Royal Regalia Museum


The Royal Regalia Museum, previously known as the Royal Regalia Building, is a museum located in the heart of Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It mainly houses the regalia of the Sultan and the royalty, as well as exhibits related to the commemorations of the Silver and Golden Jubilee celebrations of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's rule of Brunei. It was officially opened on 30 September 1992 by the Sultan himself.

History

The building, was originally called "Churchill's Memorial Building", which had been established by the Sultan Omar Ali Saiffudien III, that present the Sultan's father, as he admired Winston Churchill,it was replaced in the late 1992 by the Royal Regalia Exhibition Hall. It was established to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of His Majesty's coronation as Brunei's 29th king. A historical review of the present Sultan's life is narrated through family pictures with detailed narrative texts in which he is highlighted through many of his portraits and a hologram.
On 2 December 2017, the building has been renamed to the Royal Regalia Museum, in conjunction with the Golden Jubilee Celebration of His Majesty's ascension to the throne.

Description

The museum building is a large gold-domed structure which is fitted with specially-designed mosaics. It has a semi-circular plan and is covered with plush carpets. Marble has been used extensively in its interior. The main display at the entrance hall is a huge chariot used for the parade carrying the Sultan through the streets of the city on the occasion of his 1992 silver jubilee celebration. A bevy of headless mannequins dressed in traditional attire are displayed in front of the chariot. There is also a second chariot which was used during the 1968 coronation and also during the 1972 Queen's visit to Brunei.
Exhibits include the artifacts that were used for royal ceremonies in the country, the gold and silver ceremonial weaponry, crowns embedded with jewels, and other paraphernalia that formed part of the coronation ceremonies, and ceremonial costumes. A particular photograph of interest shows the Sultan smiling at his circumcision ceremony. There is an exhibit of a golden hand and forearm that the Sultan used as a prop for his chin at his coronation and an ornate crown, as well as exhibits of "documents and treaties" in the Constitutional Gallery.