Key Details of the Coronation of the Sultan of Brunei
Background and Accession
- Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Muiz’zaddin Wad’daulah became the 29th Sultan of Brunei after his father, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, voluntarily abdicated on 4 October 1967.
- Hassanal Bolkiah, then 21 years old, was proclaimed Sultan on 5 October 1967 in a public ceremony at the Balai Singgahsana, Istana Darul Hana.
Coronation Ceremony
- The official coronation (Perpuspaan) took place on 1 August 1968, after months of preparation and traditional rituals.
- The date was announced by the Acting Menteri Besar on 8 January 1968 via Radio Brunei1.
- In accordance with Bruneian tradition, the coronation festivities began with ceremonial flag raisings: a red flag at Bukit Sungai Kebun and a yellow flag at Bukit Panggal, symbolizing the start of the coronation period1.
Ceremonial Highlights
- On the day of the coronation, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, then 22, arrived in a specially built six-door Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Landaulet after performing the customary Muslim washing rite at the palace, accompanied by a 21-gun salute.
- He then transferred to the Usongan Diraja (Royal Chariot), an 85-foot-long, ornately decorated chariot featuring a tiger skin throne, gold leaf, and precious stones. It was pulled by fifty soldiers from the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment.
- The Sultan wore a red and gold ceremonial dress adorned with medals and insignia.
The Crowning
- The crowning itself was performed by his father, the retired Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, who placed a heavy gold crown on Hassanal Bolkiah’s head and handed him the Keris si-Naga, a symbol of supreme royal power in Brunei.
- The former Sultan and other senior nobility then pledged loyalty to the new Sultan, who vowed to maintain peace, prosperity, and uphold Islam and Bruneian traditions.
Public Celebrations
- The coronation was a major national event, with thousands of Bruneians and foreign dignitaries in attendance. The ceremony was broadcast by Radio Brunei and filmed by a Japanese company for international distribution1.
- After the crowning, the Sultan processed through the capital in the royal chariot, greeted by cheering crowds and schoolchildren chanting “Daulat Tuanku” (Long Live the King).
Legacy
- The coronation marked the beginning of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s reign, making him one of the world’s longest-serving monarchs.
- The ceremony reinforced Brunei’s royal traditions and the Sultan’s commitment to his people and Islamic values.
This coronation remains a defining moment in Brunei’s modern history, blending deep-rooted tradition with national pride and international attention.