Dyg Celia, daughter of last Rajah Muda, dies in France
Posted on January 20, 2012, Friday
Dayang Celia
KUCHING: The youngest daughter of the last Rajah Muda of Sarawak, Anthony Brooke, Dayang Celia Margaret Captier-Brooke passed away peacefully at her residence in Rennes-le-Chateau, France on Wednesday, with her husband Marcel and family by her side. Celia is survived by second husband Marcel, daughter Sura and grandson Leandro. Born in England on Nov 3, 1944, Celia was just two years old when her destiny in Sarawak was overturned, a result of the annexation of Sarawak by the British Government in 1946.
Celia’s father Anthony was heir to the throne who led the Sarawak Independence Movement against British annexation in the years immediately after WWII. Her great-grandfather was the second Rajah Sir Charles Brooke who succeeded his uncle Sir James Brooke as Rajah in 1868.
James was granted the government of Sarawak by the Sultan of Brunei in 1841, as a reward for bringing about a settlement to a local rebellion. Brooke rule ended officially in 1946, when Sarawak was controversially annexed by the British Government, leading Celia’s parents, the Rajah Muda and Ranee Muda, to wage a five year campaign, with the support of newly formed indigenous political organisations, against the annexation.
During the years of political turmoil, Celia was sent far away. Her father based himself in Singapore due to a ban on his entry into Sarawak, and her mother was the sole representative of the family to enter the country, touring extensively and adding support to the Independence groups. Celia was later to visit Sarawak on two occasions, an experience which she later described as ‘just like being in a fairy tale’.
Her first visit took place in 2004, followed by a second one in 2007, which aroused unexpected publicity and interest. The warm welcome received in Sarawak made a lasting impression upon Celia and she would forever remember the good friends she had made and the wonderful experiences she had had in that country with which she had such a special connection.
Posted on January 20, 2012, Friday
Dayang Celia
KUCHING: The youngest daughter of the last Rajah Muda of Sarawak, Anthony Brooke, Dayang Celia Margaret Captier-Brooke passed away peacefully at her residence in Rennes-le-Chateau, France on Wednesday, with her husband Marcel and family by her side. Celia is survived by second husband Marcel, daughter Sura and grandson Leandro. Born in England on Nov 3, 1944, Celia was just two years old when her destiny in Sarawak was overturned, a result of the annexation of Sarawak by the British Government in 1946.
Celia’s father Anthony was heir to the throne who led the Sarawak Independence Movement against British annexation in the years immediately after WWII. Her great-grandfather was the second Rajah Sir Charles Brooke who succeeded his uncle Sir James Brooke as Rajah in 1868.
James was granted the government of Sarawak by the Sultan of Brunei in 1841, as a reward for bringing about a settlement to a local rebellion. Brooke rule ended officially in 1946, when Sarawak was controversially annexed by the British Government, leading Celia’s parents, the Rajah Muda and Ranee Muda, to wage a five year campaign, with the support of newly formed indigenous political organisations, against the annexation.
During the years of political turmoil, Celia was sent far away. Her father based himself in Singapore due to a ban on his entry into Sarawak, and her mother was the sole representative of the family to enter the country, touring extensively and adding support to the Independence groups. Celia was later to visit Sarawak on two occasions, an experience which she later described as ‘just like being in a fairy tale’.
Her first visit took place in 2004, followed by a second one in 2007, which aroused unexpected publicity and interest. The warm welcome received in Sarawak made a lasting impression upon Celia and she would forever remember the good friends she had made and the wonderful experiences she had had in that country with which she had such a special connection.
