Golden Wedding of Kelantan's former Regnal Couple - December 4, 1968 - 2018

Yesterday (December 4) was a special date for the current Royal family of the Malaysian state of Kelantan. Sultan Ismail Petra, who ruled over the state from 1979 to 2010 and his first wife, Raja Perempuan Tengku Anis Tengku Abdul Hamid, have reached 50 years of marriage. They are the parents of the reigning Sultan Muhammad V, who is currently serving as Malaysia's 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (/Federal King), thus making him the only Malay monarch with both parents alive. Though his son is currently Head of state, local media don't pay much attention to the former Sultan after his deposition, back in 2010.

His Royal Highness Sultan Ismail Petra was born on November 11, 1949 to the late Sultan Yahya Petra & Raja Perempuan Zainah II. His father was Sultan of Kelantan from 1960 to 1979, and served as the 6th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia (1975-79), dying in office. He received a strong foundation of religious education & 'proper training' while young, being appointed the Crown Prince (Tengku Mahkota) of Kelantan on his 18th birthday. On December 4, 1968, he was married to Her Royal Highness Tangku Anis binti Tengku Abdul Hamid, in a Royal wedding stipped into traditions at the palace of Kelantan. Tengku Anis is a distant member of the House of Kelantan, and was born on January 6, 1949. Together they welcomed four children (three sons & a daughter): Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra (b. 1969; current Sultan Muhammad V), Tengku Muhammad Fa'iz Petra (b. 1974; current Crown Prince & Regent of Kelantan), Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra, and Tengku Amalin A'Ishah Putri. Though their daughter's marriage to Prince Abdul Qawi of Brunei, they also have two granddaughters. Their final wedding ceremony was held on March 12, 1969, while Tengku Anis was created the Crown Princess on January 1, that year.

From 21 September 1975 Ismail Petra was the Regent (Pemangku Raja) of Kelantan. After his father's death on March 29, 1979, he was appointed the 28th Sultan of Kelantan, being Crowned in a traditional ceremony, a year after his accession (on March 30, 1980). His experience in government structure and administration helped him to manage development projects (in commercial, industrial & tourism sectors) during his reign that reportedly helped his people (in reducing poverty) and state (in progress initiatives). Furthermore the Sultan and his wife (the Raja Perempuan) have been active in social work, often visiting their subjects in person, and inspecting their living conditions. In 2002, the Sultan was confered the Honorary Doctorate in Political Science by Ramkhamhaeng University of Bangkok (, Thailand). Ismail Petra had also married Cik Puan Elia Suhana Binti Ahmad in December 2007, from whom he filled a divorse application in March 2010, never accepted by her side.

Sultan Ismail Petra suffered a stroke in May 2009, that reportedly left him incapacitated. His elder son (and heir from 1985) was appointed Regent until the time he'll be able again to resume his duties. After more than a year of Sultan's treatments abroad (and reportedly some supporters of a rift with his father), Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra was appointed the next ruler by an Order of the Succession Council and proclaimed as Sultan Muhammad V on 13 September 2010. Hovewer, Ismail Petra never accepted his son's accession, trying to call it off through petitions to the Federal Court of Kelantan, though he never succeeded, as the legislation allows the deposition of a monarch, incapable to fullfil his role for more than a year, while the exact condition of His Royal Highness remains unclear for many years. Tengku Anis, on the other hand, seemed to remain supportive towards her ailing husband in the first stages of his recovery, though having also endorsed her firstborn as Sultan and later as King, and participating in some ceremonies with him (including his departure for capital Kuala Lumpur, to be proclaimed as Yang di-Pertuan Agong, in December 2016). Their Royal Highnesses have retained their regnal titles. As of yet, the throne is set to pass through their three childless sons (making up the current line of succession), but as Sultan Muhammad V (a divorsee) has been married (last month) to Miss Moscow 2015 Oksana Voevodina, and reportedly plans for children with her, the former Regnal Couple will probably get soon new grandchildren, with the line of succession expanding to another generation (if there will be boys), and Tengku Anis suceeded as Raja Perempuan (/'Queen Consort') of Kelantan by her new daughter in law.

Video about the complicated Sultan's condition case, back in 2010:

& more links of information (some in Malay):

http://stampbooks.blogspot.com/2004/02/silver-jubilee-of-reign-of-hrh-sultan.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ismail_Petra_of_Kelantan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_V_of_Kelantan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Kelantan_Royal_Family

https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultan_Ismail_Petra_ibni_Almarhum_Sultan_Yahya_Petra

https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tengku_Anis_binti_Tengku_Abdul_Hamid

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6437703/Former-Miss-Moscow-married-Malaysian-king-travelled-German-clinic-children.html