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e 7. Prince Norodom Sihamoni stands at the top of the plane's stairs and bows before his father, outgoing monarch Norodom Sihanouk as he emerges from plane 8. Prince Norodom Sihamoni walks ahead of King Norodom Sihanouk (who bows) 9. King Norodom Sihanouk is helped down the stairs, followed by his wife Queen Monineath 10. Prince Norodom Sihamoni is greeted first by landing party 11. King Norodom Sihanouk is greeted 12. Mid shot of Prince Sihamoni bowing to welcome party 13. Mid shot of King Norodom Sihanouk bowing to welcome party 14. Mid shot of Prince Sihamoni bowing to welcome party 15. Wide of King Norodom Sihanouk bowing to welcome party 16. Various of royal family leaves tarmac 17. Various of school children holding portraits of Prince Norodom Sihamoni and King Norodom Sihanouk 18. School children waving 19. Official royal vehicle drives into Royal Palace gates, royal family member waves out window 20. Police escort 21. Wide of balloons being released into the air as official royal vehicle drives into Royal Palace gates STORYLINE Cambodia's new king, Norodom Sihamoni, returned from China on Wednesday to become his country's first new monarch in decades, thanking his people for giving him the honour and promising to "do my utmost" to serve them. Sihamoni's father, Norodom Sihanouk - a key player in Cambodia's halls of power before he stepped down earlier this month - indicated he would stay on as a close adviser to his politically inexperienced son, at least for the time being. Little-known Prince Norodom Sihamoni arrived with his ailing father from Beijing, where Sihanouk, 81, has spent most of the past nine months receiving medical treatment and staying in self-imposed exile to protest bickering among his country's political leaders. A nine-member Throne Council unanimously chose Sihamoni as king last Thursday, one week after Sihanouk abdicated. A coronation ceremony for Sihamoni is scheduled for October 29. Sihamoni was greeted at the airport by Cambodia's top political leaders, including Prime Minister Hun Sen, acting head of state Chea Sim and another of Sihanouk's sons who has been politically active, Prince Norodom Ranariddh. The new king, who was also accompanied by his mother, former Queen Monineath, walked along a red carpet, bringing together his palms and bowing to his countrymen in a show of respect. Sihanouk said he had planned to travel to the ancient capital of Siem Reap - site of the Angkor Wat temple complex - but his son "begged both of us to stay in his company here." Sihanouk said the new king needs advice on state, national and international affairs because he lacks experience. Thousands of uniformed school children waving paper flags gathered at the airport and lined a road leading to the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh to welcome Sihamoni and his father. In his first public statement a day after he was selected, Sihamoni - a reluctant heir - said he was concerned about successfully carrying out his duties "due to my lack of experience," but pledged to serve "from the depths of my heart" and remain neutral in politics. Sihamoni, 51, is a former ambassador to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation in Paris. He has no political experience and is better known for his skills as a ballet teacher. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/954fed39171eabbe07c7455da333a77c