When King Felipe VI of Spain visited Jordan last year, Miriam de Ungria was the first to greet him at Amman’s airport. Now known as Princess Miriam al-Ghazi, she welcomed the Spanish monarch even before his official meeting with the Hashemite royal couple—King Abdullah and Queen Rania. Her presence alongside Felipe VI, who expressed support for the region on behalf of the Spanish crown, was significant. Miriam’s broad smile spoke volumes about her joy at seeing the monarch, with whom she shares a longstanding friendship dating back to her marriage to the late Kardam of Bulgaria.
A decade after the passing of her first husband, Miriam de Ungria leads a private life, moving between Amman and Madrid. Her days are devoted to charity work and caring for her two sons, Boris and Beltrán. Her desire for privacy is evident in recent events, which she marked within her close family circle: her 62nd birthday and the third anniversary of her wedding to the Jordanian prince.
The marriage of the former daughter-in-law of Bulgarian Tsar Simeon II and a prominent member of the Jordanian royal family, held on September 3, 2022, came as a complete surprise even to Miriam’s closest friends. Few people suspected their romantic involvement before the official announcement. How did their relationship begin? Their love story started with a friendship that became a source of support for Miriam during the most difficult time in her life. After Kardam’s death and her move to London, Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad was among those who offered her the greatest support. At that time, their relationship was purely platonic, as the prince was married to Areej Zawawi, the mother of his four children. However, their divorce in 2021 paved the way for new feelings he developed for Miriam.
The wedding ceremony was as modest as their relationship had been up to that point. Only a limited circle of relatives attended, including the children of the bride and groom, as well as the prince’s father, his uncle, and cousin—King Abdullah. By marrying a descendant of the ancient custodians of Mecca, the jewelry designer assumed a new name and title—Princess Miriam al-Ghazi bin Talal.
A few months ago, she shared her outlook on life, noting the importance of always looking to the future and expressing her happiness with her children and the way her life has turned out. She actively participates in social projects in her new country through charitable foundations. Her husband, in turn, is an advisor to King Abdullah on religious and cultural matters and even acts as regent during the monarch’s trips abroad.
But the road to this peace was long and challenging. Miriam had to overcome severe trials. The first blow was a terrible car accident involving her and Kardam of Bulgaria, which happened on the way from their country house to Madrid. The second was his passing in 2015, after spending seven years unconscious due to a traumatic brain injury. Despite everything she has endured, she always faced hardships with resilience, rejecting the image of a “courageous woman.” Retaining the titles of Princess of Turnovo and Bulgaria, she remains closely connected to Madrid, where her sons live, and often visits the Spanish capital. One such visit was her attendance with Boris and Beltrán at the family celebration of Princess Leonor’s coming of age at El Pardo Palace.
