News and Announcements from the Imperial House.
An extraordinary and rare document printed after the death of Grand Duke Wladimir has been, with the permission of its author, made available on the website of the “Queen of All” Skete.
We urge all those interested to take the time to read this exceptional memorial assembled by Peter Koltypin, Commander of the Russian Imperial Union-Order from 1972-1994.
To read the piece, click here
German Journalist Sandra Heumann interviewed the couple about their upcoming wedding for “Bunte” in Germany.
Russian Legitimist is pleased to offer a translation of the article.
If Russia were still a Tsarist empire, he would be the heir to the throne: Grand Duke George Romanov, 40, son of the Head of the Imperial House Grand Duchess Maria, 67, and the German Hohenzollern Prince Franz Wilhelm Prince of Prussia, 77. BUNTE spoke with his fiancée, the Italian Rebecca Bettarinl, 38, about the Royal Wedding 202l! The newlyweds have known each other through mutual friends since they were 16. "As adults, we met again at a reception in Brussels" at the Embassy. It didn't fly immediately, but the nobleman brought the smart lobbyist into his team for the Russian Imperial Foundation, which she now runs. "My parents knew and liked him, but they learned about our relationship from the press."
Eight years later, the first step of their relationship was the big step: "George asked me at the airport if I wanted to be his wife, because that's where all our adventures together have begun." Now the adventure is their marriage. The wedding ceremony on October 1st is historically significant: "It is the first Romanov marriage in Russia since the revolution in 1917." George's cousin George Friedrich Prince of Prussia, 44, is also invited.
The ceremony will take place in St. Petersburg's Saint Isaac’s Cathedral. There, rings (by Fabergé) and crowns held by the groomsmen are exchanged according to Russian Orthdox ritual.
Two are better than one!
Sandra Heumann (full copyright to the author and Bunte Magazine)
This article appeared in Moscow’s Tatler magazine. Russian Legitimist is pleased to post an English translation to this article. A link to the original Russian piece is here.
In accordance with all traditions.
15 MARCH 2021
TATLER
On March 13, a milestone was celebrated by the heir of the Romanov family, Grand Duke George Mikhailovich, whose ascent in Moscow society began in April 2019 with the Tatler Easter tea. His Imperial Highness celebrated his 40th birthday as a groom - his wedding with his longtime girlfriend, Rebecca Virginia Bettarini, who, after the adoption of Orthodoxy, was named Victoria Romanovna, is planned for the fall.
The Grand Duke at the Novospassky Monastery.
The celebration took place in accordance with all traditions - before the main celebrations, a prayer service was held in the Novospassky monastery, and onlyafterwards did George Mikhailovich begin to accept congratulations at the Smirnov House on Tverskoy Boulevard, dance to the performance of a gypsy choir, and solemnly cut the birthday honey cake with berries. Gifts were also very traditional - sabers, knives, books, and icons. The future wife of the prince was there of course - she recieved the guests in a black velvet dress.
George Mikhailovich was born in Madrid into the family of Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna and Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich (Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia). The prince spent his early childhood in the Breton village of Saint-Briac, and then moved to Paris. After, he lived in Madrid, where he graduated from college.
George Mikhailovich visited his historical homeland for the first time in 1992. For three years now, the Grand Duke has been living in Russia and is actively involved in charitable initiatives.
French society magazine Point de Vue was able to follow Victoria Romanovna Bettarini as she made a visit to the legendary jeweler Chaumet to select the tiara that she will wear for the first time at her wedding to the Grand Duke George on 1st October in St. Petersburg. Russian Legitimist is happy to provide an English translation of the article by Jérôme Carron.
