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?ois 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?e 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?sey Norodom Monineath of Cambodia. On 2 January 1996, the King elevated her to the rank of Samdech Preah Reach Akka Moh?sey Norodom Monineath. Apart from Khmer, HRH Norodom Monineath speaks French and English.