< strong>Exclusively for NOVA, the son of the last Bulgarian king will open the doors to his private world and tell how he feels at 60 years old, how his children are developing, does he already dream of grandchildren, where does the entire royal family gather, does he miss Bulgaria , what is the recipe for his parents' happy marriage for 62 years and what is the miracle in his life.
Desislava Banova-Plevnelieva talks to him:
- Your Highness, it is a privilege to talk to you, thank you for the opportunity! The Bulgarian media saw you for the last time in Bulgaria for the pilgrimage to the mortal remains of your great-grandfather, King Ferdinand. 76 years after his death, he was finally buried in Bulgaria. How did it feel to resolve this saga after so many years?
Knyaz Kiril Preslavski: The feeling was wonderful for everyone in the family and for myself. I was fortunate to be able to attend. You know, not all my brothers made it. One of my brothers is a surgeon and he had patients waiting for surgery so unfortunately he couldn't come but I was lucky enough to be there. I was most impressed by the fact that the nation, Bulgaria, the parliament also accepted this as an event of national importance, an important heritage for the people.
Seeing the guards carrying the remains of King Ferdinand was really magnificent for me. Imagine for my father, who saw it in his childhood, to have it happen again, it must have been very special. It was superb, really. You know, it wasn't easy. Many things had to be resolved, not least the city government of Coburg to allow the remains to be transported back to Bulgaria.
This was King Ferdinand's wish, clearly stated before his death in 1948. Finally, his wish came true. My father, at his age, is focused on the legacy that will be left by the family and what it means for Bulgaria. Many things have happened in Bulgaria in the last 100 years and it is important that they remain. My father worked a lot for the Royal Museum in Vrana – this will be great and will remain as a legacy for the nation. I think there is still work to be done in terms of visiting opportunities.
At the moment it is mainly for people involved in science, studying history, but soon it should become available to everyone, so that the Bulgarian nation can be proud of its history and its different periods. For us, the pilgrimage was really special and it was very important that his mortal remains return to Bulgaria as part of Bulgarian history, so it was wonderful that it happened.
- And finally be able to rest in peace, since this was his will, to be in Bulgaria.
Knyaz Kiril Preslavski: Absolutely.
- You celebrated an important anniversary this year. How do you feel at 60 and what did you wish for?
Knyaz Kiril Preslavski: It's hard for me to believe that I'm already 60. It's a significant number. With earlier birthdays, turning 40 and 50, you worry that you're getting old. The good thing about turning 60 is that you start to feel lucky to still be here. You hope you can make it to 70, 80. There's a change. It is an important event in everyone's life. For me, the age difference between me, my mother and my daughter is almost exactly 30 years. Looking back and seeing how much my kids have grown is so special! For me, 60 is a big number, but I hope I have a few more years left because there are so many things I would like to do. I'm very excited.
- I'm sure you have a lot to do, so I wish you good health! How does it feel to be the son of the last Bulgarian king and what is it like to live with the surname Saxe-Coburg Gotsky?
Knyaz Kiril Preslavski: Thank you! It is a huge honor for me, I have always been proud to be part of this family. In truth, growing up in Madrid in exile, especially in the beginning, we used a different last name – at school we were called Rilski. We tried to avoid the public eye. Much later in life I began to use the surname Saxe-Coburg-Gothsky. I actually first used it when I was getting my French matriculation results because the full name on the birth certificate had to be used.
So for the first time I was Saxe-Gothic. When they were published, the results were divided into two groups – one for those who took the exam and one for those who failed. I looked for myself in the column for those who took the exam, but when I didn't find myself on Rilski, I got worried, for a moment I thought I had failed. But I realized that I should be looking for Saxe-Gothic and I saw that I actually had the highest success rate. I've been using that name ever since. For me, before Saxe-Coburg-Gothic, I am Bulgarian. I have always been proud to call myself Bulgarian! If they ask me what I am, I answer that I am Bulgarian. Although I have not lived in Bulgaria, it is a source of pride for me. I am very proud to be a part of this family!
- Your parents are an example to all of us of a close-knit family. This year marks 62 years of happy marriage. What do you think their recipe is?
Prince Kiril Preslavski: That's right. As you know, I have already failed in this attempt because I got divorced after 20 years of marriage. I know how hard this is to achieve. I think it's a lot of things, but just having an affinity, respect, matching interests, wanting to do things together and be together. I have to admit, as a kid and as an adult, it's always been great to see how close they are, the chemistry between my parents, and the feeling of being a team. This continues to this day. Although they are getting older, my mum will be 90 in January, it's amazing to see. And you're right, it's extraordinary.
I think it gets harder with my generation and the ones that follow. In my parents' generation, there are many similar couples – people who have spent their whole lives together. This is incredible. I can't imagine it not being so – i take it for granted, i grew up like that, but you're right, it's amazing and great that they're still together!
