(ព្រះរាជបញ្ជារបស់ព្រះបាទសម្ដេចព្រះកុសុមៈ / preahreach banhchea robsa preah bat samdech preah ko so m). Instituted in 2001. Grand Cross Badge: five-piece construction, in plated white metal, unmarked, the centrepiece featuring an enamelled portrait of Queen Kossamak wearing the sash of the Royal Order of Cambodia, the centrepiece ring with an inscription in Khmer, mounted to a base incorporating thirty-two forked rays, the rays separated from one another by small balls, measuring 69.5 mm (w) x 101 mm (h) inclusive of its Khmer crown and laterally-pierced ball suspension, on its original full-length sash featuring a large bow-tie; Breast Star: four-piece construction, in plated white metal, unmarked, the centrepiece featuring an enamelled portrait of Queen Kossamak wearing the sash of the Royal Order of Cambodia, the centrepiece ring with an inscription in Khmer, mounted to a base incorporating thirty-two forked rays, the rays separated from one another by small balls, measuring 90.8 mm (w) x 90.5 mm (h), horizontal pinback; and Ribbon Bar: clasp in plated white metal with five embedded glass stones, affixed to the bar with an original ribbon, measuring 38.5 mm (w) x 14.7 mm (h), with pinback. Mint.
Footnotes:
1. The Royal Order of Her Majesty Queen Preah Kossomak was instituted in 2001, based on the original order instituted in 1962, the Kingdom itself having been abolished in 1970 and re-established in 1995. It is awarded for services to the Royal Court, in five classes: Grand Cross (Moha Serivodho or Mohasereivadh), Grand Officer (Vorsenea), Commander (Thipden), Officer (Senea) and Knight (Assarutti), along with a silver and a bronze medal. With the death of King Norodom Suramarit, Sihanouk's mother, Queen Kossamak was named to "symbolize" the throne, and a new medal for services to the court was established, but in this case on the pattern of an order.
2. Sisowath Kossamak (April 9. 1904 - April 27, 1975) was the queen consort of King Norodom Suramarit of Cambodia, who reigned from 1955 to 1960. After her husband's death in 1960, her son Norodom Sihanouk became chief of state, while Kossamak played an important public representational rule during her son's reign in 1960-1970. Sisowath Kossamak was born a Cambodian princess as the daughter of King Sisowath Monivong and his wife Norodom Kanviman Norleak Tevi. Her official title was Preah Mohaksatreiyani Sisowath Monivong Kossamak Nearirath Serey Vathana. Upon the death of Monivong in 1941, Sihanouk took the throne. In 1955, he abdicated in favour of his father Suramarit, who then reigned for five years. After her husband's death, Kossamak kept her title of Queen and continued to function as the symbol and representative of the monarchy while Sihanouk assumed his position as monarch, but titled as Prince rather than King. Contrary to what has sometimes been alleged, she was never a monarch, as female succession was forbidden in the constitution. After the coup of 1970, Kossamak was placed under arrest, but retained her title before being stripped of all status during the formal proclamation of the republic in October 1970. She remained under house arrest until her health declined in 1973, and she was allowed to join her son in China. Kossamak died in Beijing on April 27, 1975, ten days after the Khmer Rouge captured Phnom Penh.