Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (L, front) delivers a speech during his birthday celebration at Istana Nurul Iman, Brunei's royal palace, in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, July 15, 2019. Brunei celebrated the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah's 73rd birthday with various activities including a ceremonial parade and a grand state banquet on Monday. The Sultan's birthday is a national event held annually, which usually lasted about a month. (Xinhua/Jeffrey Wong)

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Around 4,000 people comprising of members of the royal families, state dignitaries and foreign diplomatic corps, as well as foreign invited guests attended a grand state banquet in conjunction with the Sultan's 73rd birthday celebration on Monday night at the royal palace - Istana Nurul Iman.

Born on July 15, 1946, the Sultan is the world's second longest-reigning current monarch after Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.

The Sultan's birthday celebration is the grandest event in the nation's annual calendar. The celebration began on Monday with a public holiday and a ceremonial parade, followed by a conferment of state honors and decorations (medals).

One of the unique features of the month-long festivities is the Sultan's four sessions of "get-together", where the people of every district of Brunei will get to meet the monarch in person, and demonstrate their unwavering loyalty to him.