[5][12][4] On 16 August, he praised the launch of two ships by Sharikat Limbongan Kapal Takehara Berhad, highlighting the Japanese company's investment as beneficial for Brunei and stressing the importance of pursuing domestic enterprises over relying on specific income sources.

[7][19] After 17 years in power, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III voluntarily abdicated on the evening of 4 October 1967, to make way for Crown Prince Hassanal Bolkiah, his 21-year-old eldest son.

[5][22] At night, Pengiran Pemancha Anak Haji Mohamed Alam, the Chief of Adat Istiadat Negara, made the abdication public on Radio Brunei.

[30] As thousands of residents and tourists flocked to vantage points in Pusat Bandar, access to which had been limited (except from official vehicles) since early in the morning, dignitaries from near and far saw the age-old rite in the newly built Lapau.

[31] With the back roof dropped to make himself visible, the Sultan arrived in his brand-new six-door Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Landaulet[32] following the customary Muslim washing rite at the palace, which was preceded by a 21-gun salute.

Specifically constructed for the coronation, the chariot included a tiger skin throne and a body composed of 26 carved wooden panels embellished with 24-carat gold lead and precious diamonds.

[35] He had the crown placed on his head and handed him the Keris si-Naga,[36] symbol of supreme royal power in Brunei, by his father, Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien.

[42] The British government's demand for Brunei to become an independent nation with a parliamentary democracy conflicted with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and his father's preference for maintaining the monarchical political structure.

During visits by Malcolm MacDonald in January 1968 and George Thomson in April 1968, the Sultan and his father expressed their worries about the consequences of a British military withdrawal from the Far East.

These negotiations led to the signing of the Brunei–British Friendship Agreement on 23 November 1971, which gave Brunei "full internal independence" and restricted the authority of the British High Commissioner to matters concerning foreign affairs.

The following objectives were given priority in the formulation and design of the plan to maintain a high level of employment and diversify the economy through accelerated development of agriculture and industry.

With a budget of $B3.7 billion, the RKN 5 (1986–1990) aimed to offer the numerous services and infrastructure necessary to raise peoples' standards of living while advancing the nation's economic and social growth.

An estimated $200 million was spent by Brunei to commemorate the event, which included building a 6,000-seat mosque with a gold dome, 21 guest homes for visiting dignitaries, an exhibition center, and 200 Mercedes-Benz automobiles for visitors.

[63][64] The culmination of all the activities was a glamorous banquet held at the Istana Nurul Iman, where the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Azlan Shah and Raja Permaisuri Tuanku Bainun of Malaysia, Prince Edward, and the Sultans and Consorts of the Malaysian states were among the royal attendees.

[61] The sultan made an appearance before his people during a ceremony at the Istana Nurul Iman, accompanied by his two wives and ten children, all of whom were dressed in yellow attire and dazzling in jewels.

After that, the sultan traveled to the capital in a Rolls-Royce Silver Spur limousine and rode a massive chariot made of wood and gold that had servants dressed in black costume.

Following the guard of honour inspection and the march past, the Sultan was present when up to 25 young people representing various government agencies, the private sector, higher education institutions, and associations read the National Day oath.

[75] In 2014, Hassanal Bolkiah declared the implementation of strict Islamic criminal penalties, moving forward with proposals that prompted both rare domestic opposition to the opulently wealthy ruler and also worldwide outrage.

The small sultanate's plans for the sharia penalties, which would eventually include flogging, amputation of limbs, and death by stoning, sparked outrage on social networking sites.

[83] According to press releases from their respective countries, Prime Ministers Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore, Hun Sen of Cambodia, Najib Razak of Malaysia, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar, President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines and Joko Widodo of Indonesia were scheduled to attend the festivities.

A custom typically saved for royal occasions, visitors and locals alike were shown drumming and the lavish display of gold and silver weapons, including the Kampilan (dagger) and Kalasak (shield).

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states in his area, he said, share the values of territorial integrity, non-interference, the rule of law, and good governance, which serve as a framework for attempts to increase cooperation for peace.

On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, this visit highlights the close bilateral connections that exist between Bahrain and Brunei and seeks to further collaboration in the areas of finance, investment, and military.

[121][122] In accordance with the settlement agreement signed in 2000, the prince began to return his assets to the state, including more than 500 properties, both in Brunei and abroad, about 2500 cars, 100 paintings, five boats, and nine aircraft.

[136][137][138] In protest, a United States national LGBT advocacy organisation, the Gill Action Fund, canceled its reservation to hold a conference of major donors at the Beverly Hills Hotel and demanded a refund of its deposit.

[151] Hassanal Bolkiah, who is also the RBAF's Supreme Commander, has visioned that Brunei's future leaders will possess exceptional leadership skills and be prepared to steer the nation through the world's current fast changes.

[21] The sultan married his first cousin and first wife, Pengiran Anak Saleha, who later carried the title Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Raja Isteri (Her Majesty the Queen Consort) at Istana Darul Hana on 29 July 1965.

[16] He married Mariam Abdul Aziz (formerly titled Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Isteri) as his second wife in 1981 when she was a ex-flight attendant for Royal Brunei Airlines.

[161] The Sultan married 33-year-old former Malaysian TV3 anchor Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim (formerly known as Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Isteri) in a private wedding held in Kuala Lumpur in August 2005.

[162] On 16 June 2010, the Grand Chamberlain announced that the Sultan was divorcing his third wife and would strip her of all royal titles after five years of marriage,[163] citing "special reasons" without further details, following weeks of rumors in the capital.