nurul Iman in Bandar Seri Begawan. Many important guests attended. These included the Duke of Gloucester and the Crown Prince of Japan. Kings and princes from other countries were also there. Leaders from Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines also attended. The wedding included a special ceremony and a drive around Bandar Seri Begawan in a golden Rolls-Royce.
The royal couple has four children:
| name | born | place of birth |
|---|---|---|
| Pengiran Muda Abdul Muntaqim | 17 March 2007 | Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Brunei |
| Pengiran Anak Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah | 2 January 2011 | Istana Nurul Iman, Brunei |
| Pengiran Muda Muhammad Aiman | 7 June 2015 | Istana Nurul Iman, Brunei |
| Pengiran Anak Faathimah Az-Zahraa' Raihaanul Bolkiah | 1 December 2017 | Istana Nurul Iman, Brunei |
Their first child and future heir, Prince Abdul Muntaqim, was born on 17 March 2007. Their second child, a daughter named Princess Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah, was born on 2 January 2011. Their third child, Prince Muhammad Aiman, was born on 7 June 2015. Their fourth child, Princess Faathimah Az-Zahraa' Raihaanul Bolkiah, was born on 1 December 2017.
See Also
In Spanish: Al-Muhtadee Billah para niños
- List of current heirs apparent
