Story behind the 132-carat diamond tiara worn by Brunei's Anisha Rosnah at royal wedding

After much pomp and pageantry, the 10-day-long celebration in Brunei comes to an end on Tuesday

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  The royal bride Anisha Rosnah enters the royal throne hall during the royal wedding ceremony at Istana Nurul Iman. EPA

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  Prince Abdul Mateen and Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah during their bersanding wedding reception reception at Istana Nurul Iman in Brunei's capital Bandar Seri Begawan on January 14. AFP

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  The reception is one part of the 10-day wedding celebrations for the couple. AFP

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  Prince Abdul Mateen and Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah during their wedding ceremony. Photo: RTB Go

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  After the bersanding reception, Prince Abdul Mateen and Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah are officially recognised as husband and wife. AFP

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  Following the reception, the couple took part in a procession through the streets of Brunei's capital Bandar Seri Begawan. AFP

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  Crowds of thousands turned out to see the newlywed couple. AFP

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  Prince Abdul Mateen and Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah wave to the crowds. AFP

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  Portraits of groom Prince Abdul Mateen and bride Yanh Mulia Anisha Rosnah have been put up in Brunei's capital Bandar Seri Begawan. AFP

Thousands of onlookers who lined the streets of Brunei capital Bandar Seri Begawan to catch a glimpse of newlyweds Prince Abdul Mateen and Anisha Rosnah were not disappointed on Sunday as the couple dazzled the crowds, smiling and waving from the back of an open-top Rolls-Royce.

Royal bride Rosnah, who wore a white gown decorated with a silver diamond motif, stood out with her parure of diamond earrings and a statement diamond necklace. She also carried a small bouquet crafted in precious metal with gem embellishment and finished her look with a tiara over her white veil.

The tiara, by Singapore jeweller Flower Diamond, was a loan from Prince Mateen's sister Princess Azemah, who married their cousin, Prince Bahar ibni Jefri Bolkiah, in January last year.

“We appreciate the privilege of being part of your special day and sharing in the joyous celebration. It’s truly an honour for us to design and craft the royal tiara worn on this meaningful and commemorative occasion,” the brand posted on Instagram.

Originally commissioned for Princess Azemah's wedding, the tiara comprises a whopping 838 diamonds in various cuts totalling 132 carats.

The tiara was designed to be light and modern, as per Princess Azemah's request.

The process took eight months to complete, which included "sourcing diamonds of different sizes that consistently matched in shape and quality," Flower Diamond said.

For Rosnah's big day, the tiara was adjusted to perfectly fit her.

Founded in 1996 by Belinda Chua, Flower Diamond says it specialises in “fine and timeless jewellery that every woman deserves”. Besides a range of collections, from rings to earrings and necklaces, the brand also creates bespoke jewellery.

Celebrations for Prince Mateen and Rosnah's 10-day wedding began on January 7 and have included a number of elaborate traditional and religious ceremonies, some of them centuries old.

The bersanding or wedding reception was on Sunday, where the couple were officially recognised as husband and wife. It was held at Balai Singgahsana Indera Buana, the royal throne hall of Istana Nurul Iman, the official residence of Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, the Sultan and Prime Minister of Brunei and Prince Mateen's father.

Anisha Rosnah's wedding tiara was originally commissioned for Princess Azemah's wedding in January 2023. Photo: @tmski / Instagram

There were reportedly 5,000 guests in attendance, including senior members of the Brunei royal family, as well as a number of international royals and dignitaries. Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema, Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and his wife Louise Araneta-Marcos, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife Ho Ching, as well as Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain attended the reception.

The reception was followed by a procession through the streets of Bandar Seri Begawan.

On Monday, a lavish banquet was held at Balai Persantapan in Istana Nurul Iman where guests were treated to a lavish spread, as well as musical performances.

The final event on Tuesday will be a more subdued one, where prayers will be offered to give thanks as well as to wish the newlyweds a happy life.

While sixth in line to the throne, Prince Mateen has gained prominence in recent years accompanying his father on diplomatic engagements. He's also known for his movie-star good looks and has more than 2.6 million followers on Instagram.

Prince Mateen and Rosnah, the granddaughter of one of the sultan's advisers, have known each other since they were children.

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