Today’s sending-off ceremony marked the conclusion of Al-Sultan Abdullah’s five-year reign as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Dressed in regal attire, the King and Queen exchanged smiles and waves with the crowd while acknowledging their farewells and shouts of “Daulat Tuanku”.

Well-wishers had gathered as early as 4am along Jalan Parlimen up to the Dato Onn roundabout for a final glimpse of the royal couple.

In conjunction with the sending-off ceremony, seven routes in the capital have been fully closed, with 13 routes closed in stages.

Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah will make their way back to their home state of Pahang today and return to their roles as sultan and sultanah of Pahang tomorrow.

Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar and Permaisuri Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris will assume the throne as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong on the same day.