A King with a Czech Heart
Not many people know that the current King of Cambodia, Norodom Sihamoni, spent a significant part of his life far from the temples of Angkor and the royal palace of Phnom Penh—in Czechoslovakia, now the Czech Republic.
His story reads like something out of a novel. A tale of royalty, exile, art, and destiny.
The Prince Who Came to Prague
Norodom Sihamoni was born in 1953 to King Norodom Sihanouk and Queen Monique. In the 1960s, as Cambodia navigated political storms, young Sihamoni was sent abroad for safety and education. He was just 9 years old when he moved to Prague, where he would spend nearly two decades.
He didn’t just live there—he grew up Czech in many ways.
He learned to speak fluent Czech, studied at elite schools, and even became a ballet dancer and choreographer, graduating from the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (AMU). While most royalty might have followed a path in diplomacy or politics, Sihamoni chose theater, music, and classical dance.
A Quiet Life in Europe
Unlike other royals known for extravagance, Sihamoni lived a modest, artistic life. He later moved to Paris, where he taught dance and represented Cambodia in UNESCO. He became known as gentle, humble, and intellectual.
Even when his father abdicated the throne, Sihamoni never sought power.
But fate had other plans.
The Reluctant King
In 2004, following the abdication of his father, Norodom Sihamoni was chosen by a special council to become King of Cambodia. It was a surprise to many—including Sihamoni himself. He returned to a country he had been absent from for decades, stepping into a deeply symbolic role as a unifying monarch.
Since then, he has been known as a peaceful, apolitical figure, devoted to culture, humanitarian causes, and the well-being of his people.
A Czech-Cambodian Soul
To this day, King Sihamoni is admired for his calm presence and international background. In the Czech Republic, he is fondly remembered as a brilliant student and a kind soul. He has visited Prague several times since becoming king, each visit full of emotion and memory.
For the Czechs, he is a kind of “adopted son.” For Cambodians, he is a king with a unique story—one that crosses continents, cultures, and time.
King Norodom Sihamoni’s life is a reminder that even royalty can have roots in unexpected places. His years in Prague shaped him into the thoughtful, artistic, and modest monarch he is today. His story proves that destiny sometimes finds you—even when you’re not seeking it.