Queen Mother Norodom Monineath was born on June 18; 1936; in Saigon; Vietnam. She was the wife of HM King Father Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia whom she married in April 1952.

She was born Paule-Monique Izzi and is sometimes referred to as Queen Monique. Her father; Jean-Fran鏾is Izzi; was a French banker of Corsican; French and Italian descent. Her mother; Pomme Peang; was from Phnom Penh.

She studied at the Primary School Norodom; Sisowath High School; and the Lyc閑 Ren?Descartes. She was President of the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) towards the end of the 1960s; and is currently the CRC Honorary President.

On 22 February 1992; she was elevated by the King to the rank of Samdech Preah Cheayea. On 24 September 1993; she was again elevated to the rank of Samdech Preah Moh鑣ey Norodom Monineath of Cambodia. On 2 January 1996; the King elevated her to the rank of Samdech Preah Reach Akka Moh鑣ey Norodom Monineath. Apart from Khmer; HRH Norodom Monineath speaks French and English.