According to Prince Sisowath Thomico, Sihanouk's personal assistant, the body of former Cambodian king Norodom Sihanouk will be sent back to Cambodia from Beijing on Wednesday afternoon. As scheduled, Cambodian king Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen will bring the body of Sihanouk from Beijing to Phnom Penh on Wednesday.

The Prince also said the body of Sihanouk will be emplaced at the Royal Palace for three months for mouners to pay their respect. And the official mourning period for Sihanouk will be held for a week from October 17 to 23.

Sihanouk died early Monday due to natural causes at Beijing Hospital in China's capital city. Sihanouk wrote in a royal letter in January that he requested his body to be cremated instead of being buried and his ashes to be put in an urn, preferably made of gold, and placed in a stupa at the country's Royal Palace.

(CNTV.cn October 16, 2012)