Royal Guests from around the world joined Malay Royal Families for the Installation of the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong, King of Malaya, on this day in 1957 (65 years ago), following the Independence of Malaya after over a century of British Colonial Rule.
At midnight on August 30th, the British Flag was lowered and the new Flag of Malaya was raised to the sounds of the new national anthem Negaraku. The main ceremony was the following morning, when Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, representing the Queen, presented Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first Malay Prime Minister, with the instrument of Independence at the Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.
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The following day, there was the Installation of the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Rahman of Negeri Sembilan, in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Hall in Jalan Ampang, with the golden Kris Panjang, symbolic of power and authority, presented by Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Raham. Malaysia is the world’s only rotational monarchy, where the Hereditary Rulers of Nine of the Malay States are elected as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) for a 5-year term by the Conference of Rulers. Th
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In the following few days, there were a series of spectacular ceremonies, which included numerous Banquets, Parades and Ceremonies. In addition to the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Prince William of Gloucester, Royal Guests in attendance included King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit of Thailand as well as Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko of Japan in addition to the Rulers of the Malay Sultanates and arrested Malay Royalty.
