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Princess Kalina Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, daughter of former Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon II and heir to the Bulgarian throne, has been officially convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol. The Sofia District Court upheld the ruling of the Samokov District Court from April, sentencing her to eight months of suspended sentence.
In addition, she was fined 200 lev ($120) and ordered to pay 17,953 lev ($10,816), representing the value of the vehicle she was driving. She is also prohibited from driving for the duration of her probation, according to court records reviewed by Bulgarian media “Sega.”
The incident occurred on August 19, 2023, in Borovets, a popular mountain resort. Princess Kalina was involved in a minor accident that caused no casualties. She was driving in the area of the Mura Hotel when authorities noted that her blood alcohol concentration was 1.5 per mille.
Initially, police accompanied her to give a blood sample, but the prosecutor’s office later stated she refused. Her breathalyzer reading was accepted as evidence by both judicial instances.
The royal family has expressed support for the legal process. Princess Kalina’s father, Simeon II, highlighted the importance of accountability and the rule of law, stating that everyone is equal before the law. Her husband, Kitin Munoz, described the incident as minor, noting that Princess Kalina had consumed a small amount of alcohol and emphasizing her cooperation with authorities throughout the proceedings.
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