Commemoration Day of King’s Father (Norodom Sihanouk)

When is Commemoration Day of the King’s Father?

This Cambodian holiday is observed every year on October 15. On this day, Cambodians remember and pay their respects to their beloved ex-king Norodom Sihanouk.

More Royal Holidays

• The King’s Birthday
• The King Mother’s Birthday
• Cambodian King’s Coronation Day

What’s Commemoration Day of the King’s Father?

Cambodia celebrates the Commemoration Day of the King’s Father to honor the former king, Norodom Sihanouk, who passed away on October 15th, 2012.

Norodom Sihanouk, born in 1922, took the throne in 1941 after the death of his grandfather, King Monivong.

Cambodia went through many changes during his lifetime:

• The French Protectorate of Cambodia (until 1953)
• The Kingdom of Cambodia (1953–70)
• The Khmer Republic (1970–75)
• Democratic Kampuchea (1975–79)
• The People’s Republic of Kampuchea (1979–93)
• The Kingdom of Cambodia (from 1993)

And his reign was a complicated matter with several instances of exile, the creation of resistance parties, and war. Ultimately in 2004, Norodom Sihanouk abdicated the throne due to health problems and his son, Norodom Sihamoni, was chosen to become his successor.

Norodom Sihanouk died in 2012 while in Beijing, China.