Queen Sofía of Spain was one of the first to pay her respects to the Bulgarian royal family, who are mourning the loss of their Prince Kardam. The late prince passed away on Tuesday in Madrid, having died of a lung infection in hospital.
Sofía, who maintains a strong relationship with the Bulgarian royals, was pictured visiting the city's San Isidro funeral parlour at roughly 10:30pm, just a few hours after she was told that Kardam had passed away.
The former queen of Spain had been spending the Easter break in Mallorca, but rushed to be with the family on Tuesday evening when she heard of the tragic news.
Queen Sofía of Spain offers her condolences to the late Prince Kardam's father Tsar Simeon II of Bulgaria
Sofía was greeted by Kardam's parents, Tsar Simeon II of Bulgaria and Doña Margarita, as well as the prince's widow Doña Miriam of Ungría and López. Kardam's two sons Prince Boris and Prince Beltrán, aged 17 and 16 respectively, were also present.
The reunion was understandably a sombre one, with Sofía pictured embracing the family and giving Kardam's eldest child a kiss on the cheek.
Sofía's daughter Infanta Elena was also seen visiting the funeral parlour and offering her condolences to the family.
Queen Sofía comforts Kardam's eldest son Prince Boris
Later on Wednesday a special Orthodox service will be held for Kardam in the same funeral home at 12:30pm, after which the prince will be buried at the San Isidro cemetery.
According to a statement posted online by Kardam's father Simeon, the royal died "of a pulmonary infection, which was related to the paralysis he suffered for several years following a car accident in 2008 that he never recovered from".
Doña Miriam and Prince Kardam suffered a car accident in August 2008, from which the royal never recovered
Kardam, who was born in Madrid, and his wife Miriam were involved in a serious car crash on 15 August 2008 in the Spanish capital. Their vehicle hit a tree and then turned over.
Miriam was treated for a broken elbow, broken ribs and a collapsed lung but was released from hospital a couple of weeks later, while her husband Kardam suffered severe brain-skull trauma and severe injuries to his hands.
He had an operation and was placed in an artificial coma a few days after the accident. Kardam was then discharged to recover at home, but in January 2010, he suffered a critical setback and was re-hospitalised. The prince remained in a coma until his death.