On a low table in the “Salon Malmaison” of the main floor of Chaumet’s Hôtel particulier on the Place Vendôme in Paris, eleven tiaras were set before the fascinated gaze of Rebecca Victoria Romanovna Bettarini. Seated next to Jean-Marc Mansvelt, the Director General and CEO of the celebrated jeweler, the future wife of the heir of the Imperial House of Russia found a selection of heritage as well as more contemporary pieces. The bride-to-be took her time to admire these unique treasures. She tried on three or four before settling on a creation by the workmaster Benoit Verhulle, the thirteenth to hold the position since the birth of the House 240 years ago. “I wanted a tiara that had never been worn. This one is perfectly balanced, sumptuous yet simple. Its shape is an homage to the kokoshnik, the traditional Russian wedding tiara, and its ships’ sail-like shape reminds me of St. Petersburg where we will be married, as well as George’s great-grandfather, the Grand Duke Kyrill, who was a Commandant of the Imperial Navy” explains Rebecca Victoria Romanovna Bettarini. The tiara is of white gold starred with more than 438 diamonds and centering an oval-cut stone of five carats and a pear-shaped diamond of two. They are connected by the “knife-edge” technique, a specialty of the firm. “The technique has been used since Grand Duke George’s great-great-grandmother, the Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, was a client of Chaumet in 1899. The ‘Waterfall’ tiara created for her remains a legendary and extraordinary work, sadly lost during the revolution,” explains the future bride before returning to her choice. “It feels like my personality and will go perfectly with my wedding gown.” Indeed, the preparations for the marriage are already well under way: “Selecting my dress was not as easy as I imagined. But after a long search, I finally found one I liked. It’s impressive but simple, with a contemporary fabric but in a classic style. As for everything else, there are still a lot of decisions to be made. We hope to be able to open many of the most beautiful palaces of Peter the Great’s city. Happily, we can count on the help of the Chancellery and those of the authorities to celebrate an Orthodox marriage in the most beautiful traditions of both Russia and the Imperial family.” See you there!
HIH Grand Duke George of Russia and Victoria Romanovna (Rebecca Virginia) Bettarini at Tsaritsyno Palace, Moscow.
Today, the Chancellery of HIH the Grand Duchess Maria of Russia released the following statement:
From the Chancellery of the Head of the Imperial House of Russia
The Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, has the honour and pleasure to announce that the wedding of Her son and heir, H.I.H. Grand Duke George of Russia, and His fiancée, Miss Victoria Romanovna (Rebecca Virginia) Bettarini, will take place on October 1, 2021, in St. Petersburg.
Alexander N. Zakatov
Director, Chancellery of Her Imperial Highness
Moscow, 5 March, 2021
In Russian:
От Канцелярии Главы Российского Императорского Дома
Канцелярия Главы Российского Императорского Дома Е.И.В. Государыни Великой Княгини Марии Владимировны имеет честь и радость объявить во всеобщее сведение, что бракосочетание сына и наследника Великой Княгини Е.И.В. Великого Князя Георгия Михайловича, и его невесты, Госпожи Виктории Романовны (Ребекки Вирджинии) Беттарини, состоится 1 октября 2021 года в Санкт-Петербурге.
А.Н. Закатов
директор Канцелярии Е.И.В.
Москва, 5 марта 2021 года
The Russian Legitimist has received a recent enquiry about the award of chivalric orders of the Imperial House. The enquiry was prompted by a blogger who sold on the internet a medal in his possession which pertained to one of the imperial orders.
Like her father and grandfather before her, the current Head of the Imperial House has continued to award the orders of the dynasty. With some exceptions, these awards are for the most part made to her fellow Russians – that is, to Russians who have served or worked in support of the Russian Orthodox Church, Russian art and culture, Russian charitable organisations, or the Russian Imperial House.
There are no costs or fees of any kind associated with being awarded a dynastic order.
A person who is awarded an imperial order receives a diploma (‘gramota’) duly signed by the Grand Duchess Maria and countersigned by the Director of her Chancellery, who also affixes to it the seal of her Chancellery. There is no cost or fee whatever associated with the issuance of a diploma.
With some exceptions (especially in the cases of hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church), the Head of the Imperial House does not present to the recipient of an order the actual physical insignia or medal pertaining to it. She only presents the diploma. A person honoured by award of an order who wishes to acquire the medal or insignia of the order in question may obtain it at his or her own expense from one of the private commercial establishments who specialise in manufacturing such medals.
