Monarchies Today - Royalty around the globe: Cambodia mourns Passing of Princess Norodom BUPPHA DEVI (1943-2019) - Monday 18

Kingdom of Cambodia mourned the death of a senior royal, last month. Princess Norodom Buppha Devi, the eldest half-sister of King Norodom Sihamoni, passed away on Monday, November 18, at the age of 76. A cousin confirmed that she died in a Bangkok hospital at 12:30, following an intense treatment. The General Secretariat of Cambodia's Constitutional council (of which she was a member) expressed its saddness & conveyed condolences to her family. Prime Minister Hun Sen declared Wednesday (November 20) a day of national mourning across the country. Every possible entertainments were cancelled & alcohol sale was banned that day.

Princess Buppha Devi with her father, King Norodom Sihanouk

Princess Buppha Devi was born on January 8, 1943, the eldest child of King Norodom Sihanouk & his first wife, Phat Kanhol (1920-1970). Her younger full-brother, is former Prime Minister (& Funcinpec party founder) Prince Norodom Ranariddh. From the age of 5 she began studying Royal Ballet, a form of art assossiated with the kingdom's royal heritage for many centuries. After finishing her primary & secondary education in Phnom Penh, Buppha Devi became Prima ballerina at 18. Her dancing skills were highlighted when she performed in front of foreign leaders (like De Gaule & Sukarno) during her father's official trips abroad in the 1960s. Traditional dances of Cambodia were shown to the world for the first time.

Buppha Devi (whose name literally means Flower Goddess) was especially talented in the performance of Apsara dance (dedicated to female spirits), passed on by her Royal Grandmother. She taught the royal dance to various students, without social class limitations. In 1975 the Princess escaped from Khmer Rouge leaving the country & teaching for some time in a refugee camp in Thailand.

She returned with the rest of the royal family in 1991. Five of her 12 siblings were reportedly killed by the regime, of which the vast majority of royal ballet teachers also didn't survive. Thus Princess Buppha Devi, along with few other remaining professionals put their efforts to revive this kind of culture (including Apsara dance).

Her Royal Highness directed the Royal ballet of Cambodia, & also held some cabinet offices, being the Minister of Culture & Fine Arts (1998-2004). In her later years her health deteriorated, but Buppha Devi continued teaching, worrying about the future continuity of Royal ballet (which has been since listed as a unique part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO).

Norodom Buppha Devi was married five times during her life & had five children (born between 1960 & 1973). Although some of her students felt like losing their own mother when her death (of an unspecified illness) was announced. Many tributes were paid for her generosity of spirit & lifelong dedication to the Royal Ballet. Condolences were paid to her family domestically & from abroad.

The late Princess' body was flown back to Phnom Penh on Tuesday (Nov. 19) & was placed into a gold-embroidered coffin at Wat Botum pagoda. There Buddhist funeral chantings were held for six days. Members of the Royal family (beginning with The King & Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk), her students, officials & ordinary people were visiting the pagoda & paying their last respects. In the meantime, preparations for a final sendoff were made.

King Norodom Sihamoni (Buppha Devi's brother) & his Mother
Queen Norodom Monineath (late King Sihanouk's sixth & last wife)

Senior monks' pallanquin during the royal funeral procession

On the seventh day (Monday, November 25) the royal cremation took place, after a nationwide funeral procession across the capital streets. The flag-drapped coffin was carried on a wheeled palanquin in the scheme of a mythical creature. It was slowly pulled by soldiers (dressed to colourful attires) to the crematorium, escorted by other pallanquins carried a large portrait of hers & chief monks (chanting on the route). Then, the casket was carefully laid to the funeral pyre & a farewell ceremony took place. At its end, the King lighted the pyre with many of those present overcomed by emotion.

King Norodom Sihamoni & Queen Mother Norodom Monineath

Princess Buppha Devi's casket is carried into the crematorium

King Sihamoni ligts his sister's funeral pyre

Princess Buppha Devi's daughter among dancers Nov. 24 night

Princess Buppha Devi was cremated at around 8:30 am in front of the Botum Pagoda. Her eldest daughter Princess Sisowath Monico Kossamak thanked all those who donated money or helped the funeral to be held smoothly. Her second daughter Princess Sisowath Kalyan Tevi had also participated in a traditional ballet dance near the crematorium the previous night, as part of royal ballet dancers' tribute to the late Apsara' master. After (cremation) ceremony ended the officials (& royal family) departed, while members of Buppha Devi's close family remained to collect her ashes. Further prayers for the royal ashes are being held the following days & weeks; before they will be enshrined privately on a later date.