The Earl & Countess of Wessex to visit Brunei for Golden Jubilee celebrations of Sultan

The British High Commission has announced that the Earl and Countess of Wessex will travel to Brunei next month to attend the Golden Jubilee celebrations of His Majesty The Sultan of Brunei.

The royal couple will attend the celebrations on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen, arriving in Brunei in early October.

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam ascended to the throne in 1967 after his father abdicated. His coronation was held a year later on 1 August 1968.

A press release said that both the Earl and Countess of Wessex are “delighted to be representing The Queen at such a momentous occasion and one of such importance to His Majesty and the people of Brunei.”

The royal couple are no strangers to Brunei, having last visited the country 17 years ago in October 2000.

The Queen and The Sultan share a close friendship, as do The Sultan and the Earl and Countess.

In 1999, His Majesty was invited to attend the wedding of the Earl and Countess in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

The Earl of Wessex was also chosen to represent his mother at The Sultan’s Silver Jubilee 25 years ago.

His Majesty’s Golden Jubilee promises to be a historical event, but The Sultan has warned that it must be celebrated in moderation.

Speaking last week, he said: “It is important that each of the planned events are being implemented in a proper manner that does not fall outside the time limits and expenditure.”

The Sultan of Brunei’s Golden Jubilee will be celebrated on October 4, 2017.