Head of government
His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan
His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, was crowned Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam on 1 August 1968. He is the 29th Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan in his line, which dates back to the fourteenth century. The Sultan ascended to the throne on 5 October 1967 following the voluntary abdication of his father, Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien. His Majesty is concurrently Prime Minister, Defence Minister, Finance Minister and Head of the Religious Council. He set up the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation in 1992. The Sultan, who was educated in Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia, is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, UK and was commissioned as Captain in 1967. He was installed as Crown Prince in 1961 at the age of 15. His Majesty was born on 15 July 1946 in Brunei Town, now known as Bandar Seri Begawan.