Bulgaria's Chief Prosecutor, Ivan Tatarchev, has asked the country's Constitutional Court to rule whether the referendum that abolished the monarchy after the Second World War was legitimate.

The vote in 1946 resulted in the expulsion of the boy-king, Simeon II, and paved the way for Bulgaria to become a Communist People's Republic.

Pro-monarchist politicians have, in recent years, argued that the referendum should be invalidated because it was held while Bulgaria was under Soviet occupation.

Correspondents say that, while there is public affection for Simeon, a majority of Bulgarians would probably not favour restoring the monarchy.

Simeon, who lives in Spain, arrived in Bulgaria yesterday for a skiing holiday.