He was supposedly given a concubine at the age of thirteen, and while he was taking English lessons from a British tutor, his mother reportedly blocked efforts to send him overseas for school.

Large fires were built on the nearby hills, and buildings were adorned with lanterns and multicoloured lights at night, illuminating the entire town and fostering a lively, celebratory atmosphere.

[18]Between 1931 and 1950, Ahmad Tajuddin expressed his discontent with Brunei's political system by frequently abstaining from State Council meetings, ostensibly opposing the Resident's authority.

Ahmad Tajuddin was characterised as a tiny, bespectacled guy with long hair who drove in a luxurious Lincoln automobile and was carried in a gold and scarlet litter during formal rituals during a 1935 visit by Sir Shenton Thomas.

He treated his friends and peers with generosity and equality, often giving gifts and maintaining an informal demeanour during social events, though he would subtly distance himself from those who sought to take advantage of his kindness.

[24] Early in August 1935, 23-year-old Ahmad Tajuddin wore spectacles, was short in stature, and had unusually long hair, was spotted by Sir Shenton Thomas, the newly appointed Commissioner for the Malay States, on his visit to Brunei.

[18] Thomas spoke about the Sultan's stately entry in a sumptuous red and gold litter pulled by thirty men, as well as the reception hall's simple design that used cheap items like Brunei cigarettes and German carpets.

He had to deal with his wife's defying Bruneian conventions and perhaps dangerous journey to Klang for the birth of their child at a period of intense pressure from his brother-in-law, Tengku Kelana Jaya Petra.

The yellow-painted throne from the ancient Lapau Council Chamber, complete with a dome and flags, was situated on an elevated platform at one end, accompanied by a yellow silk-covered cushioned chair.

His wife, resplendent in a diamond-encrusted cream-coloured gown, stood motionless the entire time the Sultan's eldest sister conducted the sembah semua ceremonial summons.

[29] After the bersanding ceremony, Sultan and his spouse drove around the town in a motorcade, passing through rows of onlookers that included kampong dwellers sheltered under temporary structures.

[23]With the likelihood of war with the Empire of Japan increasing, in 1941, the British began to encourage the establishment of local defence forces in Brunei, and neighbouring Sarawak and Borneo.

[32] The newly formed Miri province, which comprised sections of Sarawak and Brunei, was included under the Japanese administration, which reduced the Sultan's power while preserving his status as a means of gaining support from the populace.

He was advised by the Japanese to retire and offered a monthly pension together with medals of honour from the Emperor of Japan.Detachment on 22 December 1941, was mostly symbolic, much like the British approach of keeping local rulers in place but giving them little actual authority.

The Sultan and his closest relatives, together with loyal palace officials, were hidden by Haji Kassim bin Tamin, the village headman of Kampong Tentaya, Limbang,[35][36][23] in the early months of 1945 due to the intensified Allied bombing of oil installations at Miri and Lutong, as well as the machine-gunning of the Istana Mahkota itself.

According to a report by Australian physician M. C. Clarke, the Sultan was a colorfully dressed guy in his early thirties who used alcohol, gambling, and partying as ways to escape the trials of his profession.

As soon as the Australian military commander arranged for him to be received with a Guard of Honour and brought to the British Army Headquarters at Bubungan Dua Belas for tea, he made speedy use of medical help for his asthma and was put back in the Istana Mahkota "in protective custody."

[39] After Allied bombs severely damaged the Istana Mahkota in early 1945, Ahmad Tajuddin, his spouse, and his family relocated to a small home in Brunei Town.

His costume was finished with black patent leather top-boots, a silver belt, and several decorations (a pair of beribboned medals on his chest and the jewel of the CMG hung around his neck).

Resident William John Peel did not appear to endorse his remarks, and there was no sign that the Colonial Office was changing its position on the Sultan or that he was being invited to take part in talks in London.

Despite his regal attire, his exuberant and young manner created a striking contrast with the weight of his obligations, making one feel sorry for him because it seemed like he hadn't prepared himself enough for the demands of his position.

A gradual but imperfect relaxing of conventional gender roles in Brunei was symbolised by the Sultan's old nurse and two other older ladies, who attended the event in defiance of established standards.

The Silver Jubilee conducted amidst typical pomp and ceremony, was tarnished by the Sultan's severe unhappiness with the continual cacophony of the royal orchestra, which he found aggravating.

[60] The four letters dated 1 June 1950, which were purportedly bearing the Sultan's seal and were written in an elegant English, are nowhere to be found, casting doubt on MacBryan's authority over Ahmad Tajuddin.

[61] MacBryan skillfully handled the Sultan's concerns and sought to establish himself as an important adviser by utilizing his courtly Malay abilities and familiarity with the British system.

[39] Upon completion of his funeral, his body was laid in state at the foyer of the Grand Palace of Johore Bahru, to provide opportunities for national dignitaries, senior government officials and local community leaders from different ethnic and religious, to pay their respects to the late monarch and send their condolences to his wife.

Even though it was a somber event, there was a widespread sense of joy as mourners and many Labuan residents traveled to the airstrip in lorries and other forms of transportation to await the plane.

Although Brunei's records proved only male heirs could inherit the kingdom, it was thought that MacBryan prepared for a notice in the Straits Times announcing the Sultan's intention for his legitimate daughter, Princess Nor Ehsani, to replace him.

The burial site, Royal Mausoleum, which was situated on a hillside resembling a Chinese graveyard, was reached by a water procession carrying the coffin and a sizeable number of launches after the ceremony.

This decision was confirmed by a special State Council meeting attended by prominent Bruneian figures, including British Resident Eric Ernest Falk Pretty and High Commissioner Anthony Abell.