JOHOR BARU: As the wedding of Tunku Tun Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Sultan Ibrahim draws near, questions abound over who will be on the guest list.
While the list would largely comprise names of royalty, politicians, senior state officials and prominent businessmen, there is a group of people who have a special place in the heart of the princess, who is set to marry Dutchman Dennis Muhammad Abdullah on Aug 14.
They are the palace staff who have looked after the princess, who is the only daughter of the Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar and the Permaisuri of Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah, since her formative years.
They include the stable boys who taught Tunku Aminah how to ride horses, drivers who ferried her to school and Johor Military Force (JMF) soldiers and bodyguards who protected the royal family.
“These are the people I grew up with and they are very special to me. I want all of them to be at my wedding to share in my happiness,” Tunku Aminah said in a statement issued by the Royal Press Office today.
“The drivers and bodyguards who ferried me around would remind me that I was the only princess, and advised me to be good. Every afternoon after school, I would be with my brothers and we would play with the stable boys. We would eat together at a stall in the stable.
“In addition to the stable boys, I am also inviting all the other staff who looked after us. They were all part of my childhood and they taught me the values of dedicated service, loyalty and kindness,” noted Tunku Aminah.
As a commemorative wedding gift, each of the long-serving staff will receive a special souvenir personally designed by the princess.
The staff, while overjoyed, were pleasantly surprised when the invitations arrived, saying they never expected to be remembered by the princess.
“I had goosebumps …it felt like a dream. I still can’t believe Tunku Aminah actually gave me an invitation to her wedding,” said Adnan Othman, 45, a horse trainer and a Royal Johor Polo Club player.
He said he had known the princess since she was 5-years old, adding that she started taking up horse riding seriously when she turned 11.
Adnan, who showed her the ropes, described Tunku Aminah as “extremely friendly and caring”, adding that she was well liked by all the palace staff.
“I am so touched and moved by her gesture to invite me. After all, we are only ordinary stable boys. It is a wonderful feeling to receive this wedding card,” he said.
His joy was shared by two other horse trainers, Zubir Selamat, 35, and Mohd Fazli Selamat, 37.
For Zubir, receiving Tunku Aminah’s wedding invitation was extremely gratifying because it showed that she appreciated and respected his coaching skills.
“I have known Tunku Aminah since she was 4-years old and shared some of my horse riding knowledge with her. Although shy, she is very disciplined. She treated us all like friends, even though she is royalty and a princess,” he said.
Mohd Fazli said that it was surreal to receive a personal wedding invitation from the princess.
“I am lost for words… I was moved to tears because I never expected Tunku Aminah to remember me. I am so thrilled and honoured,” said Mohd Fazli, who has 21 years of horse-training experience.