Fireworks to Honour Queen Mother’s 89th Birthday in Phnom Penh

[geovalin]

TVK, 2024

 

Cambodia will mark the 89th birthday of Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk with a grand fireworks display in front of the Royal Palace on 18 June, as the nation pays tribute to her decades of service and enduring role as a unifying figure.

 

Chin Ketana, Secretary-General of the National Committee for National and International Festivals, confirmed that the fireworks will begin at 7pm as part of celebrations organised by the government in partnership with the Royal Family and state institutions.

 

“Each year, the Cambodian people come together to honour the King and Queen Mother’s contributions. These celebrations reflect our deep national respect,” said Minister of the Royal Palace Kuy Sophal.

 

Public institutions across the country will grant leave to civil servants, armed forces, and students to join the festivities. Security and public order during the event will be closely overseen by the Phnom Penh Administration, Deputy Governor Keut Chhe confirmed.

 

Born Paule-Monique Izzi in 1936, Queen Mother Norodom Monineath is the mother of King Norodom Sihamoni and the late Prince Norodom Narindrapong. She became Queen Consort in 1952 and stood by King Father Norodom Sihanouk through some of Cambodia’s most turbulent political eras, including exile during the Khmer Rouge regime.

 

Known for her charitable work, she led the Cambodian Red Cross in the 1960s and continues to serve as its Honorary President. She remains a revered national figure, often referred to as a symbol of unity, compassion, and quiet resilience.

 

As the capital prepares for the celebration, banners, portraits, and flowers are already appearing throughout Phnom Penh. Across the country, leaders and citizens alike are expected to send messages of goodwill, with many regarding the Queen Mother as the matriarch of modern Cambodia.

 

While the birthday events are ceremonial in nature, they offer a rare moment of national reflection and unity—a pause to honour the past and the enduring presence of a figure who has witnessed and shaped Cambodia’s history for nearly nine decades.

 

-2025-06-11