Royal Regalia Museum

The Royal Regalia Museum was officially opened on 30 September 1992, in conjunction with the Silver Jubilee’s celebration of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam. It houses Brunei’s royal heirlooms that have centuries been embodied in its royal tradition and ceremonies. It also offers a unique display of His Majesty’s memorabilias and other exhibitions documenting the history of Brunei’s constitution.

After December 2017, the Royal Regalia Building was renamed the Royal Regalia Museum in tandem with the Golden Jubilee of His Majesty’s ascension to the throne in 1968. Located at Jalan Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien, the museum's original site was initially bare before the Sir Winston Churchill Memorial building was erected in 1965, commissioned by Brunei’s 28th Sultan, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III. It was built to honour Sir Winston Churchill and his contributions to World War II. The two-storey building distinctively resembled the first letter of his last name, creating a crescent structure, and was home to various exhibits related to his life ranging from dioramas, manuscripts, paintings and personal mementos. On one side of the memorial building was a lecture hall and the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Aquarium, which kept 37 tanks containing diverse fishes from Brunei waters and abroad. Later in 1983, the building was used as the ‘History and the Evolution of the Constitution of Brunei Darussalam’ exhibition.

In early 1992, renovations on the site started, taking up eight months of sheer commitment and intense labour before the Royal Regalia building was finally manifested. The museum was conceived with the Malay Islamic Monarchy or Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB) concept, making it the forefront theme of the designs and architecture of the building. A team of adept architects and engineers cooperated closely with the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports to realise that spirit into a tangible presence.

Instead of deconstructing the memorial building, the project was an engineered extension to complement the existing structure. The predecessor building was left untouched, as its original banisters, verandahs, walls and staircases from the late 1960s are still intact and incorporated as part of the new complex. The additional architecture was built and seamlessly protruded from the periphery of the C-shaped building, creating a semi-circle atrium exhibition space, with another smaller round area where the dome was installed above it. The merging of the old and new structures engendered a new connotation to the purpose of the whole building. Now with its four separate galleries and chambers displaying different threads of His Majesty’s reign and various significant royal insignias, the Royal Regalia Museum is a definition of opulence and heritage of Brunei Darussalam’s Malay monarchy.

Aligning the walls of the existing building were a plethora of diplomatic gifts from different countries, both hung from one end to the other, and some encased in glass cabinets. 29 colonnades symbolising His Majesty the Sultan as the 29th ruler of Brunei were grafted along the corridor of the inner chamber, formerly the flanks of the memorial building, to support the rotunda. Exactly where the statue of Sir Winston Churchill posing with a ‘V’ sign once stood is the grand royal chariot or Usongan Diraja from the 1968 procession currently sits, making it the central attraction of the ground display area. It rests in the inner circular space beneath the dome, which is the most striking feature of the building, along with its unique spire affixed on its pinnacle. The cupola of the dome is akin to those found in mosques, and this one also signifies the Islamic religion, generating the meaning of sheltering priceless royal treasure troves. The 13.5-metre white spire was intentionally made to resemble an umbrella, a salient symbol of protection and vigilance in Brunei, which are important aspects of the royal regalia.

The central dome’s white exterior is inspired by the white fabric covering the roof of the traditional Pemanjangan, the structure at the entrance of His Majesty’s royal residence and office, the Istana Nurul Iman. Embellishments of golden glass mosaics forming the bunga putar motifs, a pinwheel flower, decorated the dome’s surface, a pattern found in His Majesty’s royal attire. Encircled continuously around its base is a band of red bunting to represent the rawai lidah, the royal bunting used during the Coronation.

The magnificence of the dome’s exterior promises a much grandeur aesthetic within, as proven by its august interior. From the moment one enters through the door adorned with the intricate design inspired by the Kalasak (Long Blade), they are greeted with the large skylight room of the main gallery and lobby, enthralling its visitors with history and splendour. This vast open space is the Royal Regalia Gallery that showcases the lustrous ceremonial regalia used during the Coronation Ceremony in 1968, including the Royal Chariot, silver and gold ceremonial armoury and musical instruments of the Royal Orchestra.

