- the King-

the King

Born on Thursday 14 May 1953, in Phnom Penh, His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni is the son of His Majesty Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia and of Her Majesty Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk of Cambodia.

The King of Cambodia is the head of state of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The King's power is limited to that of a symbolic figurehead to whom people are to give love and respect.  The monarch also represents peace, stability, and prosperity to the Khmer people. The King of Cambodia is an elected monarch, making Cambodia one of the few elected monarchies of the world. The king is elected for life from among the members of the royal family who are at least 30 years old by the Royal Council of the Throne which consists of several senior elected and religious figures. King Norodom Sihamoni has 14 half-brothers and half-sisters by his father's various relationships; his only full sibling, a younger brother, HRH Samdech Norodom Narindrapong (born 1954) died in 2003.

Before he was crowned king, his royal title was: Sdech Krom Khun, equating him to the rank of Great Prince. As king, his title is: Preah Karuna Preah Bat Sāmdach Preah Bāromneath Norodom Sihamoni Preah Mohaksat Nai Preah Reacheanachak Kampuchea (in romanized Khmer); roughly translating to: His Majesty, King Norodom Sihamoni of the Kingdom of Cambodia. His given name, Sihamoni, comprises two morphemes from his parent's given names, Sihanouk and Monineath.
On 12 December 2008, Sihamoni selected twenty-six members of the Cambodian royal family to his advisory court, among them his half-brother Prince Norodom Ranariddh as chief advisor. Other choices included Prince Sisowath Sirirath, Princess Norodom Marie (estranged wife of Prince Ranariddh) and Prince Sisowath Thomico.

 

Education Background

• 1959-1962:    Primary schooling at the Norodom school and then at the Descartes high school in Phnom Penh (Cambodia)
  

• 1962-1967:    Primary and Secondary schooling at Prague's high school (Czechoslovakia)
  

• 1967-1971:    Dance, music and theatre courses at the National Conservatory of Prague
  

• 1970:    High school certificate -Prague (with "very good" marks)
  

• 1971:    First prize course of classical dance of the National Conservatory of Prague
  

• 1971-1975:    Higher dance, music and theatre courses, Academy of Musical Art of Prague
  

• 1975:    Graduated from the Academy of Musical Art of Prague
  

• 1975:    Author of a thesis on the conception and administration of artistic schools in Cambodia
  

• 1975-1976:    Higher studies of Cinematography in the D.P.R. of Korea
  

• 1976-1979:    Prisoner of the Khmer Rouge along with his parents and his younger brother, H.R.H Prince Norodom NarinDrapong
  

• 1979-1980:    Served his father in exile abroad as his Private Secretary
  

• 1981-2000:    Professor of classical dance and artistic pedagogy at the Marius Petipa conservatory, the Gabriel Faure conservatory and the W.A. Mozart conservatory of the city of Paris
  

• 1984-1988:    President of the Khmer dance association in France and director general and artistic director of the ballet group "Deva"
  

• 1988-1993:    Director general and artistic director of the Khmer cinematographic corporation "Khemara Pictures". H.M. Norodom Sihamoni, then Prince, has produced two creations (Ballet-Films): Dream and the 4 Elements
  

• 1992-1993:    Chosen unanimously by the members of the Supreme National Council of Cambodia to be permanent representative of Cambodia to the United Nations
  

• 1993-2004:    Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia to Unesco

• 2004:    member of the High Council of French-Speaking Countries (Francophonie)
  

• 1st February 1994:    Elevated by H.M. the King to the rank of Sdech Krom Khun (Great Prince)
  

• 17 October 2003:    Appointed high privy Councillor to His Majesty the King
  

• 31 August 2004:    Elevated by H.M the King to the Rank of SAMDECH PREAH BAROMNEATH
  

• 14 October 2004:    Elected unanimously by the members of the throne council as King of Cambodia to succeed his august father who has decided to retire
  

• Languages:    Khmer, fluent in French and Czech, good English and Russian
  

• Decorations:    

  • Grand cross of the Royal order of Cambodia
  • Grand cross of the Royal order of Monisaraphon (Cambodia)
  • Grand officer of the legion d'honneur (France)
  • Silver medal of the city of Paris(France