His Majesty King Sihamoni of Cambodia and Prince Ranarat are half-brothers, both sons of King Sihanoukville. Prince Ranarit was born in 1944, King Sihamoni was born in 1953, and Prince Ranaridh was nine years older than King Sihamoni.
Prince Ranari's biological mother was Ganho, the first concubine of King Sihanouk, and King Sihamoni's biological mother was Empress Monilie. Some people say that Sihanouk is said to be the king of Sihamoni, but this is not the case.
First of all, the Cambodian king is not hereditary, but elected. The king has no right to pass the throne to his sons and cannot decide who the next king is. The new king does not have to be the son of the old king, but the son of the old king is eligible to go to the election of the king. After the king's death or abdication, the Council of Thrones selects a new king among the princes of the three royal families.
King Sihamoni was elected by the Council of Thrones, not King Sihanouk, who was passed down as King Sihamoni, but King Sihanouk once recommended Prince Sihamoni as king.
Prince Ranari was not the eldest son, he was the second eldest of his brothers. King Sihanouk's eldest son was Prince Euvana. Prince Euvana was born to Princess Poonsan Moni, the second concubine of King Sihanouk.
Prince Euwana studied in China with his two younger brothers (Prince Naradila and Prince Kemanurak) and now settles in the United States. In January 2021, Prince Euwana died of illness in the United States.
King Sihamoni has always been intoxicated with Buddhism and art, indifferent to fame and fortune, never thought of being king, it was King Sihanouk who saw that there was no suitable candidate in the family and forced Prince Sihamoni to run for the king election. Before becoming king, Prince Sihamoni was a professor at the University in Paris, France, and lived a beautiful life as a petty bourgeoisie, much happier than being a powerless king.
And Prince Ranarid does not want to be king, Prince Nara lie is passionate about power, he wants to be a powerful prime minister, to govern the country and the country, and he does not want to be a powerless king of constitutional monarchy at all. When King Sihanouk asked Prince Ranarid if he would like to become king, Prince Ranari said, "I don't want to be a living photograph." ”
There was no battle for the throne between Prince Ranari and King Sihamoni, and their mother had never formed a love rival. Prince Ranari's biological mother, Ganho, was an actress of the Royal Ballet, from a low birth, and was driven away by the royal family not long after giving birth to Prince Ranari, who was raised by his grandmother, Empress Goshaman. Many years after Ganjo was expelled, Empress Monilé entered the palace as a concubine. Empress Monilie was only eight years older than Prince Ranarit.
So Prince Ranarid and King Sihamoni did not have any contradictions, and the brotherly feelings were good. Over the years, Prince Ranarid, as the mainstay of the royal family, has been guarding the royal family and the king.
Reference: The Sihanoukville Family
The Unsinkable King --- Sihanoukville