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Al-Muhtadee Billah المهتدي بالله
Crown Prince of Brunei, GCVO
Al-Muhtadee Billah, April 2008
Predecessor	HM Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
Spouse	HRH Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah
Issue
HRH Prince Abdul Muntaqim
Father	HM Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
Mother	HM Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha
Born	17 February 1974 (1974-02-17) (age 35) Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Occupation	Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office

Al-Muhtadee Billah GCVO (born 17 February 1974) is the first born son and heir to the Sultan of Brunei. He is the son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Queen Saleha.

Billah studied at Emanuel School and Magdalen College, Oxford in 1997. While at Oxford, he followed a programme of study specially designed for him involving Islamic Studies and International Relations. He had previously attended St. Andrew's School in Bandar Seri Begawan for his primary education. He is a pool and snooker enthusiast, and participated in the 2006 WPA Men's World Nine-ball Championship.

The date 10 August 1998, marked the Royal Proclamation of His Royal Highness as the Crown Prince of Brunei. The proclamation puts him in line to become the 30th Sultan of Brunei.

On 9 September 2004, he married 17-year old Pengiran Anak Sarah at Nurul Iman Palace in Bandar Seri Begawan in an elaborate affair. Some considered the ceremony to be extravagant, as its cost was estimated at US$5,000,000 (million) or GBP 2,800,000 (million).

On 17 March 2007 at 3.50 pm, Prince Billah and Princess Sarah welcomed the birth of their first child and the future heir to the Brunei throne, His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Muntaqim.

The Crown Prince is also the Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office; of which the Prime Minister is his father; HM The Sultan of Brunei. The Crown Prince is also a General in the Brunei Armed Forces and an Inspector in the Brunei Police Force.

He owns sports cars from around the world, including Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, Mercedes McLaren SLR and Ferrari 599 GTB.

On 10 October 2007, the $400,000 2007 World Pool Championship was launched at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel in Manila. Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah again represented Brunei in the tournament at the Araneta Coliseum from 3 November to 11.^[1]

The Crown Prince was created an honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in 1998, a British Royal order in the personal bestowal of HM The Queen; as he is not a British or Commonwealth citizen, he is not allowed the usage of the honorific Sir. Besides, his higher title of Prince pre-empts usage of the lower dignity of "Sir".

External links

• China Daily:Guests arrive for Brunei crown prince's wedding

References