Monarchy

Britain celebrated the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II on April 21 with tributes to a popular monarch who has steered it through the decline of empire and a wave of scandals to the Internet age.

A replica of the crown, which was supposedly worn by medieval Bulgarian rulers, was presented in the National History Museum (NIM) in Sofia on Tuesday.

The replica portrays the crown which was supposedly manufactured in the Vatican and presented as a gift by Pope Innocent III to Tsar Kaloyan in 1204.

The summer is almost over, but I guess some of my readers have not had a chance to hit the beach, as I am still getting questions on book recommendations on Turkish politics and economy. As your friendly neighborhood economist, I am delighted to offer a few.

The Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte held a memorial service marking forty days since the death of Prince Kardam, the eldest son of Bulgaria's last King and former Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.

The service, which was held in the Saint Sedmochislenitsi Church in Sofia on Saturday, was attended by members of the royal family and notable Bulgarians.

"Nobody asked for the King's return to politics, this is where incredible fantasies and myths have been set off," Bulgaria's last monarch and former PM has said.

The Duchess of Cambridge Catherine Middleton, who was admitted to hospital in the early stages of labour on Saturday, gave birth to a daughter.

Kensington Palace informed that the birth went well and both the duchess and the baby were doing well, the BBC reports.

Prince Kardam, the eldest son of Bulgaria's last King and former premier (2001-2005) Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, has passed away, BGNES reported.

Kardam, 52, passed away at 11:30 am on Tuesday at the Madrid university hospital of Sanchinarro from a respiratory infection after being permanently immobilised for nearly seven years. 

The disclosure of leaked HSBC confidential documents that reveal how the Swiss bank was helping its wealthy clients, including several Greeks, to conceal millions of their assets, has caused global uproar during the last 24 hours.

A judge presiding over a terror case in Germany has stirred controversy at home by wearing a T-shirt bearing the signature of a 15th century Ottoman sultan.

A number of personalities of Romania, the United States of America, France, and Switzerland were decorated, on Sunday, by Princess Margareta, on the occasion of the events held in honor of the anniversary of 25 years since her return to her homeland, among them Frederic Mitterand, the nephew of the former president of France.

Photo credit: (c) Liviu SOVA / AGERPRES PHOTO