Today is the 80th anniversary of the accession of King Simeon II to the throne of Bulgaria.
H.M. The King of the Bulgarians
Image: The King’s website
His life has been marked by many tragedies for homes and his family as well as for his nation, but also some remarkable triumphs and achievements, and no little resilience.
There is a Wikipedia biography of the King at Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and one of his father at Boris III of Bulgaria
The Royal Watcher also has an illustrated account of King Boris at Tsar Boris III of Bulgaria
The King’s online website can be accessed at
From the same website there is an illustrated biographical section which can be viewed at
HIS MAJESTY KING SIMEON II – Royal Palace of Vrana
There is also an academic article from 2003 which looks at the potential for a full restoration of the monarchy in Bulgaria. It was written soon after the King became Prime Minister of the present republic from 2001 to 2005. It can be read at (PDF) Will Bulgaria Become Monarchy Again?
Arms of the King of the Bulgarians
Personal Arms of King Simeon
Both images from Wikipedia
Good Morning, John.
ReplyDeleteA slight spooky. I was only discoursing yesterday to a group of friends on the former King Boris of Bulgaria.
In 1931, King Boris was visiting England and, upon his return home, he travelled by train from London to Dover, in order to catch the ship across the Channel, airplane travel not being the norm, then.
Whilst travelling on the train, he was fascinated by the steam engine and, being King, demanded that he be allowed to drive the train. Of course, he got his way and drove the train towards Dover.
This saga was regaled to me by my former neighbour (aged 99), who was the Customs and Excise officer at Dover at the time. It was he who had to ask the King whether he had “anything to declare”. Upon receiving the royal “No”, he dutifully used the official chalk on His Majesty's luggage to indicate “nothing to declare”.
Thank you for this.
ReplyDeleteThe Duke of Windsor recalled in his autobiography homework he visited King Boris whilst on his famous Adriatic to Bosphorus cruise with Mrs Simpson and others in the summer of 1936. King Boris was recalled as being keen on driving steam trains there.
I suppose the modern equivalent are members of royal families piloting their own planes, or in the case of the King of the Netherlands on occasion acting as co-pilot for KLM