His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office received in audience Major General Thomas Julian Bateman, General Officer Commanding 1st (United Kingdom) Division, British Army.
The Audience Ceremony took place at Qashr Al-Meezan on Thursday.
Accompanying Major General Bateman were British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam John Virgoe and Commander of British Forces Brunei (BFB) Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Stanford-Tuck.
Also present was Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan, Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF).
During the audience, Major General Bateman expressed his appreciation and gratitude for His Royal Highness’s support in visiting the Royal Gurkha Rifles at Tuker Lines in Seria and Exercise Sunda Patrol at Training Area B, Andulau Forest Reserve, Sungai Liang, Kuala Belait last year.
The visit by His Royal Highness reflects the cordial diplomatic and defence relations that have long been established between Brunei Darussalam and the United Kingdom.
The two countries have established bilateral defence cooperation through the Exchange of Notes since September 1983 and this relationship has been further enhanced and strengthened through numerous Memorandums of Understanding that have been signed between both sides.
Major General Bateman is currently on a working visit in Brunei Darussalam from
14 February 2024 to 15 February 2024.