Under the monarchy, there were annual dues associated with some of the imperial orders. The Grand Duchess Maria has formally abolished any such dues.
In summary, membership of dynastic orders must be earned. It may not be purchased. It is commemorated by a formal diploma. If a recipient wishes to obtain the physical medal pertaining to the order, he may acquire it at his or her own expense from one of several commercial establishments having no connection with the Imperial House.
Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia and his fiancée appeared on the popular Russian evening talk program “Dok Tok” with presenter Ksenia Sobchak. Sobchak is the daughter of the former mayor of St. Petersburg, Anatoly Sobchak, who was the first to invite Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich and his wife to return to Russia in November of 1991.
The hour-long, wide-ranging interview in Russian touches upon issues of family, the young couple’s life in Moscow, and their upcoming wedding, which Sobchak notes will be the first wedding of a member of the Imperial House in St. Petersburg in over 100 years.
(In Russian only)
Some readers have asked The Russian Legitimist to comment on a recent announcement by Paul Gilbert.
Mr. Gilbert, a Canadian, posted on the internet a comment that he is “cutting all ties” with Grand Duchess Maria, Head of the Russian Imperial House, and her son, Grand Duke George. The term “cutting all ties” suggests an element of self-importance on Mr. Gilbert’s part, as it is a phrase typically used when one country cuts diplomatic ties with another.
It is unclear what the “ties” are to which he refers. We understand that some years ago, Mr. Gilbert organized a seminar in England and very politely asked the Grand Duchess to agree to be the patroness of the project. She kindly agreed to his request. This showed graciousness on her part. Graciousness is not a noun that can be applied to some of Mr. Gilbert’s published comments about the family of the Grand Duchess.
Mr. Gilbert relates that as a child he became fascinated by Emperor Nicholas II and imperial Russia. For many years, he pursued this interest, including the collecting of and making available for sale rare books about imperial Russia and re-publishing obscure volumes long out of print. He is a defender of the memory of Emperor Nicholas II and sometimes gives the impression that he views himself as the only true defender of the Tsar Martyr, over and above the Emperor’s living relatives as well as qualified trained scholars of Russian history.
With all due respect to his self-appointed outsider’s role defending the memory of Emperor Nicholas II, however, we note that it was Grand Duchess Maria who successfully led a long legal fight in Russia to have the Russian Supreme Court rule that Nicholas II and his family were victims of Soviet repression and to remove any remaining Bolshevik legal findings that they were enemies of the people. We also note that it was Grand Duke Wladimir, the father of Grand Duchess Maria, who worked in such close collaboration with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in the process that led to the canonization of the Emperor.
For many years, Mr. Gilbert’s website prominently posted an article arguing that the elder son of the late Prince Roman of Russia was the head of the Russian dynasty. Mr. Gilbert was not the author of the article, but his publication of it suggested an endorsement of that view. At a certain point, however, he announced that he was removing the article from the website and that he now accepted Grand Duchess Maria as head of the dynasty. Several years later, he began to disparage descendants of Grand Duke Wladimir Aleksandrovich (died 1909), next brother of Alexander III and the great-grandfather of Grand Duchess Maria. This disparagement appeared in posts that seemed very angry. Most recently, Mr. Gilbert has written that he has changed his mind again and no longer accepts Grand Duchess Maria as head of the dynasty. It appears too that at a certain point he signed some kind of oath of allegiance to the Grand Duchess as head of the dynasty, because he states that he will no longer abide by this oath.
Mr. Gilbert is entitled to his opinion. But his opinion should be evaluated for what it is: in the great scheme of things he is not Russian, does not speak Russian, and does not possess any academic credentials as a scholar of Russian history. He is a devoted enthusiast of imperial Russia.
He writes that he plans to focus his efforts on the memory of Nicholas II and no longer to involve himselfwith the question of who the head of the dynasty is. So be it. We hope he will stick at least to this assertion.