- I have a lot of respect for them, they serve as an example for all of us, believe me! You are a man of the world, you were born in Madrid, you studied in the USA, now you live and work in London, and part of your family lives in Bulgaria. Where did you feel the best and where – at home?
Knyaz Kiril Preslavski: I often ask myself this question and I would say a few things. Growing up in Spain has marked me above all with an affinity for open spaces with a dry climate. There is something about it, from my childhood in Spain, and not so much Madrid as a place in the west of Spain, Badajoz – we used to go there often as children. It is a rural, very dry place. Almost like a western, a bit like a cowboy part of Spain. For some reason it has left an affinity and preference for a dry, spacious country location. If I want to enjoy a vacation or nature, I look for similar places around the world. I think it's because I grew up in Spain, in the dust, in the dry heat, and it left its mark.
As you mentioned, I grew up in the city, in Madrid, then I moved to New York, now I live in London. I've lived in big cities all my life. I like it. I also spent some time working in Paris in the late 1980s. I have to tell you, in London I find a very good balance between the big city with all its advantages and at the same time it is easy to live here – it's easy to get around, there's a lot of greenery and it's a very international city. So I'm happy to be based in London, but I travel a lot for work, pretty much everywhere, but I definitely like London. And where do I feel that I belong… It's hard to say, I'd say I don't feel like a citizen of a particular city – I don't feel like an Englishman or a Londoner, nor a Madridian… I wonder, maybe it's really just the attraction to land and space that defines me. Otherwise, I can live anywhere.
- You are one of the founders of the Bulgarian City Club in London. You mentioned that you are a proud Bulgarian, but do you miss Bulgaria?
Knyaz Kiril Preslavski: Yes, of course. Look, during communism we didn't meet many Bulgarians. Growing up, I had never met another person named Cyril, until the end of communism – then suddenly almost everyone was named Cyril. For the first time we had the opportunity to connect with other Bulgarians. In fact, the Bulgarian City Club was the brainchild of several of the early migrants from Bulgaria who came to London – some of them had studied at a western university. They decided to create an association that would facilitate networking, help create opportunities to meet. One of them asked me: “Kyril, given your history and your name, if you join, probably other people will want to join, and that is the purpose – let's do it“. And so we started the club in the early 90s. Turns out it worked great.
Subsequently, other Eastern European countries made their own City Clubs – Poland, Ukraine and others. This was way before the internet and social media and it was a great platform to make connections, to help each other, to participate in charitable activities. Thanks to the City Club, I was able to meet hundreds of Bulgarians, extremely impressive people from all walks of life. We have organized all kinds of social events. This is the best for me – to be able to meet so many Bulgarians over the years, even without having lived there.
Finally, when my father returned to Bulgaria, we had the opportunity to travel regularly – I haven't been able to spend much time there because I work, but I have the opportunity to visit the country regularly. Time flies – I'm 60 now, and I must have been 30 when we started the City Club activities. An entire generation has passed, but we have left our mark. Nowadays with social networks there is generally a strong community, with different groups and activities – which is great.
- It is wonderful that you are so involved with Bulgaria. You also participate in many charitable causes – I know that you are an honorary member of the "Stoyan Kambarev" Foundation. and how much you have helped the foundation and Desi Tenekejieva in their support for young talents. Could you tell us more?
Prince Kiril Preslavski: Yes, there have been many causes over the years. Desi's Foundation has a great cause – support for young talents. This is so important and not easy, especially in Bulgaria, where there are so many talents. This is one area in which I am involved. Desi is a real natural element, so with her help we have managed to organize impressive fundraising events in London and we have shown with the Stoyan Kambarev Foundation. young talents – this is so wonderful.
The London community at the events we've run have been so incredibly impressed by the talent of these young musicians and performers. But many others – the Bulgarian school in London, which is also very successful in teaching many Bulgarian children, as well as the various charities we have worked with – "Friends of Bulgaria" and others – they are all cause for joy.
I have limited time, I work a lot and have a family, but I make time to get involved in different projects. There are many Bulgarians in London who are very proactive to get these initiatives going, to get the community involved and to raise the funds. We recently united for the Bulgarian church in London. We always have values causes. The support has been impressive, right from the beginning when we were just starting out and on a small scale. Even then we managed to achieve something substantial and set an example that over the years – be it through the City Club or parallel – we have participated in charity. In addition, with the City Club we have been engaged in mentoring, providing job opportunities for young graduates, and here too we have had success over the years.
- It's impressive, thank you and keep up the good work! You have been a banking and financial expert for many years, you have worked for some of the largest financial houses and hedge funds, and for 4 years you have been an adviser to the Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov on macroeconomic issues. What is the recipe for economic success for us Bulgarians?
