The Charles de Gaulle Suite is named after the French General and President who visited Cambodia in 1966 and he was a good friend of King Sihanouk. General de Gaulle, who was the first French Head of State to visit Cambodia, received a rapturous welcome from the Khmer people and was bestowed with many honours during his visit. These honours included being made a General-in-Chief of the Khmer armed forces, becoming an honorary citizen of Phnom Penh, receiving a golden key to the city and a receiving a Grand Collar of Independence set with diamonds.