Curriculum Vitae

Siméon Saxe-Coburg Gotha Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Born on 16 June 1937 in Sofia Son of King Boris III and Queen Joanna (of the Italian royal family)

28 August 1943
Acceded to the Bulgarian throne as Siméon II.
Bulgaria ruled by his regents.

September 1946
Forced to leave the country following a referendum. The royal family settled in Alexandria, Egypt

July 1951
The Spanish government granted the Bulgarian royal family political asylum.

Education
Enrolled at the Victoria-Collège in Alexandria

1956
Completed his secondary studies at the Lycée français in Madrid, then went on to study law and political science in Madrid.

1958-1959
Admitted to Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania; completed his training with the rank of lieutenant.

Public and professional acitivities
Worked on behalf of Bulgarian emigrants worldwide and on behalf of Bulgaria, helping a large number of his fellow countrymen. Has broad international contacts with the business community and has been involved in a wide variety of consultation activities, requiring frequent travel. Takes part in the work of various boards of directors and international organisations.

May 1996
Returned to Bulgaria after almost 50 years in exile, after which he regularly visited Bulgaria.

1998
The Bulgarian Constitutional Court ruled that his family’s properties should be restored to the family.

Languages
Fluent English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. Good command of Arabic and Portuguese

Hobby
Very enthusiastic reader, especially of history books

Sports
Hill-walking and cross-country skiing.

Since 1962
Maried to Doña Margarita Gómez-Acebo y Cejuela
He has four sons and a daughter