by Scott Mehl   © Unofficial Royalty 2014

King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia; Credit – Wikipedia

King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia was born in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on May 14, 1953. He is the eldest son of King Norodom Sihanouk and his sixth wife, Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, born Monique Izzi.

Norodom Sihamoni had one brother:

• Prince Norodom Narindrapong (1954 – 2003), married had two children, died from a heart attack

Norodom Sihamoni had thirteen half-siblings from his father’s first five marriages:

Mother: Phat Kanhol (? – 1969)

• Princess Norodom Buppha Devi (1943 – 2019), had four husbands and five children
• Prince Norodom Ranariddh (1944 – 2021), had two wives and four children

Mother: Sisowath Pongsanmoni

• Prince Norodom Yuvaneath (1943 – 2021), had two wives and six children
• Norodom Ravivong (1944 – 1973), died from malaria
• Prince Norodom Chakrapong (born 1945), had seven wives and thirteen children
• Norodom Sorya Roeungsi (1947 – 1976), disappeared under Khmer Rouge
• Norodom Kantha Bopha (1948 – 1952), died from leukemia
• Norodom Khemanourak (1949 – 1975), disappeared under Khmer Rouge
• Norodom Botum Bopha (1951 – 1975), disappeared under Khmer Rouge

Mother: Sisowath Monikessan, died in childbirth

• Prince Norodom Naradipo (1946 – 1976), disappeared under Khmer Rouge

Mother: Mam Manivan (1934 – 1975)

• Norodom Sujata (1953 – 1975), disappeared under Khmer Rouge
• Princess Norodom Arunrasmy (born 1955), had two husbands and five children

In 1962, at just nine years old, he was sent to Czechoslovakia where he received his elementary and secondary education. He studied music and classical dance at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, graduating in 1975. He then moved to North Korea where he studied filmmaking and returned to Cambodia in 1977. Upon his return, Sihamoni, along with his family, was placed under house arrest by the Khmer Rouge until the Vietnamese invasion in 1979. Sihamoni moved to France in 1981 where he taught ballet and remained there for nearly 20 years before returning once again to Cambodia. During this time, he also served as a delegate to UNESCO.

photo: BBC/AP

Citing his poor health, Sihamoni’s father, King Sihanouk, announced his abdication in October 2004. Unlike most monarchies, the succession to the Cambodian throne is not hereditary. The monarch is elected for life by the Royal Council of the Throne, consisting of members of the royal family, government officials, and religious figures. Upon his father’s abdication, Sihamoni was unanimously elected as the next King of Cambodia on October 14, 2004. His formal enthronement took place on October 29, 2004. Following an anointing ceremony at a sacred temple, the new King proceeded to the Royal Hall, within the Royal Palace complex, where he received his crown.

King Norodom Sihamoni remains a major patron of the arts, particularly dance. He regularly returns to Prague, which he considers his “second home” and maintains close contact with the family he lived with during his early years there. He is unmarried and has no children.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.