The royals of the world are often seen carrying out day-to-day engagements and celebrating milestone moments. But when it comes to Bulgaria’s Princess Kalina, the 54-year-old royal keeps an unusually low profile, to the point that she hasn’t resurfaced publicly in two years. 

Kalina, the only daughter of Simeon II, the last Tsar and former Prime Minister of Bulgaria, emerged for a sombre occasion on 29 May, 2024, with several family members, looking very different from the last time she was seen four years prior. The Princess stepped out alongside her husband Antonio José (Kitin) Muñoz Valcárcel and their son, Simeon-Hassan Muñoz, to bid farewell to King Ferdinand I of Bulgaria at a funeral ceremony held at Vrana Palace in Sofia. 

The rarely-seen royal wore a sleeveless geometric-print shift dress, showing off her dramatic physical transformation, including her now extremely toned arms and long orange hair, which she wore down for the occasion. Kalina complemented her formal attire with open-toe sandals. 

© Getty

She’s rarely seen these days

The royal has only made two public appearances in the last six years. Prior to 2024, Kalina hadn’t been seen in public since 2020, when she attended the funeral for Princess Pilar of Spain at Monasterio de El Escorial on 29 January, wearing a fitted jacket and matching skirt over black opaque tights. The Princess had her hair fashioned up in an elegant braid crown and wore ankle boots to go with her modest attire. 

© Giovanni Sanvido

Kalina made numerous appearances in 2018, sporting her hair in tight cornrow braids with eccentric accessories: a signature of her bold style. While attending a conference with her son in Madrid on 26 June that year, the royal had her braided hair in a high ponytail and an incredibly vibrant makeup look featuring yellow mascara, magenta eyeshadow and a bright pink shade of lipstick.

Princess Kalina’s physical transformation

© Luc Castel

Kalina’s muscular frame was on full display in 2024. Speaking to Spanish publication Hola!, Kalina said of the reaction to her dramatically different appearance: “I didn’t expect it. I just wore a sleeveless dress. In the 21st century, a woman’s physical form shouldn’t be newsworthy.”

The royal’s athletic figure is the result of years of following a disciplined training regime. “If I don’t train, I don’t feel well. The only reason I do it is to be healthy and feel good,” she reportedly said. 

© Pascal Le Segretain

Kalina previously made headlines in the early 2000s when her appearance sparked rumours she had undergone major facial surgery. Kalina’s husband Kitin shut down the speculation in 2018 when he explained her appearance was the result of a childhood accident that broke her two front teeth. 

The royal had to undergo emergency surgery after having dental work done to replace the teeth with crowns in 1999, which led to an infection that spread into her nasal cartilage. “It caused cosmetic damage, which was not important at that time since the vital thing was to save the eye and nose from the infection,” her husband told HOLA!.