Imperial Wedding Event and Dress Information Revealed!

French website “Histoires Royales” has revealed new information concerning the various events that will be taking place in Saint Petersburg on September and October, as well as what the bride will be wearing. Though fashion is most certainly not a “Legitimist” occupation, we were interested to see the many choices which were made which incorporate heraldic tradition, or were inspired by Romanoff house customs, and so we present here, some of the information which Histories Royales has made available to the public. The original article by Nicolas Fontaine is available HERE.

”The first wedding of a Grand Duke of Russia to be held in Russia after the Revolution required three important dresses, and Victoria Romanovna Bettarini wanted to make sure that each of them paid homage to Russian traditions as well to Italian fashion. An international collaboration was therefore initiated, in order to create unique looks for each event.

The dress for the civil ceremony embroided with Khokhloma designs.

Torzhok-style embroidery. (Image Wiki)

The civil wedding is scheduled to take place a few days before the Religious ceremony. The dress for the Civil Ceremony was made by the designer Chiara Boni in an ice-blue silk, embroidered with gold thread Torzhok-style embroidery inspired by the traditional folkloric designs of Khokhloma. The blue is a reference to the ribbon of the Russian Imperial Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, the premier order of Imperial Russia, founded by Peter the Great in 1698.

The Russian Imperial Order of St Andrew the First-Called. (Image Sotheby’s)

The “Welcome Cocktail” evening dress

Designer Marwan of Gattinolli Couture

The first event of the wedding weekend is a cocktail party to welcome all the guests from around the world to St. Petersburg. For this first event, the bride chose a black velvet and tulle gown with golden appliqué and embroidery by the house of Gattinolli by Marwan.

The dress is black and gold, the house colours of the Romanoff dynasty, and combines a velvet bustier with a diaphanous tulle skirt.

The Wedding Dress: Reem Acra; Elina Samarina for Sergio Marcone Moscow and Torzhok Embroideries.

Designer Reem Acra (image wiki)

For the religious ceremony at Saint Isaac’s Cathedral, the bride chose a design from the internationally renowned designer Reem Acra whose creations are a favorite red carpet selection by Hollywood stars. The dress has impeccable lines. "Reem Acra has exquisite taste and her creations are structured as if they were architecture," notes the bride. "I had only two requirements: a very refined and modern dress, made of Italian Mikado silk. A creation that recalls the classic Italian wedding dresses of the 60s. To create lightness and volume in a skirt made with such a rigid and heavy material as Mikado, it requires an expert touch, and Mrs. Acra was the right person “.

The wedding dress is sober, refined, and elegant. It has long sleeves, a crew neckline and a six metre-long train with a paneled cape created by Elina Samarina and decorated with traditional Torzhok-style embroidery.

“For me it was important that a cultural exchange took place in the field of fashion. This is why together with the talented designer Elina Samarina, founder of the Sergio Marcone brand in Moscow, we decided to create something special in order to showcase the best of Russian artistry. Elina is very good at reinterpreting Russian styles and for this reason she immediately showed me examples of Russian embroidery. In fact, there is a very long tradition and a variety of embroidery in Russia, still made by hand today, with patterns and designs that vary from region to region. They are small masterpieces! I asked Elina to think of a symbol that best represents modern Russia but also its extraordinary past and culture. Something that could serve as a bridge between past and present, a symbol in which all Russians can relate. Elina came up with this idea: to embroider a coat of arms with a double-headed eagle that symbolizes the glorious history of Russia; both modern Russia and the ancient Romanoff family. The embroidery to be done in traditional Torzhok style." The coat of arms was hand embroidered into the tulle veil, which took five weeks of intense work.

“Although it was very difficult to work on this wedding dress during the pandemic, I am extremely pleased with the results. I wanted this dress to be simple but full of symbolism. A tribute to Russian cultural tradition, the Romanov family, and Italian fashion. The idea of ​​having two companies involved in the process on two different continents, certainly created some logistical problems, but everyone worked with enthusiasm and professionalism to create this dress as I imagined it.”

