May 25, 1996: Bulgaria’s King Simeon II returns after 50 years

1996 - Bulgaria’s King Simeon II came home after 50 years in exile to a rapturous welcome from royalist crowds and a cold-shoulder from the socialist government. Simeon, who lives in Madrid and works as a business consultant, fled Bulgaria as a child in 1946 after the Soviet Red Army installed a puppet Communist regime. “This visit we owe to the fact that Bulgaria is now a democracy,” he said. “We respect our institutions and laws and we are deeply and sincerely convinced that we are a European country.” Tens of thousands of Bulgarians turned out waving flags and banners and church bells rang to greet the 58-year-old king. But the socialist government, made up of former Communists, is treating Simeon as a private citizen and sent nobody to greet him at the airport.

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