King Norodom Sihamoni

The King of Cambodia

    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.

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)