Established On 1 July, 1954 as the department which was known as The Adat Istiadat Negara,
Religious and Public Welfare Department which was placed in the main Office of The State
Secretary Building (now known as The Secretariat Building). The establishment was approved
by the general order of His Majesty the Maulana Al-Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul
Khairi Waddien (now known as Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi
Waddien) who appointed Pengiran Pemancha Sahibul Ra'e Wal Mashuarah Pengiran Muda Haji
Mohamed Alam as the Adat Istiadat, Religious and Public Welfare Officer.
By 29 September, 1959 with the establishment of Religious Department, the former was known
as The Adat Istiadat and Public Welfare Department. In 1962, Public Welfare Department
formed it's own department and this made The Adat Istiadat Department run individually
under the former head. In 1968 The Adat Istiadat Department moved to the Lapau Building.
Since first established, The Adat Istiadat Department has been given priority to direct
access to His Majesty Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam on matters
concerning the conferment of state honours on individuals.
