Norodom Monineath
| Norodom Monineath Sihanouk | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queen Mother of Cambodia | |||||
 | |||||
| Queen consort of Cambodia | |||||
| Tenure | 24 September 1993 – 7 October 2004 | ||||
| Born |
18 June 1936 Saigon, Cochinchina | ||||
| Spouse |
Norodom Sihanouk (m. 1952; wid. 2012) | ||||
| Issue |
Norodom Sihamoni Norodom Narindrapong | ||||
| |||||
| House | House of Norodom (by marriage) | ||||
| Father | Jean-François Izzi | ||||
| Mother | Pomme Peang | ||||
| Religion | Theravada Buddhism | ||||
| Royal Family of Cambodia |
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Norodom Monineath Sihanouk (Khmer: នរោត្ដម មុនីនាថ; born Paule Monique Izzi, 18 June 1936) is the queen mother of Cambodia. She was queen consort of Cambodia from 1952 to 1955 and again from 1993 to 2004, as the wife of King Norodom Sihanouk. She is the widow of King-Father Norodom Sihanouk, whom she married in 1952. Queen Monineath and King Sihanouk parented two children: Norodom Sihamoni (b. 1953) and Norodom Narindrapong (1954-2003). Her official, full title is "Preah Karuna Preah Bat Samdech Preah Mohaksatreyani Norodom Monineath Sihanouk" (Khmer: ព្រះករុណាព្រះបាទសម្តេចព្រះមហាក្សត្រិយានី នរោត្តម មុនិនាថ សីហនុ). The Queen is also called "Preah Voreakreach Meada Cheat Khmer" (Khmer: ព្រះវររាជមាតាជាតិខ្មែរ). Her birthday on 18 June is an official public holiday in Cambodia.
Biography
Norodom Monineath was born on 18 June 1936, in Saigon (former Prey Nokor), Cochinchina, French Indochina (present day Vietnam). She was born Paule-Monique Izzi and is sometimes referred to as Queen Monique.[1]
Her father, Jean-François Izzi, was a French banker of Corsican, French and Italian descent,[2] who was killed in World War II. Her mother, Pomme Peang, was from Phnom Penh.[3]
She studied at the Primary School Norodom, Sisowath High School, and the Lycée René Descartes. She was President of the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) towards the end of the 1960s and is currently the CRC Honorary President.
She was imprisoned by the Khmer Rouges from 1976 until 1979.
On 22 February 1992, she was elevated by the King to the rank of Samdech Preah Cheayea. On 24 September 1993, she was raised to the rank of Samdech Preah Mohèsey Norodom Monineath of Cambodia. On 2 January 1996, the King elevated her to the rank of Samdech Preah Reach Akka Mohèsey Norodom Monineath.
Monineath speaks Khmer, French and English.[4]
Children
| Styles of Norodom Monineath The Queen Mother of Cambodia | |
|---|---|
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| Reference style | Her Majesty |
| Spoken style | Your Majesty |
| Alternative style | Madame |
The King Father and the Queen Mother have two sons:
- Norodom Sihamoni (born 14 May 1953); was given the title of Somdech Krom Khun by HM the King in 1994 and was Ambassador of Cambodia to UNESCO in Paris. He is the current King of Cambodia.
- Norodom Narindrapong (18 September 1954 - 7 October 2003)[5] has two daughters.
Patronages
- President of Honour of the Cambodian Red Cross Society (President from 1967 until 1970).
- Co-President of the Funcinpec Party (from 1989 until 1992).
Honours
National Honours
- Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Cambodia.[6]
Foreign Honours
- Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Queen of Sheba (Ethiopian Empire, 04/05/1968).[7]
- Dame Grand Cross of the National Order of Mali (Republic of Mali, 1973).[8]