PHNOM PENH: Prince Ranariddh has passed away in 28 of November, in France, at the age of 77. He was the second son of late King Father Norodom Sihanouk and a half-brother of the current king. This Monday morning Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni, King of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and His Majesty Queen Mother of Cambodia paid their respects to the late Prince Ranariddh at a Royal Ceremony at the mortuary in Samdech Panh Street, Phnom Penh.

The body of Prince Norodom Ranariddh has been escorted to the mortuary house on Samdech Panh Daun Penh District in Phnom Penh. At the mortuary, a Royal Ceremony will be held with the presence of Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni and his mother, Majesty Queen Monineath Sihanouk. Prince Ranariddh’s remains has been brought from France into his home country last Sunday.

On Monday, the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, has delivered his condolences to Majesty King Sihamoni, stating Prince Ranariddh was a close friend of the Chinese people, with the important role of enhancing relations between the two nations, as an important member of the Cambodian Royal Family.

In gratitude and to pay tribute to the late Prince Ranariddh, the Royal Government has designated Wednesday this week, as a day of national mourning by requiring all ministries, institutions, schools, hospitals, public and private sectors, and civil servants as well as all the armed forces, pagodas and people throughout the country, to hoist the flag at half-mast.

At the same time, all national and private radio and television stations must suspend their performances and broadcast various entertainment scenes in order to pay their respects to the late prince.

Norodom Ranariddh passed away at the age of 77, in France, on 28 November. He was born on 2 January, 1944, as the second son of Prince Norodom Sihanouk and his wife, Phat Kanoul. He was the first Prime Minister from 1993 to 1997 and the President of the National Assembly from 1998 to 2006.