Bridesmaids' dresses: Danilov Monastery

The bridesmaids' dresses were handmade in Moscow by the nuns of the Danilov Monastery. Since 1983 it has been the seat of the Russian Orthodox Church and the official residence of the Patriarch of Moscow and all the Russias. The bridesmaids' dresses were made in traditional Russian style, in yellow velvet to compliment the interiors of St. Isaac's Cathedral. The bridesmaids are Beatrice and Veronica Scheda, daughters of the bride's cousin, Giulia Cacciatore. The girls will also wear the traditional “kokoshnik” style headdresses made in Russia.

The gala dinner dress: Reem Acra and Elina Samarina for Sergio Marcone Moscow and Torzhok embroideries.

The bride chose a hand-embroidered gown made of tulle, the fabric “dreams are made of” also by designer Reem Acra. The dress features yards of tulle, with delicate pearling, appliqué, and embroidery.

Elina Samarina added a Russian touch by creating a white cape made of silk Mikado, inspired by traditional designs with puffed sleeves.

According to fashion designer Elina Samarina “the Romanoffs have always fascinated and inspired people's imaginations through their unique interpretation of Russian traditions in fashion. They were ambassadors of Russian culture, opulence, and traditions abroad, this is why for such a special occasion we wanted to revive Russian unique manufacturing traditions and promote them abroad. It is a privilege for me to have been able to work on this extraordinary project. It doesn't often happen to have clients asking me to do historical research on Russian fashion. As a Russian, I am very happy that the bride decided to pay an homage to the traditions of our country "

Again, original article by Nicolas Fontaine is available HERE.

Russian Nobility Assembly Condemns Usurpation of "Imperial Highness" by Rostislav Romanov

In response to a Tweet from Rostislav Romanov, in which he used the style “Imperial Highness” in contravention to the Fundamental Laws of the Russian Empire and the Russian Family Association’s own rules, the Russian Nobility Assembly (RNA) in Moscow issued a public statement clarifying the misuse of the title and Rostislav Romanov’s status as a Romanov descendant but not a Romanov dynast. It was initially assumed by many, including The Russian Legitimist, that the use of the title was merely a mistake; and not wishing to cast a pall over his upcoming religious wedding, we chose not to publish the RNA’s statement. 

Last evening, however, via social media, it was confirmed that the groom issued the invitation to his religious ceremony as “Son Altesse Impériale le Prince Rostislav Rostislavovich Romanov”. This usurpation was clearly an act of the young American Romanov’s own volition, and so we are now publishing the letter from the Moscow-based Russian Nobility Assembly so that there will be no confusion among those who follow the news and activities of the Russian Imperial House today.

The Russian Nobility Assembly is an association of more than 12,000 members in Russia, with several branches abroad, and includes descendants of noble families of the Russian Empire. The Assembly of the Nobility was abolished in Russia after the 1917 Revolution but was re-established in 1990 and has enjoyed since then a close relationship with the Imperial House of Russia, acknowledging first HIH Grand Duke Wladimir Kirillovich, and currently, his daughter HIH Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna as heads of the Imperial House.

There is no legal basis or historical precedent that would justify Rostislav Rostislavovich’s adoption of the style of Imperial Highness. The Russian Fundamental Laws are clear on the distribution of titles and styles within the Imperial House. These Laws make it clear that Rostislav Rostislavovich is neither a member of the Imperial House nor is he entitled to this title and style. It is well known that, from the time of Emperor Alexander III, there were two categories of dynasts in the Imperial House: Grand Dukes and Grand Duchesses of Russia, who had the right to be called Your Imperial Highness, and Princes and Princesses of the Imperial Blood (Princes and Princesses of Russia), who had the right to be called Your Highness. The bridegroom's grandfather, His Highness Prince of the Imperial Blood Rostislav Alexandrovich, who was fully a member of the Imperial House, would never have dared to call himself Imperial Highness. It is inexplicable that his grandson, who is not a member of the Imperial House, would do so.