The entire room undergoes a transformation as diurnal changes allow the skylight to flaunt a marvellous mirage cast by natural sunlight and twilight illuminations. Slabs of shiny Black Assoluto granite make up the flooring of the museum, which further reflect light and brighten the space. Paying homage to the vibrant culture and ancient traditions of Brunei Malay, the handwoven carpets with the intricate designs of the ayer muleh, a geometric and artistic take on Brunei’s favourite flora, and the pucuk rebung, a stylised triangular pattern of bamboo shoots, were laid across the floor in sections. The internal ribs of the dome, around the ring beam, is decorated with the 13 sets of Royal Decoration such as the Ambal, Payung Ubur-Ubur, Tunggul Kawan and Dadap. They are all part of the royal heraldry inherited from the various periods of Brunei’s Malay monarchy. On the dome’s ceiling is the design of the Taming (royal shield), which together with the Kalasak design on the entrance doors and Kampilan and Kelasak (Long Blade and Shield) on the gallery doors depict strength, harmony and unity. These symbols and designs act as sentinels and protectors to one of the gallery’s most treasured contents, the Usongan Diraja.

Towards the right of the hall is the Royal Exhibition Gallery featuring the personal coat-of-arms of His Majesty at its entrance. The exhibition flows through the room cast with yellow downlights against the dark marble floor, adding more to the lavish ambience of the museum. A fabulous selection of artefacts, manuscripts and personal portraits of His Majesty from his youth, education years and up to the ascension are displayed here. A replica and downsized versions of the Patarana and Kursi (Royal Dais and Throne), Kursi Singgahsana (royal throne), as well as the Singgahsana (Royal Dais) are also shown in this gallery. The last two are ensconced in a glass room with the Keris Si Naga (Royal Keris), Tongkat Ajai (Golden Hand), Kuching Emas (Golden Cat) and other of the Sultan’s Regalia; royal umbrella, royal sword, betel leaf container, royal shield and royal spear. Displayed also are the royal attire of His and Her Majesty during the Coronation Ceremony, Kasur Namat (royal cushion and mat), the coronation prayer and proclamation.

Colourful royal umbrellas and different royal armouries and shields are assembled accordingly at the Royal Regalia Gallery. Red carpets rolled out from around the royal chariot were extended towards the middle of the hall, where a small rectangular stage resides with two royal canons on either side of the stairs. This blends naturally with the old structure where the third gallery, the Silver Jubilee Exhibition Gallery, is located. Here, it chronicles the celebration of His Majesty’s 25 years of reign on 5 October 1992, culminating in the royal procession in the streets of the city with a Royal Chariot, different from the one used in 1968. The celebration is recorded through a combination of models, dioramas and photographs. Undeniably, the 1992 Royal Chariot displayed is a splendid exhibit amongst many others in the museum, but the replica of the Singgahsana (Throne Room) and the Pemanjangan from Istana Nurul Iman also found in this gallery are strong contenders as well. Mannequins donning the specific-coloured clothes while carrying royal armouries used on that day are arranged before the Royal Chariot, while royal heraldry, flags and coat-of-arms lined one side of the wall.

The newest gallery, the Golden Jubilee Exhibition Gallery, is designed with modern and interactive features. Yellow and white LED lights in the dark hallways resembling a cinema theatre became the gallery’s mood. Large pictures encompassing important events and national developments during His Majesty’s 75 years of ruling are fastened to the walls of the hallways. Memories captured between His Majesty the Sultan and his people are also shown. Video footage and audio of His Majesty’s Coronation Ceremony and Brunei’s Independence Day are projected onto the screens and walls of the gallery, respectively, evoking a resonant and sentimental ambience that urges visitors to reminisce Brunei’s history. This gallery succinctly encapsulates the significance of the important events in Brunei and combines it with the digital usage of the 21st century.

The Royal Regalia Museum is an elegant monument that, when entered and explored, pervades the appreciation for the heritage of the ancient Malay kingdom and serves as an expression of national pride. The decorative features of the whole building are more than just a tincture of embellishments, as each element of its architecture is symbolically infused with MIB characteristics. Although the deliverance of the exhibitions is straightforward, it still retains the sense of formality and regalness in the air. It is unprecedented for exhibits of royal insignias belonging to the Brunei monarchy to be put under a single roof; hence its existence alone emphasises the museum’s importance.