Cambodia

King Sihamoni’s Birthday marks a three day celebration in Cambodia. King Sihamoni was born in 1953 to King Sihanouk and his wife, Monieath. King Sihamoni had 1 brother who died in 2003 but he has 12 half-brothers and 12 half-sisters. He was educated in Europe, mostly Prague, until 1975. After the Khmer Rouge coup in 1970, King Sihamoni was put under house arrest for the next nine years. Released in 1981, he returned to Europe to teach ballet.

On October 14, 2004, he was elected king by a nine member throne council after his father suddenly abdicated.

Although King Sihamoni has never married and he has no children, Cambodia chooses their kings by a throne council and not by royalty succession.