Cambodians this week mourned King Norodom Sihanouk. Sihanouk died after a heart attack in Beijing, China on 15 October 2012. He had been receiving medical treatment there since January for a number of health problems. The 89-year-old former ruler held many roles in government and was king of Cambodia on more than one occasion, starting in 1941.
In 2004, his son Norodom Sihamoni was crowned at his place. Sihanouk led the country through its independence from France in 1953 and was connected to much disturbance in the country over the last 50 years. A crowd estimated at 200,000 lined the streets in Phnom Penh today to welcome home the body of their lovely King, which will lie in state for three months before being cremated according to Buddhist ritual.
- Cambodian students head to the main gate of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to pray and mourn the death of former King – Fathew of Cambodia on Oct. 16 .
- A man clicks himself while workers try to hang a portrait of former King Norodom Sihanouk on the facade of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, as part of preparations for his funeral.
- A Cambodian student holds lotus flowers while praying in front of the main gate of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to mourn the death of former King Norodom Sihanouk on Oct. 16.
- Cambodian people watched a decorated hearse for the late former King Norodom Sihanouk in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Oct. 16. Sorrowful Cambodians wore black ribbons and flags flew at half-mast on Oct. 16 as the nation mourned the death of revered ex-king Norodom Sihanouk and prepared for the return of his body from China.
- Students offered their prayers at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, while expressing their grieve on the death of former King Norodom Sihanouk on Oct. 16.
- People gathered to pay respects to the late former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Oct. 16.
- Women prepared for the march to mourn the late former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk, at Boeung Kak slum in Phnom Penh on Oct. 16.
- A portrait of King Norodom Sihanouk is embedded among flower offerings by people who love him at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Oct. 16.
- People wearing white pray as they expressed their sorrow to the late former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Oct. 15 .
- The Royal Palace is lit up and displays a portrait of former King Norodom Sihanouk on Oct. 16.
- People gather to mourn the late former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Oct. 15.
- People light incense sticks as they expressed their sorrow at the death of former King Norodom Sihanouk at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Oct. 16. Sihanouk, an absolute political survivor who reinvented himself repeatedly throughout his often flamboyant life, died Monday at age 89 of a heart attack in Beijing, where he had been receiving medical treatment for many health problems.
- A woman cries as she mourns the death of the late former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh Oct. 16. Norodom Sihanouk. He was an absolute ruler who freed Cambodia from territorial through decades of disturbances, died on Monday in a Beijing hospital.
- People prayed outside the Royal Palace to honor former King Norodom Sihanouk on Oct. 16 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia by lightening candles, a woman throws water on burning incense sticks . King Norodom Sihanouk died of a heart attack in Beijing at the age of 89.
- Cambodian people installed a portrait of the late former king Norodom Sihanouk in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Oct. 16. Sorrowing Cambodians wore black ribbons and flags flew at half-mast on Oct. 16 as the nation mourned the death of revered ex-king Norodom Sihanouk and prepared for the return of his body from China.
