BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The history of the Royal Chariot exhibited at the Royal Regalia Museum has caught the attention of the Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar during his visit to the museum here on Sunday.
Wan Junaidi, accompanied by his wife Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, arrived at 2:15 pm and was captivated by the design of the Royal Chariot, which was used during the Coronation Ceremony of His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, on August 1, 1968.
This royal regalia was carried by 40 Pengirans, most of whom were members of the Brunei Royal Malay Regiment, dressed in black traditional attire.
His Majesty was paraded around Brunei Town, now known as Bandar Seri Begawan, starting from the Brunei Town Fire Station to Lapau and back. It was also used during the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Brunei in 1972.
Wan Junaidi was accompanied during the visit by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki.
Meanwhile, the Brunei Darussalam delegation was led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pengiran Mohd Hasnan Pengiran Ali Hassan, acting director of the Brunei Museums Department Pengiran Rosli Pengiran Halus, and deputy director of the Brunei Museums Department Pengiran Mahani Pengiran Ahmad.
Following the visit, Wan Junaidi and the delegation were entertained by the gamelan music group performing the Sarawak folk song, Puteri Santubong.
Wan Junaidi and his delegation then visited the Royal Exhibition, a gallery showcasing the life history of His Majesty Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam from his childhood to his Coronation ceremony.
The gallery displays photos, objects, and models chronologically depicting the life of His Majesty Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, including his educational background, sports activities and royal wedding ceremony.
It also exhibits royal regalia such as the Golden Cat and the Ajai Scepter.
Before concluding their visit to the museum at 4pm, Wan Junaidi and his wife signed the guest book of the Royal Regalia Museum.
For the record, the Royal Regalia Museum was inaugurated on September 30, 1992, by His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah in conjunction with the Silver Jubilee celebration of His Majesty’s 25th year on the throne.
The design of the Royal Regalia Museum building combines elements of the Malay Islamic monarchy concept and displays the regalia and royal ornaments of Brunei Darussalam.