Rostislav Rostislavovich’s own father, the American-born Rostislav Rostislavovich Romanov, Jr., never used any title, let alone a style to which his own father had no right. HH Prince Rostislav Alexandrovich of Russia was a male-line great-grandson of Emperor Nicholas I, and entitled to the style of His Highness and title of Prince of the Bood Imperial. This usurpation goes against the Romanov Family Association’s bylaws that any claims of a dynastic character are to be avoided. To use an imperial style is to stake a dynastic claim.

The letter reads as follows with minor edits for clarity:

Moscow, 6th September 2021

The Russian Nobility Assembly is an Association that has gathered in Russia over 12,000 members and has several delegations abroad, whose members are descendants of Old Noble Families of the Russian Empire,which was restored in 1990 in close cooperation with the Imperial House of Russia, whose Head at the time was His Imperial Highness Grand Duke Vladimir Kyrillovich. and after 1992, his daughter and successor Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, as the only legitimate Heir of the Russian Imperial House.

There are many descendants of the Romanov Family who are not members of the historical Dynasty by the laws that were in force at the time of the Russian Empire.

Some of these persons have thus created the Romanov Family Association, which is a private association of members of the Romanov Family.

The Association was intended as a private association in which the Head of the Association is elected through a vote carried out by the members of the Association itself. This is why the Russian Nobility Assembly states that these members are not in any sort of way linked to the historical dynastic institution of the Russian Imperial House.

The Russian Imperial House is an institution that is officially recognised by the Patriarchate of Moscow and all Russia, as well as by the institutions of the Russian Federation, by foreign authorities, as well as by other reigning and non-reigning royal families across the world. The Russian Imperial House is also the Fons Honorum for our Association.

The Members of the Russian Nobility Association extend their warmest congratulations on the occasion of the upcoming wedding of Rostislav Romanov but must emphasise that although Rostislav Romanov is a true descendant of the Romanov Family, his marriage is a private event which does not bear any social or dynastic importance. We wish the newlyweds and their 8 year-old son "Многая лета [Many years]!"

Marshall of the Russian Nobility,

Marshall of the Moscow Nobility,

O.V. Shcherbachev

Prince and Princess Rostislav Romanovsky Married in Religious Ceremony in Paris

It was confirmed this evening via social media that Rostislav Romanov, Prince Romanovsky, and his wife, the former Foteini Georganta were married in a religious wedding ceremony at the Russian Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky on the rue Daru in Paris.

The wedding was a private family affair with fewer than 100 relatives and close friends.

The couple had a son, Rostislav-George in 2013, and were civilly wed in Great Britain in 2019. An article from Eurohistory tells the full story HERE.

Best wishes to the happy couple and their son from The Russian Legitimist!

A New Article on the 1938 Declaration is posted in FAQ section!

The last page of the 1938 Declaration, with Romanov signatures.

A new article on the Dynasty’s 1938 Declaration has been added to our FAQ section.

Last week, a social media site described Andrew Romanoff (born in 1923) as Head of the Russian Imperial House and also referred to his half-sister Olga Romanoff (born in 1950) and his cousin Rostislav Romanoff (born in 1985) as members of the Imperial House.

These three individuals do indeed descend in the direct male line from members of the Imperial House, but they are not themselves members of the imperial dynasty.

Perhaps the simplest way to explain why this is so is to cite the declaration issued in 1938 with the permission of Grand Duke Vladimir, who had just succeeded as Head of the Imperial House.  It was signed by the five dynasts who came directly after Grand Duke Vladimir in the line of succession:  Grand Duke Boris (first in the line of succession after Grand Duke Vladimir), Grand Duke Andrew (second in line), Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich (third in line, representing the Pavlovich branch), Prince of the Imperial Blood Vsevelod Ioannovich (fourth in line, representing the Konstantinovich branch), and Prince of the Imperial Blood Gavriel Constantinovich (fifth in line, also of the Konstantinovich).

The 1938 declaration had two purposes. 

The first purpose was to announce to the world that, following the death of Grand Duke Kirill, his only son Grand Duke Vladimir had succeeded as Head of the Imperial House.

