Norodom Sihamoni

Samdech Preah Norodom Sihamoni Bâromneath ( born May 14, 1953 in Phnom Penh) is the King of Cambodia. He is the oldest common child of King Norodom Sihanouk and Queen Monineath.

Life

His early childhood was spent in Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni. At the age of nine he was sent for further training to Prague. Among others, he received also ballet lessons. In 1967 he played in the movie Le petit prince ( The Little Prince ), his father turned, the actuated again and again as a film maker. At the same time he continued his dance education in the former Czechoslovakia continued and was there in 1971 with the "1st National award for classical dance " excellent. His other artistic studies led him to Russia (then Soviet Union) and North Korea, where in 1976 he received a diploma in cinematography.

In 1976, he returned shortly after the Khmer Rouge seized power, to Cambodia, where he was placed with the other members of the royal family under house arrest. Only in 1978 could leave ( People's Republic of China ) to Beijing family in the wake of the invasion of the Vietnamese troops.

Three years later, in 1981, Norodom Sihamoni moved to Paris (France) and became a teacher at the Conservatory " Gabriel Fauré ". He also founded his own dance group, the "Ballet Deva ". Since 1993, he was Ambassador of Cambodia to UNESCO in Paris.

October 14, 2004 Norodom Sihamoni of the Thronrat nine-member was appointed king. His election was supported by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Speaker of the National Assembly Prince Norodom Ranariddh ( an older half-brother Norodom Sihamoni ) (both are ex officio members of the Throne Council ).

The coronation took place on 29 October 2004 in Phnom Penh.

Norodom Sihamoni is unmarried and childless. Besides his native Khmer he speaks Czech, Russian, French and English.