Kardam Saxe-Coburg, the son of Bulgaria's former king and current politician Simeon Saxe-Coburg, was stable, but he is still in coma in the intensive care ward of 12 de Octubre Hospital in Madrid after a road accident on August 15 2008.

Kardam was "in coma and sedated" in a "stable" condition, the latest clinical information from the hospital read.

According to the Spanish newspaper 20minutos, Kardam had severe brain and skull damage and numerous fractures of both hands. The first medical report said that the condition of his hands was "catastrophic" and they could be amputated. Spanish news agency EFE said that Kardam was on artificial life support.

Kardam's wife Miriam was also injured in the accident and was hospitalised, but the extend of her injuries was not announced.

20minutos quoted Kardam's sister-in-law Carla Royo-Villanova as saying on August 19 that she and her husband, Koubrat Saxe-Coburg "are very worried" by the condition of Kardam and Miriam and pray for them. They would have to wait until Kardam's cerebral hemorrhage stopped and admitted that it was unknown how his condition would develop, she said.