Princess Norodom Bopha Devi of Cambodia was born on January 8 1943 in Phnom Penh. She is the daughter of Norodom Sihanouk and the late Neak Moneang Phat Kanthol. Princess Bopha Devi is the elder sister of Prince Norodom Ranariddh and a half-sibling of current King of Cambodia, Norodom Sihamoni. Her official title is Her Royal Highness Samdech Reach Botrei Preah Ream Norodom Bopha Devi.

Name

Princess Norodom Bopha Devi's first name is also romanised as 'Buppha Devi or 'Bophadevi.' She is often referred to only by her first name, Bopha Devi. Her name comes from the Sanskrit words puppha, meaning a flower, and devi which can be translated as 'queen' from Khmer.

Biography

Her Royal Highness Bopha Devi finished her high school education at Lycée Preah Norodom in Phnom Penh. As a young princess her grandmother, Queen Sisowath Kossamak, chose her to become a dancer early in her life. At the age of 15, she become the premiere dancer of the Royal Ballet. At the age of 18, she was granted the title of prima ballerina.

She then toured the world as the principal dancer of the Cambodian Royal Ballet, and together with Queen Kossamak, she brought for the first time, not only to the world, but also to the Cambodian people the art of the Cambodian Ballet. In the past, the ballet was performed only before royalty to commemorate their dynastic ancestors and to honour the gods.

Her Royal Highness married in 1959 at the age of fifteen, and has five children:

• HRH Princess Sisowath Moni Kossoma, born in 1960.
• HRH Princess Sisowath Kalyan Tevi, born in 1961.
• Keo Chinsita Forsinetti, born in 1965.
• HRH Prince Sisowath Chivannariddh, born in 1968.
• HRH Prince SIsowath Veakchiravuddh, born 1973.

Princess Bopha Devi currently serves as the Minister of Culture and Fine Arts in Cambodia.

External links

• Biography at Norodom Sihanouk's website
• Article on Bopha Devi
• Video Clip of HRH