Cambodian king returns from China after cancer treatment

Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni returned to Phnom Penh on July 3, concluding a period of treatment in China for prostate cancer. The 73-year-old monarch had traveled to Beijing earlier in 2026 for health checks and publicly shared his diagnosis in April.

According to the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, the King underwent "successful" surgery and had been receiving care from Chinese doctors. A statement on June 30 indicated that his health was "getting better" after more than three months of treatment.

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getting better

Upon his arrival at the airport, King Sihamoni was greeted by prominent Cambodian officials. These included influential former leader Hun Sen and his son, Hun Manet, who currently serves as prime minister. Hun Sen shared on Facebook that the King had "arrived in the country safely," accompanying his post with a video of the monarch's reception.

A lifelong bachelor, King Sihamoni speaks Khmer, French, Czech, and English. He spent much of his adult life abroad, pursuing a career in the arts before ascending to the throne in 2004. He succeeded his father, King Norodom Sihanouk, who abdicated following his own cancer treatment in Beijing and passed away in 2012.

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arrived in the country safely