Royal News Round-up September 2013 I ; The ash of Rajah Muda returned to Sarawak

In the last month, a historic event takes place in the State of Sarawak. The ash's of the late Rajah Muda of Sarawak, Anthony Brooke returned to Sarawak. The late Rajah Muda were put to rest at the Brooke's Graveyard located at the vicinity of Fort Margherita and The Astana, the official residence of Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sarawak. The funeral ceremony were held at St. Thomas Church to fulfill the last wish of the Rajah Muda who wants to be put to rest in Sarawak. Anthony Brooke died on 2 March 2011 at his residence in Wanganui, New Zealand.

Anthony Brooke was born as Anthony Walter Dayrell Brooke on 10 December 1912. He was raised in England and received his education at Eito College. He later further his studies at Trinity College, Cambridge and Oriental Studies, University of London. He was elevated as the Rajah Muda of Sarawak on 25 August 1937 due to the death of his father who at the time holding the position of Rajah Muda. Prior to that, he has held several positions in the Kingdom's public services including as a magistrate since 1930s. He also has served as Regent of Sarawak in 1939 - 1940.

Anthony Brooke
His Highness the Rajah Muda of Sarawak

Due to a crisis with his uncle, who is the Rajah of Sarawak, he was stripped from his title as Rajah Muda on 17 January 1940. He was sent to exiled from Sarawak in September 1941. Among the crisis was due to his marriage to a commoner, Kathleen Mary Hudden. During the war, he served as a British Army. Anthony Brooke married two times in his lifetime. First to Kathleen (Divorced 1965) and second to Brigette Keller in 1982. His marriage to Kathleen produced three children, James Bertram Lionel Brooke (1940), Angela Carole Brooke (1942) and Celia Margaret Brooke (1944).

The ruled of the White Rajah were put to end after the last Rajah of Sarawak, Charles Vyner Brooke gave up the Kingdom to the British Empire and Sarawak becomes the Crown Colony of Sarawak on 1st July 1946. A move which were resented by Sarawakian at the time. Anthony Brooke were among those who objected the handover of Sarawak to become the British Crown Colony.