Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei enjoys a powdering ceremony with bride Anisha Rosnah on sixth day of royal wedding

The wedding of Asia’s most eligible bachelor entered its sixth day today as Prince Abdul Mateen enjoyed a royal powdering ceremony with bride Anisha Rosnah

The couple will tie the knot in a lavish 10-day ceremony in Bandar Seri Begawan.

The Brunei royal, 32, looked vibrant in traditional attire alongside bride Anisha Rosnah, 29, during the elaborate, centuries-old ceremony at Istana Nurul Iman.

This ceremony is common in Malaysia and Brunei, where the bride and groom are blessed by close relatives.

The family applies paste on the couple’s hands and wishes them a happy, fruitful and rich married life.

The polo-playing prince was one of Asia’s most eligible bachelors before he met his fiancée, although little is known about how their relationship blossomed.

For the event, which is part of their 10-day wedding, the couple donned extremely lavish, coordinated red outfits.

This will be followed by a banquet on Sunday, which royals from around the world are expected to attend.

Prince Mateen is the fourth son – and tenth child – of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 77, and his former second wife Mariam Abdul Aziz, 67.

It is reported that the happy couple has been dating for years and Anisha is the granddaughter of one of her soon-to-be father-in-law’s closest advisors, Pehin Dato Isa.

Anisha is an entrepreneur who runs a silk clothing company and an exclusive holiday planning start-up.

It comes after Prince Abdul waved to the crowd of adoring well-wishers who gathered yesterday to catch a glimpse of the prince.

On Thursday, the couple took part in the men’s and women’s ceremony separately.

The solemnization ceremony is performed by the groom and his family, while the bride is represented by the legal male representative or an elder.

During the ceremony, the groom promises to take the bride as his wife and care for her in the presence of God and other witnesses.

Only one official photo of the couple has been released, which shows Anisha flaunting her huge diamond engagement ring in a snap to celebrate the New Year.

Prince Mateen, sixth in line to the throne, is much more open and actively communicates with the public on Instagram, where he simply goes by the name ‘Mateen’ – and has 2.4 million followers.

His lavish lifestyle is evident on the social media platform: superyachts, exotic pets, world-class hotels and private jets, intertwined with official royal duties around the world.

But perhaps surprisingly, when he was 24, GQ Thailand described him as “a man under house arrest who doesn’t like to show off his family’s wealth.”

“He says thank you at the end of every sentence, and he makes no distinctions by class or social status in his interactions with those around him,” the publication said.

The interview showed that the prince’s charm attracted more attention than his striking appearance.

It also indicated that Mateen was more focused on sharing his interests and discussing family and friends, rather than the monarch’s wealth.

Coincidentally, his father, the Sultan of Brunei, is one of the richest people in the world, with a net worth of over £24 billion – thanks to exports of crude oil and natural gas.

Prince Mateen, who was named one of Asia’s 50 most coveted bachelors by Tatler Magazine in 2016, obtained a Master of Arts in International Studies and Diplomacy from the University of London in 2016.

He currently serves as a helicopter pilot in the Royal Brunei Air Force, with the rank of Major.

Mateen has also shown his passion for polo by representing Brunei at the Southeast Asian Games in 2017 and 2019.

The 32-year-old is an avid traveler and regularly posts photos of exotic destinations for his Instagram audience. One photo in particular shows him cradling a tiger cub on the beach.

He often accompanies his father on official visits, including the coronation of King Charles II and Queen Camilla, held at Westminster Abbey on May 6.

Earlier this month, the sultan announced that his son will marry Anisha Isa Kalebic in January 2024.

The couple have reportedly been dating for several years and have attended a number of events together, including the wedding of Mateen’s sister, Princess Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah, earlier this year.

Anisha, the granddaughter of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s special advisor Pehin Dato Isa, is said to be a thriving entrepreneur in Brunei.

She founded the successful fashion brand Silk Collective and co-owns a tourism company called Authentirary with a good friend.

Although it has not yet been confirmed, it is believed that the Prince and Princess of Wales, both 41, could attend the wedding.

The Sultan and Queen of Brunei were notable guests at William and Kate’s wedding in 2011. Given this history, it is believed they will invite the British royal family to their son’s special day.

Furthermore, both couples – along with Prince Mateen – attended the wedding of Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II and Rajwa Alseif in Jordan last June.

Other notable guests included Princess Beatrice, 34, and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 39.