The second purpose was to clarify tactfully to the world that the many morganatic children born in the 20th century to various Grand Dukes and Princes of the Imperial Blood were not members of the Imperial House and were not in the line of succession.  How did the declaration accomplish this?  It did so by listing in their order of succession all the living males who were members of the Imperial House.  By omitting from this list the name of every single morganatic male child, the declaration made its point clearly

This article is available to read HERE.

TASS Press service announces marriage of Grand Duke George Mikhailovich and Rebecca Bettarini at St. Isaac’s Cathedral.

The Russian National Press service has reported that George Mikhailovich Romanov and Rebecca Bettarini’s wedding location has been confirmed and scheduled for October 1 at St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg. 

“This was announced to TASS on Thursday by the press secretary of the state museum-monument "St. Isaac's Cathedral" Igor Staheev. “The wedding of a Spanish citizen, Georgy Mikhailovich Romanov, and an Italian citizen, Rebecca Bettarini, is scheduled for October 1," the agency's interlocutor said. 

According to the Chancellery of the Russian Imperial House, Georgy Romanov is a citizen of the Russian Federation.

Georgy Mikhailovich Romanov is the son and heir of the head of the Russian Imperial House, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna - the only child from the marriage of Vladimir Kirillovich Romanov, the head of the Russian Imperial House in exile (the son of the Russian Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich, who declared himself emperor in exile in 1924) and Princess Leonida Georgievna Bagration-Mukhranskaya. The question of the legality of her use of the title of Grand Duchess is a subject of dispute with other descendants of the Romanovs (an association of members of the Romanov family) belonging to the Nikolaevich branch, which traces its history from the grandson of Nicholas I, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich the Younger.

On July 12, 2020, Rebecca Bettarini converted to Orthodoxy in the Peter and Paul Cathedral of St. Petersburg with the assumption of the name Victoria Romanovna. The wedding of Grand Duke George Mikhailovich and Bettarini "will be the first full-fledged, open, socially significant and decorated in full accordance with modern state laws of the Russian Federation and, at the same time, with the current norms of historical Russian dynastic law, the marriage of a member of the Russian Imperial House on the territory of Russia after the 1917 revolution," Alexander Zakatov, director of the Chancellery of the Russian Imperial House, candidate of Historical Sciences, told TASS.

According to him, after the revolution of 1917, "during the beginning of the troubles and the Civil War, marriages several junior members of the Russian Imperial House took place on Russian territory."  In April 1917, Prince of the blood imperial Gavriil Konstantinovich was married to his first wife, in June 1918, Prince of the blood imperial Andrei Alexandrovich entered into his first marriage. "However, since the members of the Romanov dynasty were then discriminated against, were separated from one another, and were unable to contact the Head of the Russian Imperial House, the abdicated Emperor Nicholas II, who was in prison, these weddings were held in a purely private manner, and were not taken in accordance with dynastic law, did not receive any public notice," Zakatov noted.

The building of St. Isaac's Cathedral was built by the architect Auguste Montferrand and opened in 1858, it is included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. The cathedral became a museum in 1928, since 1990 Orthodox services have been resumed in it.”

TASS neglected to note that this will be the first wedding of any Romanov at St. Isaac’s since Emperor Peter the Great married Catherine (Marfa) Skavronskaya at the first St Isaac’s in 1707.

Source: TASS. https://tass.ru/obschestvo/12287797

Rostislav and Foteini Romanoff, relatives of the Imperial House, to celebrate Orthodox Ceremony in Paris

The October 2020 marriage of the Romanoffs. Source: Instagram via blog

Sources close to the Russian Orthodox Church in Paris have informed us that Rostislav Romanoff, whose grandfather was a member of the Russian Imperial House, is to marry the former Foteini Georganta in an Orthodox ceremony at the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Paris on September 12. If this report is accurate, The Russian Legitimist sends the newlyweds its best wishes on their religious marriage. The couple's civil wedding occurred in October 2019 in the United Kingdom.

