A replica crown and sword, symbol of royal regalia, might be used during newly selected king Norodom Sihamoni's coronation ceremony to be started at 5 p.m. (1000 GMT) in the golden-roofed Royal Palace in Phnom Penh Friday.

A replica crown and sword will be used during the ceremony as the original gem-encrusted crown, which was used for all monarchs of the country, disappeared in 1970 when King Norodom Sihanouk wasousted by the Lon Nol regime, according to Prince Norodom Ranariddh, the king's half-brother.

Although the crown will not be placed on the head of the new king, the replica crown and sword will hold equal symbolic value, Ranariddh said.

Sihamoni was chosen as the new monarch of the country by the nine-member Royal Council on Oct. 14 following his father king Norodom Sihanouk announced abdication on health fragile a week earlier in Beijing. He is the second king for the Cambodian nationin 60 years.

The three-day royal coronation of King Sihamoni began Thursday morning with traditional Buddhist and Brahmanic rites and ceremonies held inside the Royal Palace.

As part of the ceremony, the retired king Sihanouk Friday morning dropped on Sihamoni's head the water previously purified and consecrated.

Fifty-two Buddhist monks will recite sutras inside the royal palace prior to King Sihamoni's swear-in ceremony to invite divineblessings upon the new monarch.

Source: Xinhua