Throughout his colourful yet controversial life, King Sihanouk, who died Monday in Beijing at the age of 89 served his country in several political positions, as constitutional monarch, prime minister, president and exiled leader. “Our former King died in Beijing due to natural causes. This is a great loss for Cambodia. We feel very sad. The former king was a great king that we all respect and love him,” said Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Nhik Bun Chhay. It was known that King Sihanouk had long suffered from cancer, diabetes and hypertension and had been treated in China for many years.