Rostislav Romanoff, an artist who was born in Illinois, U.S.A., in 1985, is a grandson of His Highness the late Prince Rostislav of Russia (died 1978), one of the six sons of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia. In 1924, Prince Rostislav, along with his father and several of his brothers, signed an oath of allegiance to Grand Duke Kirill as Emperor of Russia and Head of the Imperial House and to Grand Duke Vladimir as Tsesarevich and Heir.

His Highness Prince Rostislav of Russia, a member of the Imperial House, was married three times. All of his marriages were morganatic. Therefore, under the dynastic laws, none of his descendants is a member of the Russian Imperial House. His grandson Rostislav Romanoff, however, remains related to the Imperial House and has traveled frequently to the country of his ancestors.

Many years to the happy couple!

For more information about Rostislav Romanov, see HERE.

Cathédrale St. Alexandre Nevsky, Paris.

Civil Marriage date set for Grand Duke George Mikhailovich and Victoria Romanovna Bettarini

Banns signed at Moscow City Hall

On Thursday, August 5, 2021, Grand Duke George Mikhailovich and Victoria Romanovna Bettarini went to the City Hall of Moscow to finalize the administrative procedure of Civil Marriage by signing their banns. "In a month, we can get married civilly," explains the bride-to-be.

Histoires Royales revealed that the son of Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia and Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia will marry the daughter of Italian Ambassador Roberto Bettarini on Friday, September 24, 2021 at 2 p.m. at Moscow City Hall, one week before their religious wedding at St. Isaac's Cathedral in Petersburg.

In the photograph, the bride and groom sign their wedding banns. (Photo: Instagram / rebecca_bettarini)

"The day will be followed by a party," says Victoria Romanovna. The location of the Civil reception is not yet known. The witnesses of the civil marriage "will be among close Russian friends" as well as others close to the Chancellery of the Imperial Household.

Name Day of the Head of the House of Romanoff

On July 22/August 4 the Orthodox Church celebrates the feast day of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene—the heavenly patron saint of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia.

In the morning of this very solemn day, Hieromonk Nikon (Levachev-Belavenets) served a Divine Liturgy at the church of the Entry of the Most Pure Mother of God at the Saltykov Bridge in Moscow, and that evening also an intercessory prayer service, or moleben, following royal rubrics, for the health of Her Imperial Highness, her son and heir, H.I.H. The Grand Duke George of Russia, and his fiancée, Victoria Romanovna Bettarini.

Hieromonk Nikon was joined at these services by Fr. Deacon Aleksei Kulikov of the Moscow Region Diocese.

Attending the moleben were H.I.H. The Grand Duke George; the Deputy Head of the Department of Civil Service and Personnel in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation, A. M. Kovalev; the Chairman of the Public Council in the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, M. Iu. Lermontov; the advisor to the Moscow Patriarchate, A. V. Bugaevsky; members of the Chancellery of the Head of the Imperial House; members of the Russian Nobility Association, led by its President, O. V. Shcherbachev; members of the organization For Faith and Fatherland, led by the Deputy Chairman of its Governing Board, A. R. Karpov; the President of the National Foundation “Restoration of Russian Country Estate Houses,” V. I. Alyavdin; the former First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, F. V. Shelov-Kovedyaev; members of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society; members of the Orthodox motorcyclist association “Motorcyclist Brethren in Christ,” led by its President, A. P. Maslov; the President of the Russian-Georgian Friendship Society, “Dzalisi,” T. I. Dzhanieri; and parishioners of the church of the Entry of the Mother of God at the Saltykov Bridge.

At the conclusion of the moleben, Hieromonk Nikon (Head of the Department of Historical and Memorial Activities in the Chancellery of the Head of the Imperial House of Russia) greeted all those gathered, and noted the special nature of this year’s celebration of the Grand Duchess’s name day in that Grand Duke George was in attendance.

Then followed an investiture ceremony for those who have distinguished themselves in service to the nation, presided over by the King of Arms and Head of the Office of Heraldry in the Chancellery, S. V. Dumin, and the Secretary of the Knights’ Council of the Order of St. Anna, A. Iu. Korolev-Pereleshin.