On December 29, 2020, the French Magazine “Point de Vue” released an interview in French with the Grand Duke George Mikhailovich and the director of the Russian Imperial Foundation, Ms. Rebecca Bettarini (Victoria Romanovna in Holy Orthodox baptism). Here is a translation of the article for Russian Legitimist’s readers.
The son of Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, heir to the Imperial House of Russia, introduces us to his companion, Rebecca Bettarini. To Point de Vue, they both talk about the current year, their activities in Moscow and their hopes for 2021.
In these difficult times how are you? And how is your mother, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, doing?
H. I. H. GRAND DUKE GEORGE OF RUSSIA. We are all upset by the events. I feel close to everyone who has been affected by this disease, because not even our family has been spared. My mother, Grand Duchess Maria, contracted a mild form of Covid - 19 in early spring. But thanks to God, this did not have any serious consequences. She is in Madrid, and when she can, she travels to Russia at the invitation of the authorities.
Relations between the imperial family and the government are based on mutual respect. We do not participate in the political life of the country, but we try to contribute to domestic tranquility, both religious and civil. In all regions where we support charities and cultural events, we are welcomed with the same enthusiasm by local governments and by our compatriots. Philanthropy, the international development of Russia, as well as the restoration and preservation of its heritage, are also part of our actions.
What are your thoughts on the current situation?
This year is as difficult as it is different. I had to try another way of life. Even if it is not ideal to spend your life in front of a screen, moving around is not always necessary. Managing your life from home also allows you to assess your priorities, to take your time. This can have positive effects, both for our health and for the environment. But I am above all concerned about the situation of all those who, having lost their jobs because of the virus, find themselves in precarious conditions. Thanks to my position as chairman of Foodbank Rus, the main Russian food bank, I was able to encounter these tragedies. Throughout the country, with the help of our volunteers and large companies, such as Unilever, Coca Cola, and PepsiCo, we distributed basic necessities to the needy. And the Russian Imperial Foundation, which I created in 2014, very quickly sent help to European hospitals at the beginning of the pandemic.
Will you introduce Rebecca Bettarini?
Rebecca is the daughter of an Italian ambassador. She is fluent in five languages and has an exceptional open-mindedness. She is an independent and modern woman. We met as teenagers, thanks to mutual friends. Then we met again in Brussels in 2012. At the time, we were both working with the European institutions. I asked her to help me when I started my foundation. Then things proceeded naturally.
Miss Bettarini, what is the path that led you to convert to the Orthodox religion?
REBECCA BETTARINI. Faith is very important to me. I grew up in a family with strong Christian values. During my university studies, my father worked with Russia. He was associated with the construction of St. Catherine's Orthodox Church in Rome. Later, I had the honor of studying orthodoxy in San Francisco under the direction of Vladyka - Bishop Kirill. of Western America, following a deep and intense spiritual journey of several years.
My long-planned conversion took place in St. Petersburg's Peter and Paul Cathedral, where the remains of all the tsars of Russia and those of George's grandparents, Grand Duke Vladimir and Grand Duchess Leonida lie buried. It was a ceremony in the presence of Metropolitan Varsanofi of St. Petersburg. I was incredibly moved. Alas, because of health precautions, Grand Duchess Maria, T.R.H. Prince and Princess Franz Wilhelm of Prussia, and my parents were unable to join me. Fortunately, my Russian friends were by my side, as well as the entire Chancellery of the Imperial House. They have always been very welcoming, and it’s members became my second family.
Where do you live most of the time?
H. I. H. GRAND DUKE GEORGE OF RUSSIA. We live together in the city center of Moscow. Currently, living conditions are not too restrictive. Following the health safety regulations, we can go to work, walk around, enjoy cafes and restaurants. Before the pandemic, we often traveled between Madrid, Brussels, Rome, and Paris. Rebecca and I both grew up partly in the French capital. This city is our second home. Once the situation is restored, we hope to be able to return to it, to find our cousins and the Russian diaspora, some of which still have activities related to the imperial tradition.
What are you professional backgrounds?
After completing my studies, I worked at the European Union Parliament and then at the European Atomic Energy Agency. Then I held executive positions at Norilsk Nickel, before setting up Romanoff & Partners, a company for which I continue to participate in improving the relations of Russian companies in Europe. But since 2017, I am in Russia most of the time. In addition to leading the Board of Directors of Foodbank Rus, I participate in several other charitable projects.
REBECCA BETTARINI. I started in Brussels as a lobbyist for a large aerospace company, before founding my own consulting firm on European projects. Since 2019, I have headed the Russian Imperial Foundation. I am dedicated to fundraising, evaluating new initiatives, monitoring the organizations we help and, most recently, donations raised through new technologies. In recent years, I also published several novels under the pseudonym Georgina Perosch. Beauty Queen-an international thriller, written in English, was released throughout Europe in the spring.
Who is this little white animal that will not leave you?
H. I. H.. GRAND DUKE GEORGE OF RUSSIA. Zhong is a Japanese spaniel that Rebecca adopted three years ago. We always had a lot of animals at home. Rebecca's parents even have a parrot named Gilbert.
What did you do for the holiday season?
We are lucky to be healthy and have experienced our first Christmas in Russia under the snow, virtually surrounded by our parents. But our thoughts have also been with all the people affected by the pandemic and the health workers who are always on the front line. Although the Russian Christmas is January 6 and 7, on December 24 we both had dinner at home. The menu combined various traditional Christmas dishes, Russian, Spanish, Italian and French!
What are your hopes and plans for 2021?
We hope that the international situation will recover and that we can all start living without the threat of Covid-19. We will work to develop our activities in the field of volunteering and to ensure that the foundation can help more and more people. I also hope that this new decade will bring Russia and Europe closer together. This can generate many benefits in the socio-cultural and economic fields, between our countries.
What does Moscow mean to you?
REBECCA BETTARINI. I love living in Moscow. This city vibrates with an energy that is peculiar to its inhabitants. I like to walk along the frozen Moskva River, discover metro stations that look like palaces or museums. And Muscovites are kind and very hospitable. They are very curious as soon as you speak their language.
H. I. H. GRAND DUKE GEORGE OF RUSSIA. It is very exciting for me to find connections with the Romanov family and its 300-year history in this city, as in the whole country. Moscow is a huge and cosmopolitan city, with restaurants, exhibitions, a lot of life. It's a pleasure to live here.
