Prince Norodom Yuvaneath, the eldest son of the late King Norodom Sihanouk and half -brother to King Norodom Sihamoni, has succumbed to his illness at the age of 77 in the US yesterday.
His death has been mourned by all members of the Royal family as well as the Cambodian people who have great respect for the prince.
“The royal family is deeply saddened by the death of King Norodom Yuvaneath, a personal adviser to the King [Norodom Sihamoni], who passed away at the age of 77,” King Nordom Sihamoni wrote on his official Facebook page today.
Prime Minister Hun Sen has also expressed his condolences to the passing of Prince Yuvaneath.
“On this sad occasion, my wife and I would like to convey our heartfelt condolences to the Royal family,” the premier said in a letter to the Royal family. “The loss of Norodom Yuvaneath is not only the loss of a faithful husband and father but also a patriotic royal family member who embraced the nation, the religion and the King.”
Born in October 1943, Prince Norodom Yuvaneath is first son of the late King of Cambodia, Norodom Sihanouk and Princess Sisowath Pongsanmoni, which makes him half-brother of King Norodom Sihamoni. He was educated at Lycée Sisowath and spoke French and English, in addition to the native Khmer.
In 1959, he was Cambodia’s representative at the “World Scout Jamboree” in the Philippines and had also accompanied his father on countless missions.
When General Lon Nol led a coup to overthrow King Norodom Sihanouk, he and his family were in Singapore on a visit and was unable to return to Cambodia. The prince fled to China and lived there until 1975, then moved to Hong Kong until 1980 after which he went to the United States and worked for the US Surgical Corporation for more than 14 years.
In 1993, after the Vietnamese left Cambodia, King Norodom Sihanouk returned to Cambodia and, on December 31 of that year, promoted Prince Yuvaneath to the rank of Sdech Krom Luon, appointing him Privy Counsellor to His Majesty the King, a rank equivalent to that of a Deputy Prime Minister. After King Sihanouk abdicated, the new King Sihamoni, appointed Yuvaneath as the Supreme Royal Advisor.
