King Norodom Sihanouk mourned

Cambodians this week mourned King Norodom Sihanouk, who died in China while seeking medical treatment since January. The 89-year-old former monarch held many roles in government and was king on more than one occasion, starting in 1941. He gave up the throne to his son, Norodom Sihamoni, in 2004. Sihanouk led the country through its independence from France in 1953 and was connected to much turmoil in the country over the last 50 years. A crowd estimated at 200,000 lined the streets in Phnom Penh today to welcome home the body, which will lie in state for three months before being cremated according to Buddhist ritual. -- Lloyd Young ( 29 photos total)

Cambodian people watch as workers install a portrait of the late former king Norodom Sihanouk in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Oct. 16. Grieving Cambodians wore black ribbons and flags flew at half-mast on Oct. 16 as the nation mourned the death of revered ex-king Norodom Sihanouk and prepared for the return of his body from China. (Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP/Getty Images)

A woman throws water on burning incense sticks outside the Royal Palace as people pray to honor former King Norodom Sihanouk on Oct. 16 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. King Norodom Sihanouk died of a heart attack in Beijing at the age of 89. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images) 

A woman cries as she mourns the death of the late former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh Oct. 16. Norodom Sihanouk, once an absolute ruler who freed Cambodia from colonialism before becoming a tragic pawn through decades of turmoil, died on Monday in a Beijing hospital. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters) 

People light incense sticks as they mourn the death of former King Norodom Sihanouk at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Oct. 16. Sihanouk, a cunning political survivor who reinvented himself repeatedly throughout his often flamboyant life, died Monday at age 89 of a heart attack in Beijing, where he had been receiving medical treatment since January for multiple ailments. (Wong Maye-E/Associated Press)  

People gather to mourn the late former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Oct. 15. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters) 

The Royal Palace is lit up and displays a portrait of former King Norodom Sihanouk on Oct. 16. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images) 

People wearing white pray as they mourn the late former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Oct. 15. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters) 

A portrait of King Norodom Sihanouk is embedded among flower offerings by mourners of his death at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Oct. 16. (Wong Maye-E/Associated Press) 

Women make preparations for tomorrow's march to mourn the late former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk, at Boeung Kak slum in Phnom Penh on Oct. 16. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters) 

Mourners gather to pay respects to the late former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Oct. 16. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters) 

Students offer prayers at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, while mourning the death of former King Norodom Sihanouk on Oct. 16. (Wong Maye-E/Associated Press) 

Cambodian people watch a decorated hearse for the late former King Norodom Sihanouk in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Oct. 16. Grieving Cambodians wore black ribbons and flags flew at half-mast on Oct. 16 as the nation mourned the death of revered ex-king Norodom Sihanouk and prepared for the return of his body from China. (Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP/Getty Images) 

A Cambodian student holds lotus flowers while praying in front of the main gate of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to mourn the death of former King Norodom Sihanouk on Oct. 16. (Heng Sinith/Associated Press) 

A man takes a picture of himself while workers try to hang a portrait of former King Norodom Sihanouk on the facade of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, as part of preparations for his funeral. (Wong Maye-E/Associated Press) 

Cambodian students head to the main gate of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to pray and mourn the death of former King Norodom Sihanouk on Oct. 16. (Heng Sinith/Associated Press) 

Cambodians pray in front of the Royal Palace to mourn the death of former King Norodom Sihanouk in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Oct. 16. (Heng Sinith/Associated Press) 

People gather to mourn the death of former King Norodom Sihanouk at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Oct 16. (Wong Maye-E/Associated Press) 

People gather to mourn the death of former King Norodom Sihanouk at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Oct. 16. Cambodians prayed for the soul of Sihanouk on Tuesday and world leaders sent their condolences as the country prepared for the return of his body. (Wong Maye-E/Associated Press) 

A doctor and policemen stand outside the Beijing Hospital where Cambodia's former King Norodom Sihanouk received medical treatment, in Beijing on Oct. 15. Sihanouk, the revered former king who was a towering figure in Cambodian politics through a half-century of war, genocide and upheaval, died Monday in Beijing. He was 89. He had been getting medical treatment in China since January and had suffered a variety of illnesses, including colon cancer, diabetes and hypertension. (Andy Wong/Associated Press) 

A Cambodian family rides on a motorbike as they head back from their home village, passing by portraits of former King Norodom Sihanouk (left) and his wife Queen Monineath on Oct. 15. (Heng Sinith/Associated Press) 

People light candles as they gather to mourn the death of former King Norodom Sihanouk at the Royal Palace on Oct. 16. (Wong Maye-E/Associated Press) 

Cambodian Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, 5th left in front, Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni. 4th left in front, and Prime Minister Hun Sen, 2nd left,pray in front of the body of Cambodian former King Norodom Sihanouk at China's Beijing Hospital on Oct. 17. (Li Xueren/Associated Press) 

Mourners of Cambodia's late King Norodom Sihanouk wait in the evening sun for the casket carrying his body to arrive at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Oct. 17. The body of Sihanouk returned to his homeland on a plane from China on Wednesday, welcomed by of mourners who packed tree-lined roads in the Southeast Asian nation's capital ahead of the royal funeral. (Wong Maye-E/Associated Press) 

Cambodian royal officers carry the coffin of former King Norodom Sihanouk to put it on a royal truck during it's arrival at Phnom Penh international airport on Oct. 17. (Samrang Pring/Reuters) 

Buddhist monks arrive with the casket carrying the body of former King Norodom Sihanouk at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Oct. 17. (Wong Maye-E/Associated Press) 

A shadow is cast on candle wax as a woman lights incense sticks to mourn the death of former King Norodom Sihanouk at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Oct. 17. Sihanouk, a cunning political survivor who reinvented himself repeatedly throughout his often flamboyant life, died Monday at age 89 of a heart attack in Beijing, where he had been receiving medical treatment since January for multiple ailments. (Wong Maye-E/Associated Press) 

Mourners cry as the coffin of former king Norodom Sihanouk arrives at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Oct. 17. (Damir Sagolj /Reuters) 

People attend the procession of the body of former King Norodom Sihanouk along a street in Phnom Penh on Oct. 17. 

Thousands of mourners gather at the gates of the Royal Palace minutes after the coffin of former King Norodom Sihanouk arrived in Phnom Penh on Oct. 17. People poured into Cambodia's capital to witness the procession on Wednesday of the body of Sihanouk, a revered figure who ruled through the triumph of independence to the tragedy of its brutal civil war. Mourners dressed in white lined the 10-km (6-mile) route to welcome the return of Sihanouk, the flamboyant former monarch who died at 89 of heart failure on Monday in Beijing, his residence since abdicating eight years ago. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters)