Kardam, Prince of Turnovo

Kardam, Prince of Tarnovo, Duke in Saxony[1] (2 December 1962 – 7 April 2015) was the eldest son of King Simeon II of Bulgaria and his wife Doña Margarita Gómez-Acebo y Cejuela. Kardam was born after the abolition of the Bulgarian monarchy. As such, it was only by courtesy that he was sometimes styled as if being a crown prince. He was known also as Kardam of Bulgaria and Kardam of Tarnovo, the latter being the title of the heir apparent of the Bulgarian throne.

Kardam
Prince of Tarnovo
Born(1962-12-02)2 December 1962
Madrid, Spain
Died7 April 2015(2015-04-07) (aged 52)
Madrid, Kingdom of Spain
Burial
Cementerio de San Isidro, Madrid
Spouse
IssueBoris, Prince of Turnovo
Prince Beltrán
HouseSaxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry
FatherSimeon II of Bulgaria
MotherMargarita Gómez-Acebo y Cejuela
ReligionBulgarian Orthodoxy

He was born in Madrid, was baptised into the Orthodox faith and had a master's degree in Agricultural Economics from Penn State University.

Marriage and children

In Madrid, on 11 July 1996, Kardam married Doña Miriam Ungría y López, born in Madrid on 2 September 1963, a gemologist and a historian, daughter of Don Bernardo Ungría y Goiburu, honorary president of the Colegio Heráldico de España y de las Indias and his wife, Doña María del Carmen López y Oleaga, both of Basque descent.

They had two sons, who are first and second, respectively, in the line of succession to the now-defunct Bulgarian throne: Boris (b. 12 October 1997 in Madrid) and Beltrán (b. 23 March 1999 in Madrid).

Kardam was the godfather of Prince Achileas-Andreas of Greece and Denmark, son of Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece.

Car accident

On 15 August 2008, Kardam and his wife were involved in a serious car accident in El Molar, near Madrid. Prince Kardam was taken by helicopter to the Doce de Octubre Hospital, while his wife was taken to the La Paz Hospital. The car they were in crashed into a tree, then turned over just ten metres away from a nearby house.

Kardam suffered severe brain-skull trauma and severe injuries to his hands, while his wife suffered a broken elbow, broken ribs and a collapsed lung. She was treated and released from the hospital on 4 September. Galya Dicheva, a spokeswoman for the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha family, confirmed the information about the car accident and explained that Kardam had undergone surgery in the evening following the accident. As of 18 August 2008, Kardam was being kept in an induced coma. According to doctors at the Doce de Octubre Hospital, his hands were paralysed and reports mentioned that he had lost two fingers.[2][3] A Bulgarian news agency reported on 15 October, that Kardam was in critical condition but stable and that his breathing and vital signs had improved.[4] The news agency reported on 23 January 2009 that he had been released from the hospital and was slowly recovering at home. Kardam was now able to stand and communicate.[5] In January 2010 however, he suffered a critical setback and was re-hospitalised. He remained in a coma until his death on 7 April 2015.[6]

In May 2010, Bulgarian authorities issued a summons to the comatose Kardam over issues relating to the management of property returned to him, to his father and to his aunt (as heirs to Kings Ferdinand and Boris III) by the post-communist government. Former King and Prime Minister Simeon II and his sister Princess Maria Louisa objected to the summons on the grounds that Kardam was incapacitated.[7]

Death

Prince Kardam died of a lung infection in hospital in Madrid on 7 April 2015, aged 52.[8] After an Eastern Orthodox funeral, he was buried at Saint Isidore Cemetery in Madrid.

Honours

Dynastic honours

Honours of the former Bulgarian royal family:

Ancestors
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References
  1. Biography HRH Prince Kardam of Tuarnovo Archived 15 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine – Official website of H.M. King Simeon II
  2. "Bulgarian prince in coma after Madrid car crash". In.reuters.com. 16 August 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  3. "Bulgarian Prince Kardam kept in artificial coma". Novinite.com. 18 August 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  4. "Condition Bulgaria's Prince Kardam Still Critical but Stable". Novinite.com. 15 October 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  5. "Bulgaria Prince Kardam Out of Hospital with Improved Health Condition". Novinite.com. 10 January 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  6. "Bulgaria Prince Kardam Deteriorates Year and Half after Hellish Crash". Novinite.com. 28 January 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  7. "Sofia Court Summons Comatose Bulgarian Prince Kardam". Novinite.com. 4 May 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  8. "Kardam, son of Bulgaria's last king, dies at 52". Sofia Globe. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
Kardam, Prince of Turnovo
House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Cadet branch of the House of Wettin
Born: 2 December 1962
Bulgarian royalty
Vacant
Title last held by
Simeon II of Bulgaria		 Prince of Tarnovo
1962–2015		 Succeeded by
Prince Boris of Bulgaria
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