Brunei’s Prince Mateen, known for his Hollywood-like adventures on Instagram, recently transitioned from Asia’s eligible bachelor to a married man.
The 32-year-old prince, the 10th child of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, exchanged vows with his 29-year-old fiancee in an exclusive male-only ceremony in the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan.
Despite his royal lineage, ascending the throne in the oil-rich country is unlikely for Mateen. The social media-savvy prince continues to capture attention, showcasing the modern face of Brunei’s royalty through his extravagant posts.
However, Mateen’s rippling six-pack and sense of adventure have turned him into a public relations asset for the royal family, which has been battered by scandals and global censure over the years.
A pre-wedding photo of Mateen and his fiancee, Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah, posted on Instagram on December 31 shows him wearing an open-neck white shirt under a dark, double-breasted blazer, while she is in a cream pantsuit and no hijab.
It drew more than 11,000 comments with some smitten followers lamenting that 2024 was starting with “heartbreak” — a reference to their own rather than the prince’s.
A post shared by Mateen (@tmski)
The photo appears to be part of an effort to burnish a more modern image of the conservative country — and make the royal family relevant to a younger generation of Bruneians that has grown up on social media.
“Prince Mateen would be what I describe as an important youth change-maker in Brunei society,” said Mustafa Izzuddin, a visiting professor of international relations at the Islamic University of Indonesia. After more than five decades on the throne, the 77-year-old sultan needed to “refresh the social contract” between himself and his 450,000 subjects, said Izzuddin.
Mateen, who often accompanies his father on official visits abroad wearing Western-style suits, appears to be leading the way in winning over young hearts and minds. His public profile has exploded on Instagram with posts showing him playing polo, boxing in a ring, dabbling in photography, and posing in military uniform.
One video shows the prince — who is a helicopter pilot in his country’s air force and also trained in the special forces — flying in a F/A 18 Super Hornet warplane. It generated thousands of likes and a comparison to Tom Cruise in the movie Top Gun. Other photos of Mateen’s well-chiselled upper body have drawn as many as more than half a million likes — and countless heart and lovestruck emojis.
(With agency inputs)
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