Knyaz Kiril Preslavski: I wish I knew. Some of the Nobel laureates in the field of economics would not even have a solution to these problems. I was lucky that during the time of President Stoyanov, he took the initiative to include me in the early phases of privatization and the construction of the post-communist Bulgarian economy. It was a difficult time. The situation was very complicated, but with what has been achieved over the years, it is clear that Bulgaria is on the right path, it's just difficult because the starting point was difficult. It takes time and effort, but many things are falling into place. Bulgaria has a key advantage – education.
Many Bulgarians appreciate the value of a good education and I hope that this will continue as a major factor in the development of a nation. I am familiar with the complicated political situation, because of the electoral system and the lack of a clear majority and the impossibility of forming a government. These things are a challenge, but in general, with the development of the economy, with the reinvestment of more capital, with the effort of many people, Bulgaria will catch up with the rest of Europe. There are always options. Now the mobile, technology-based economy will benefit Bulgaria in the medium term. I wish the country much success. The right decisions need to be made in the long term and ensure that there is a code of ethics and work ethic that people must follow and that reaps success.
- Let's hope we have wise politicians! You have 3 grown children, how would you describe yourself as a father?
Knyaz Kiril Preslavski: You should ask them! I consider myself a hands-on parent. For my generation, this is normal – even when they were small, I tried to spend as much time as possible with them, participate in their studies, help with homework, try to educate them in basic values, but also give them the opportunity to develop a skill that to be proud, whatever – if they are good at singing, at running, at solving math equations, whatever, but to find something they feel they are good at. This gives the motivation to develop in life. For me, that was important, and looking back, I think I was able to give them a sense of being good at something and having a passion for it. As well as knowing that they should work hard, that nothing comes for free and that they should be able to appreciate and enjoy everything!
- Of course you did! We know how talented Princess Mafalda is and we are following her music career with interest! Two years ago your lovely daughter got married – are you already dreaming of grandchildren?
Prince Kiril Preslavski: The real shock will come when I have grandchildren. I'm in no rush to be honest, but it's my children's choice and if they have the opportunity – even better. We'll see. But seeing myself as a grandfather would be a real shock…
- Tell us more about Princess Olympia and Prince Tassilo?
Knyaz Kiril Preslavski: As you mentioned, Mafalda is a professional singer. Business is not easy. It takes a lot of talent, but there are also a lot of conditions in life – you may be more or less lucky, but you definitely work hard and slowly and steadily progress your career, which is exciting. He tries very hard and I'm glad that it works out and he can support himself from his passion – singing. My second daughter, Olympia, has been working in fashion since graduating from university. Worked in a French company in Paris for 4-5 years after university. At some point, he decided that he preferred to be independent and started his own business. He still lives in Paris – she has become almost French after all this time there.
Now works as an independent expert in fashion and advises companies on collections, sourcing of materials – I don't know exactly what, but it does that kind of business. She is doing very well and is focused on her career, she is a great professional and I am confident in her success. And my son Tasilo turned 22. He just graduated from university – studied in Boston, now back in London and applying for a job. He studies natural sciences, biology, but he would also like to do music – rather from the talent and event management side of the music business.
Companies like Live Nation and the like, maybe smaller, but still in that sector of the economy related to managing musicians, organizing events, distributing tickets or advertising. He is actively applying for jobs now, so I hope he finds something soon. I'm sure he'll do well. He's just starting his career at this age, which is exciting and interesting to see how he does.
- Everything sounds great, you should be proud of your kids! Are you dating? You mentioned that your son is in one part of the world, your daughter – in another, where do you gather the whole family?
Knyaz Kiril Preslavski: Absolutely, my parents are in third place. The challenge of the international family is this. Especially when the children's careers take them to different places in the world it becomes more difficult to have a traditional family life with Sunday lunch with the parents for example. It doesn't happen in my family, but we meet on special occasions – last time on my 60th birthday we were in Spain, we went to the Gredos mountain massif for a few days, it was very nice. We usually get together on holidays – or during the summer holidays at our house in Mallorca or at Christmas, which we sometimes celebrate in Bulgaria. As a matter of fact, my mother is turning 90 very soon and the whole family will gather in Bulgaria for her birthday.
- Your Highness, what is the greatest miracle in your life?
Prince Kiril Preslavski: I consider myself lucky, but perhaps the best thing about me is that I can enjoy everything. I look at life positively and appreciate the luck I have, the things I do. It's a gift. We live in a time where we are taught that we can never be satisfied, we must always want more and more. It's okay, but you're compromising. I'm always rather satisfied, which kind of sounds bad. But I can accept and enjoy everything that happens. For me it is a miracle and it is defining for my life.